In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and ever-evolving market demands, traditional or antique training methods often fail or fall short. Organizations are turning towards experiential training as a dynamic and effective approach to new competencies arising from these advancements and also as a solution to the old traditional training methods.

Unlike conventional training methods which mostly depend on lectures and passive learning, experiential training immerses employees in real-world scenarios and challenges, resulting in a much more mature and deeper understanding of knowledge. This blog talks about the essence of experiential training, its benefits and the various methodologies of experiential training, and its eventual impact on your organization.

Benefits of Experiential Training

1. Advance Retention of Knowledge: The traditional training methods often suffer from the “forgetting curve,” which basically means that the learner seems to quickly forget about whatever was taught during the training. Experiential training addresses this issue by involving participants in activities that require them to apply what they have learned immediately. This practical application method reiterates knowledge retention and makes sure that employees can effectively use their competencies in real work situations.
2. Improved Engagement: Experiential training, by its nature, is engaging. By participating in interactive activities, the participants are more likely to be motivated and engaged in the process. This enhanced involvement and participation translates to better learning outcomes and a more positive attitude towards training programs.
3. Development of Critical Soft Skills: We know experiential training promotes technical skills, but beyond that it is highly effective in developing essential soft skills like communication, agility, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability. These soft skills are as important, if not more, in today’s collaborative environment. This development of soft skills also helps the learners navigate the larger organizational goal and align their skills with it.
4. Real-Time Feedback and Reflection: Experiential training not only gives the learners continuous learning but also real-time feedback, which helps them in knowing their strengths and ways to improve on their weaknesses. This feedback, combined with opportunities for reflection, helps participants internalize lessons learned and then reflect on ways of improvements as well. Continuous improvement is a natural outcome of this process.
5. Increased Organizational Agility: One of the other important benefits of experiential training is on the organizations which implement the process. Change is the only constant and the organizations which invest in the experiential training of their employees stand at an advantage during the time change. Experiential training makes their workforce more agile, adaptable and resilient. The organization, thus, stand a higher chance of surviving and succeeding with the changing and challenging times.

Methodologies of Experiential Training

Experiential training can be implemented via different methodologies, each of them designed to immerse learners in relevant experiences.

1. Simulations and Role-Playing: Simulations mimic real-life scenarios and challenges an employee might face at work and thus, enabling them to handle those situations better when they actually happen like customer interactions, conflict resolution, or crisis management. This allows learners to experiment with various approaches and receive real-time feedback to work upon in a controlled environment.
2. On-the-Job Training (OJT): On-the-Job training means learning by executing tasks at work in a controlled environment, under the guidance of experienced mentors. This method allows employees to gain firsthand experience while being supported and supervised. It is particularly useful for skill-based roles where practical experience is essential.
3. Workshops and Group Activities: Group activities or workshops give the learners a sense of community and teach teamwork and support while working. It also gives a sense of shared responsibility and credit, also building trust in others.
4. Outdoor and Adventure-Based Learning: Outdoor training programs, such as team-building retreats or adventure-based learning, take employees out of the conventional work environment. These programs involve physical activities and tasks that promote teamwork, leadership, adaptability and agility. The unfamiliar setting and novel experiences can result in powerful insights and growth.
5. Case Studies and Project-Based Learning: Studying and breaking down case studies enables employees to apply their derived knowledge into some current work-related challenges. This method promotes critical thinking and strategic planning, as participants must consider various factors and potential outcomes.

Impact on Organizational Growth

Like previously mentioned, experiential training not only benefits the employees but also the overall organizational growth. Companies that prioritize this training approach often experience several positive outcomes. When you invest in employee training, they get a sense of responsibility towards the organization and end up performing better in their roles, which in turn benefits the organization. This also acts like a cycle when the employee performs well and impacts the organization positively, there is a higher chance of their retention as well, reducing turnover rates and also its associated costs.

With employee experiential learning, the organization is also developing a good line of leaders to take the organization towards growth and success. By exposing potential leaders to real-world challenges and decision-making scenarios, these organizations are preparing them for future challenges and coping techniques. These training programs also promote a culture of continuous learning and unlearning. When employees are encouraged to learn through experiences and not traditional classroom setups, they become susceptible of changes and that drives an innovative and creative thinking in them, taking the organization to greater heights.

Takeaway

Experiential learning is the methodology of today and the organizations providing them to their workforce will stay ahead in the game of making themselves future-ready. It not only impacts the employees at an individual level but also results in the success and growth of the organization.

KNOLSKAPE has emerged as a global pioneer in hyper-contextualized experiential learning and their AI-powered simulations are serving the clients as versatile tools crafted to address a wide spectrum of nuanced learning needs. They have collaborated with 450+ leading organizations globally to provide learning and development opportunities to 500,000+ learners every year.

KNOLSKAPE is a certified Great Place to Work® organization that delivers robust transformative experiences for the modern learner and the modern workplace. KNOLSKAPE is a 150+ strong team with offices in Singapore, India, Malaysia, UK, and USA serving a rapidly growing global client base across industries.