Experiential learning can be defined as learning by doing, meaning that participants learn new skills through exercises that simulate real-life situations.
This method is being widely adopted as a respected learning technique in business due to its success in helping employees to retain more learning material, approach business decisions and scenarios with more confidence and bond with their team members.
There are some types of experiential learning that are especially beneficial in a business environment, examples of these are: business simulations, virtual reality and e-learning platforms.
Here are three compelling reasons why your business should adopt experiential learning in 2024:
- Technology and automation
- Promoting collaboration in the workplace
- Integrating new hires/graduates into the business with ease
Technology and automation
Technology and automation are increasingly replacing time-consuming and repetitive human tasks in the workplace. While this is a positive for businesses in terms of saving time and money, unfamiliar tech can pose difficulties to employees.
Experiential learning and virtual learning is the perfect way to introduce employees to new technologies, as it gives them the opportunity to actively engage with them and experience them in a simulated scenario so that they can become familiar and comfortable with new innovations.
Allowing employees this opportunity to get to grips with new technologies in a safe and controlled environment will give them the confidence and knowledge that they need to perform their roles to the best of their abilities in the future.
Promoting collaboration in the workplace
Team experiential learning activities are a great opportunity to strengthen the bond between employees and promote a culture of collaboration in the workplace.
Because experiential learning is hands-on and demands that participants actively take part, team members have a unique opportunity to bond over specific learning activities, through which they can gain a deeper understanding of each others strengths, weaknesses and working styles.
This in-depth understanding of each individual will aid in smooth communication between employees and greater collaboration over projects in the future.
Experiential learning also allows individuals to explore business scenarios together in a risk-free environment. By removing the usual stress and pressure associated with these scenarios, participants have the opportunity to see each other in a new light and voice opinions that they may have previously lacked the confidence to.
Integrating new hires/graduates into the business with ease
Joining a new workplace can be a daunting experience for new hires, especially graduates who are unfamiliar to the world of professional work.
Experiential learning can provide businesses with a way to help new hires and graduates to “dip a toe” in the business in a completely risk-free way, to build confidence and introduce them to company culture, and other employees.
Allowing new hires and graduates with ample opportunities to experience business situations that they will come across while working means that they have a chance to confront unfamiliar scenarios without the pressure of making the wrong decision. This, in turn, will lead to greater confidence in their roles and future decisions as a part of the company.
For more information, read our blog on improving employee confidence through experiential learning here.
By adopting experiential learning methods as part of your workplace training strategy in 2024, your business could reap the benefits of more confident use of technology, stronger teams, and easier integration of new hires and employees.
Through the promotion of experiential learning, you are equipping employees with so much more than mere learning material, facts and processes; you are equipping them with the confidence and first-hand experience of applying what they have learned.
This is sure to strengthen the skill-set of your workforce in the years to come, and create an overall more powerful and unified workforce.