Remote and hybrid workforces have become the new norm these days. According to McKinsey, remote work will only increase: 3-4x more employees will end up working from home permanently than before the pandemic. But because the pandemic caused such a massive and sudden shift in the way businesses operate, companies are still catching up with the changes. A big challenge for many has been figuring out how to balance in-office teams with remote workers and how to update company policies and practices accordingly.
Flexible work arrangements have already become a huge part of employee retention. Many employees and job searchers are prioritizing hybrid office models when determining where they want to work. A study from PWC found that 55% of employees would prefer to work remotely at least three days per week.
One of the trickiest parts of navigating the new workplace is staying on top of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models. Creating a consistent, top-notch training experience for employees isn’t as straightforward when some of your team members are back at the office and others are working remotely. Additionally, there are many different types of hybrid office models. Some allow employees to work from home part-time and come into the office a few times a month while other companies may not have a central office at all.
With so much variation in the way companies operate these days, how can organizations make sure that employees are staying on track with professional development? To help you navigate this challenge, we’ve put together a list of some of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models.
The Best Professional Development Tools for Hybrid Office Models
Professional development refers to new learning in order to earn or maintain professional credentials. It includes things like academic degrees, formal coursework, attending conferences, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice. With so many employees working remotely these days, companies are on the lookout for the best professional development tools for hybrid office models.
For professional development to be effective, it should be intensive and collaborative, ideally incorporating an evaluative stage. Hybrid is the future of work, and this model enhances work-life balance in addition to increasing productivity. So, with the hybrid work model here to stay, it’s high time that companies set themselves up for success with some of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models.
Viostream
Training and educating employees effectively and adequately is essential for ensuring employee retention while boosting productivity. Whether you are creating your own professional development videos or curating a selection from around the web, you need a reliable platform to host and share them. Viostream is one of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models because it is an enterprise-grade video platform that lets you share your learning videos with remote workers. The platform makes it easy for you to manage and host video content. At the same time, it ensures reliable streaming and permission-based access so your employees can watch professional development videos from wherever they are working.
SweetRush
All companies need a reliable learning management system (LMS), and SweetRush is one of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models. It has a really excellent LMS that features custom-learning solutions to engage and motivate employees. SweetRush is designed around the fact that company learning is a continuous goal. Its custom training and performance experiences help organizations implement and reinforce ongoing learning objectives. It leverages current and emerging technologies, like gamification, microlearning, and virtual reality to help employees feel inspired and empowered while acquiring new knowledge.
Virtual Learning Platforms
No list of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models would be complete without including virtual learning platforms. There are plenty of virtual learning platforms out there that offer a wide variety of content on pretty much any topic imaginable. Some of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models are geared toward facilitating professional development. Investing in a software program and online learning platform is a great way to ensure that your hybrid team has access to ongoing training and education. Some of the best ones include Instructure, MasterClass, Udemy, Udactiy, Coursera, and EdX. Your employees can take “nano” courses in specific subjects and work on developing new skills based on your organization’s needs.
Bonusly
Recognizing your employees for a good job is crucial for maintaining a positive workforce and ensuring that your team feels connected and supported. The work and equitable recognition has become harder and harder since we’ve switched over to hybrid models. Bonusly is one of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models because it helps ensure that your employees get recognition for their successes at work and their professional development efforts. Bonusly's software focuses on peer-to-peer recognition, transparency, and regular, small wins to keep teams motivated and engaged.
Breakthrough Play
Breakthrough Play is the brainchild of Gary Ware, a strategic play consultant by day and improv comedian by night. Companies can take advantage of his facilitation and workshops to learn about his concept of purposeful play, which gives hybrid teams a chance to break down walls, explore their personal vulnerabilities, connect outside of work, and build stronger team communication and confidence. Breakthrough Play is definitely one of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models for businesses that want to spice up their program a little bit. Gary’s interactive programs are designed to help your team grow while boosting their professional development.
Lifelabs Learning
Lifelabs Learning facilitates engaging workshops that help transform essential workplace skills into lasting habits. In short, it is here to support leadership training and change management while making it fun and engaging for your team. Its platform is one of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models because it is super easy to use and intuitive, and the training and development opportunities it provides are practical and interactive.
In Conclusion
With so many employees working remotely these days, it's critical to make sure that your business has the best professional development tools for hybrid office models. These tools can help ensure that you can maintain a productive, effective workforce—no matter where your team is located.
Viostream can help keep your hybrid workforce engaged and on track with their professional development. Featuring dedicated video portals and accessibility for all, Viostream has a host of best-in-class tools to help your business grow. Plus, our platform easily integrates with most of the best professional development tools for hybrid office models. Start your free trial today and see if our top-grade professional video platform is the right solution for your business.