I was reminded today by a client how important it is to design reinforcement into every learning journey. While putting the finishing touches on our business acumen learning journey kickoff deck, our client asked me to please take a moment during the kickoff to go over the details and expectations of the reinforcement so there are no surprises and participants will take the time to do it and absorb it.
The key components of this specific learning journey include a reinforcement business simulation that will continue to immerse participants in a follow-up scenario of running their own Consumer products company for several more years into the future so they can practice and fine-tune their strategic thinking, execution, and financial management skills. The tools we use to reinforce their learning include reinforcement simulations, decoding the earnings calls, business application projects, and personal action plans.
As part of my assignment, our clients asked me to share a few points with the participants about why reinforcement is so critical, so I turned my research into this blog.
Reinforcing skills after training is critical for several reasons:
Knowledge Retention: Without reinforcement, people tend to forget what they have learned. Regular practice and review help solidify new information and skills in long-term memory. This is the driving reason why we are now seeing about 50% of our learning journeys utilizing some form of reinforcement to drive retention. One of the most successful tools we have seen is immersive digital simulations that invite participants to continue to use new tools and develop stickiness to the topics. They work for all sorts of training ranging from business acumen to business leadership, to strategic business selling.
Mastery of Concepts: Initial training can be overwhelming (“drinking from the firehose”) and often provides only a basic understanding. Reinforcement through continued practice helps individuals achieve mastery, ensuring participants can perform tasks competently and confidently.
Behavioral Change: One of the greatest benefits of digital simulations to the observable behavioral change of participants going through them. Sustained reinforcement helps integrate new behaviors and skills into daily routines, making them habitual and reducing the likelihood of reverting to old habits.
Feedback and Improvement: Regular reinforcement sessions provide opportunities for feedback, allowing individuals to correct mistakes, refine techniques, and continuously improve their performance. One of our latest reinforcement tools, two-way virtual role plays, enables learners to get better through observable feedback and coaching based on going through recordings. AI-enhanced coaching and direct feedback are already starting to enhance the process.
Skill Application: Reinforcement allows individuals to apply new skills in different contexts and situations, enhancing their adaptability and problem-solving abilities. By isolating specific skills such as providing coaching and feedback, participants can work on one specific thing at a time as opposed to being overwhelmed.
Motivation, Engagement, and Higher Employee Satisfaction: Ongoing reinforcement can keep individuals motivated and engaged, as they see their progress and understand the relevance and importance of the skills they are developing.
In summary, reinforcement in support of a training learning journey ensures that learning is retained, skills are mastered, applied effectively, and continually improved upon, leading to sustained performance and behavioral change that can drive business results.