10-Step Road Map: Remote Training for Community Managers

Every aspect of your community’s success depends on the strength of your team. Training your onsite community management team requires careful planning and effective utilization of technology. Whether you have a few communities or many locations, you should harness the power of virtual training options to maximize efficiency. Here are 10 steps you can take to train your staff remotely and effectively:

1. Assessment of Training Needs: Identify the skills and knowledge gaps within your team. Understand their training needs and what objectives you want to achieve through the training.

2. Choose the Right Technology: Select appropriate tools and platforms for remote training. This could include video conferencing software (like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet), learning management systems, collaboration tools (such as Slack or Microsoft Teams), and screen-sharing applications. Certain platforms, like ManageAmerica, come with built-in training modules and videos available 24/7 as well as live online training with ManageAmerica industry experts.

3. Develop Training Materials: Create engaging and interactive training materials tailored to the remote format. This might include presentations, videos, interactive modules, quizzes, and assignments. Ensure that materials are accessible and easy to navigate remotely.

4. Schedule Training Sessions: Plan training sessions considering time zone differences if applicable. Break down training content into manageable chunks to avoid information overload. Offer multiple sessions if needed to accommodate different schedules. If launching a new platform, like ManageAmerica, the sessions may be scheduled and planned for you.

5. Interactive Training Methods: Incorporate interactive elements into your training sessions to keep participants engaged. Use features like polls, breakout rooms, Q&A sessions, and group discussions to encourage participation and collaboration.

6. Encourage Feedback and Questions: Create a supportive environment where participants feel comfortable asking questions and providing feedback. Encourage interaction through chat features, polls, and open discussions.

7. Utilize Real-life Scenarios: Incorporate real-life scenarios and case studies relevant to your team’s work to make the training more practical and applicable.

8. Follow-Up and Support: Offer ongoing support and resources after the training sessions. Encourage participants to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have as they apply what they've learned in their work. When working with ManageAmerica, ongoing support is included for any user at any time.

9. Evaluate Training Effectiveness: Gather feedback from participants to evaluate the effectiveness of the training program. Use this feedback to make improvements for future training sessions. There are survey applications that can make this process simple. 

10. Continuous Learning Culture: Foster a culture of continuous learning within your organization by providing opportunities for ongoing training and development, even after the initial remote training program is complete.

By following these steps, you can effectively train your staff at a distance and ensure they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their roles and elevate your team as a whole. Training is just one of the many things ManageAmerica does well. To learn more about how ManageAmerica can help streamline and grow your business, request a demo!