Digital wellbeing training versus face to face wellbeing training – which is more effective in the workplace?.
In a digital world where more organisations are seeking online learning and e-learning to meet the wellbeing needs of their people, which is most effective – digital wellbeing training or face to face wellbeing training?
People who love to deliver training (myself and the team included!) may be inclined to suggest that face to face wellbeing training is more effective because the human dynamic is very different when physically in a room with people. Face to face training brings with it a different energy for both the trainer and for the delegates. The opportunities are greater to be more spontaneous with the content, the fun you can have with flip charts and the way people interact with one another are all bonuses of face to face wellbeing training.
However, over the years of delivering both combinations I have observed the saying “words don’t teach, experience does”, and have come to witness that in order for humans to learn and integrate any form of new information, one of two things needs to happen regardless of whether the training is online or face to face.
1. Creating the right state of mind for learning
For the human brain to absorb new information, it needs to be in the right brain wave state.
When the human brain is experiencing pressure or stress the brain wave goes into high range beta. High range beta is akin to chaos. That’s because in the moment we are not concerned with learning of any nature, all we are primed for is survival. The brain and body have gone into fight and flight mode and as a result no new information can be absorbed or retained. The prefrontal cortex, also known as the thinking brain shuts down and actions become primitive.
2. Consistency
The second factor to achieving a successful learning experience is consistency. For the human brain to retain information and build a pathway in the brain, we need to hear something more than once. We need to hear something between 7 to 15 times to wire in the connection to what we are learning.
A simple example of this is when driving a car. You aren’t able to drive a car after only one or two lessons. But through a series of lessons and repetition you are able to learn to drive to the point, further down the line that you have embodied the learning to such a degree you can drive without even thinking about what you are doing at a conscious level.
Back to the subject about face to face wellbeing training versus online wellbeing training, the game changer is consistency and digital wellbeing training allows for that at much more affordable level.
Sara Maude, a seasoned Solution Focused Psychotherapist, Transformational Coach, Hypnotherapist, and EFT Practitioner, brings over a decade of mental health expertise to global organisations. She specialises in workplace wellbeing training, employee health and wellbeing programs and mental health training for managers. Sara’s proficiency also extends to wellbeing consultancy and wellbeing strategy, contributing significantly to the enhancement of employee wellbeing in the workplace.