Why Online Learning Is an Important Tool for Leadership Development
The COVID pandemic fundamentally changed our world. Learning, leading, and working remotely had been a growing trend over many years, but it quickly became a universal necessity. This disrupted nearly every facet of most organizations, including training and development — a critical activity for organizations to stay competitive and thrive.
Today, organizations are building upon those pandemic era-shifts and continuing to rethink their L&D strategies to maximize the advantages of online learning for leadership development.
High-performing organizations know that retaining and developing leadership capacity remains their top talent challenge — and that continuing with their leadership development efforts will be crucial not only for weathering inevitable storms, but to the long-term success of the organization.
Having well-developed and effective leadership at all levels of the organization is important as organizations position their businesses for recovery and growth. In fact, our market research found that organizations are continuing to invest in leadership development, even in economic downturn, with 82% saying it will provide a competitive advantage.
Online learning for development has been, and will continue to be, an essential L&D tool. Fortunately, the research shows that virtual leadership development programs can create results at levels similar to those of in-person programs.
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Watch our webinar, In-Person vs. Online Learning: Choosing the Right Modality for You & Your Organization, and learn what to consider when you’re looking at in-person versus online learning for development initiatives at your organization — and how the ideal delivery method can shift over the course of a career.
Advantages of Online Learning vs. In-Person Leadership Development Programs
In addition to having high participant engagement levels and similar impact as in-person programs, online learning for leadership development also offers additional benefits to the organization. Programs are easily scalable and can be delivered to any number of leaders. They can be customized and personalized into a journey specifically for your organization and its leaders.
Online training is also convenient for your organization’s leaders in that they’re able to participate from any location in the world and don’t require additional travel expenses, making it possible for your people to learn leadership skills online and transform without travel.
And online learning for development has key advantages over in-person options:
- Agility: Short, video-based learning can target specific skills needed in a fast-changing environment.
- Flexibility: Self-directed learning allows learners to move at their own pace and replay videos if they missed something.
- Immediacy: Learners are able to apply what they just learned to their own jobs in real time.
- Scalability: Online training is a cost-effective way to provide development for large groups of learners.
Most importantly, online leadership development is a safe and effective way for your organization to continue its talent development efforts.
Satisfaction With Our Virtual Programs Matches In-Person Formats
At CCL, our clients often ask about the impact and advantages of online leadership development versus more traditional in-person delivery. Our ongoing research continues to show that satisfaction with leadership development delivered virtually is nearly the same as an in-person experience.
We’ve seen consistent results between our traditional in-person leadership programs and our live online program offerings in all areas, including client satisfaction, learning effectiveness, and likelihood to recommend to a colleague.
How We Compared the Advantages of Online Learning vs. In-Person Programs
1. Achievement of Objectives
We’ve seen similar positive results for achieving learning objectives and being applicable to the participants’ work.
We heard equally from participants in both delivery methods that their program met the promised learning objectives, and they felt similarly confident about their abilities to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their programs to both their job, as well as to their organization’s success.
“Our participants were pleasantly surprised at the structure and effectiveness of the virtual program, and most enjoyed collaborating and learning from colleagues across the global organization.”
Learning Consultant, Pitney Bowes
2. Level of Engagement
Both formats were able to deliver a meaningful and engaging learning experience.
Additionally, both our live online and in-person program participants said that our programs were able to deliver a meaningful learning experience, with similar average ratings for both methodologies on a 5-point scale.
Our live online programs contain many of the same elements and experiences that happen in our widely recognized in-person programs. Small group discussions, 360-degree feedback, and personal one-on-one coaching are just some of the human-centered activities that we’re able to duplicate virtually, making live online as close to an in-person program experience as possible.
In addition, nearly all participants (98%) rated our live online leadership programs as equally or more engaging compared to other virtual leadership development programs they have experienced.
3. Quality of Facilitation
According to our research, leadership development participants not only want content to be applicable, they want it to be immediately applicable. In a highly uncertain and unpredictable world, time and resources are limited, and urgency plays a big role in learning experiences. Skilled facilitators are the key to drawing these lines of connection because they are able to share their experiences.
Participants in both in-person and online delivery were highly satisfied with the faculty who delivered their training program, providing further evidence that our faculty are able to deliver a highly engaging and meaningful learning experience in an online format, as well as in-person.
Online participants who were surveyed especially appreciated that facilitators were willing to relate personal stories and insights. They also commented on their instructors’ ability to push the conversation beyond the “comfort zone.” (Our instructors have even shared some of the surprising and unexpected benefits of online learning for development.)
4. Ease of Use
A confusing or overly technical user experience is often one of the biggest criticisms of an online leadership development experience. According to our participants, that’s not the case with our online leadership training. Most participants (94%) reported that they found our live online programs easy to access, use, and navigate.
Online Learning Is Here to Stay
As the workplace has become more virtual, so have our leadership development solutions. Our expansive portfolio of innovative online leadership training immerses participants in compelling conversations, peer-learning exercises, and personalized attention in order to generate the results that matter most to you and your organization.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
We can partner with you to create a leadership development solution with all the advantages of online learning, designed to fit your organization’s unique needs. Explore our virtual leadership development programs for leaders at every level.
