This program saw great change from the initial stages to where it is now. Despite these changes, like planning for ILT and transitioning to VILT to switching from Oculus to cardboard headsets, this project remained dynamic and accomplished the ultimate goal.
What It Means To Be A Leader
In 2019, Lincoln Financial Group identified the need to define what it means to be an effective leader within their organization. This organization needed a scalable, accessible, and highly-interactive leadership training program that set an enterprise-wide standard of expected behaviors for leaders at all experience levels.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this training program was forced to adapt in-person components of the program to virtual formats. This shift pivoted the original plans for the program’s location, equipment, and structure without compromising its effectiveness.
Lincoln Financial Group needed an accessible, and scalable leadership training program that incorporated their own leadership expectations with traditional leadership and diversity training from expert instructional designers.
A National Training Program For Remote Leaders
Lincoln Financial Group partnered with Roundtable Learning to create a custom-blended training program for leaders with varying levels of experience. The goal of the program was to bring leaders together and allow them to learn from each other by sharing their own experiences. Launched in the Fall of 2020, this leadership training program included pre-work, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), 360° virtual reality (VR), and post-session activities.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this program was altered to accommodate the needs of remote learners. Originally, the content was developed for a three-day in-person instructor-led session, but was later adapted for virtual formats.
To set an enterprise-wide standard for their leaders, Lincoln Financial Group’s internal team developed leadership accountability behaviors to serve as the foundation for the training program. By combining these internal accountability behaviors with Roundtable’s expertise in leadership and diversity training, Roundtable created realistic training materials that participants could relate to and immediately implement into their team.
The 360° VR activity for this program challenged learners with navigating important leadership topics: coaching, crucial conversations, and employee relations. This activity allowed learners to navigate realistic scenarios that were created using a real-life office setting and actors who were carefully selected to represent employees. For the main component of the program, learners participated in VILT sessions. The original ILT portion planned for this program was reinvented to VILT to accommodate an entirely remote workforce. The 8-week VILT program consisted of 90-minute weekly sessions.
SKILLS TO USE RIGHT AWAY
This blended leadership training program is the mark of a true partnership that has remained dynamic despite its transition to virtual formats. This program is ongoing with over 100 participants who have completed the pilot program so far.
According to the participants who have completed a mid-program survey, 99% agree or strongly agree that they will apply what they’ve learned from the training to their job. Additionally, 91% agree or strongly agree that they’ve gained new knowledge and skills from the training, while 86% are likely or very likely to recommend the training program to other leaders.
This custom blended learning program continues to align with Lincoln Financial Group’s learning needs, ensuring their organizational leaders build on the skills needed to excel in their role and lead with confidence.
This program saw great change from the initial stages to where it is now. Despite these changes, like planning for ILT and transitioning to VILT to switching from Oculus to cardboard headsets, this project remained dynamic and accomplished the ultimate goal.