Sheets of technical specs and long PowerPoint presentations are a thing of the past. The future is Microtraining, a teaching method that has proven to be more effective than traditional variants.
Microtraining is a training concept where the information is packaged in smaller doses, and only the most relevant and valuable knowledge is provided to the trainee. Studies show that 80% of traditional sales and product training is forgotten by the participants within 30 days, enhancing the need for Microtraining.
Memory systems and learning
First off, it’s important to understand that the brain has several different types of memories. Let’s look at some of the types involved in learning.
The implicit memory system includes knowledge and behaviors that we have memorized through repetition, and that can be performed without much thought. For instance, driving a car, riding a bicycle or performing routine tasks on the computer.
Its counterpart, the explicit memory system, can be divided into episodic memory and semantic memory. Both are important for learning, so we will present them in a little more detail.
The episodic memory stores events that the individual has been part of, and that can be linked to a time or place. The episodes are usually private events such as a trip, a birthday, or a restaurant visit. Episodic memories revolve around ”when” and ”where”.
Semantic memory helps us remember facts like those we learn in school, such as historical dates, kings, capital cities, countries, concepts and traffic rules.
The bottom line is that the more often you repeat and reflect on a memory, the more connections your brain forms. Eventually, it becomes more like an implicit memory that you can recall with less mental effort.
Put your memory to the test
Do you remember any phone numbers you used to call as a child? Please answer the question before reading further. The next question is, have you ever tried to memorize a class list, or a page from an old phonebook?
If yes, how many of those numbers do you remember today? And do you recall who they belonged to?
These questions are probably only relevant to those who were around before smartphones became part of our everyday life. And smartphones, in turn, are also an obvious source of information and knowledge today.
Kill your darlings
The purpose of using Microtraining for product training is to help the trainee absorb new knowledge easier and more efficiently. Bombarding staff with a large amount of information all at once makes it difficult to know what is most important. As such, you must begin by pruning the parts that do not add anything essential to the customer experience.
After this, package the most relevant information in an inspiring way and provide it to staff where they are used to learning new things – in their mobile phones.
Three reasons why staff prefer Microtraining
- Accessible. With content that is readily accessible on your own phone, it’s easier to complete the training at your own pace.
- Motivating. Thanks to redundant information being stripped out and the small bursts of information, training sessions become less demanding.
- Inspiring. The information and knowledge is immediately useful and applicable in the staff’s day-to-day work, which inspires to further learning.
Learn more!
Get instant access to our comprehensive Microtraining guide in PDF format here (SWE).
In this article, Malin Löf, HR specialist at Cervera talks about how Microtraining contributed to a more creative and inspiring store environment for both customers and employees.
