Change Notes #29 March 31, 2021
Welcome to the spring break edition of the Change Notes newsletter. A lot of the schools around central Ohio are getting a week off for spring break, but we’re still here scanning the digital landscape to bring you the best news and insights to help you work smarter and stay on top of what’s important to you. Here are some jewels on digital transformation, the myth of learning styles, the new look of employee engagement, and a couple of thought-provoking remote working articles.
Thanks for reading!
Unblurring the lines of a digital transformation
Unblurring the lines of a digital transformation – Knowing what something is not as important as knowing what it is. This helpful article from Atlassian addresses three common misconceptions about digital transformation that will help prevent you from making mistakes on this business-critical journey.
https://www.atlassian.com/blog/enterprise/accelerate-digital-transformation-with-automation
THE Power of Employee Experience and Why We Need It Now More Than Ever
In these challenging times, we’re all looking for a bit of stability. Something we can count on and that will bring us purpose and joy. For many people, that stability comes from a steady job at a company that supports and empowers them. Learn what Jacob Morgan has to say about why employee experience has never been more important than it is now.
The Rise of the Workcation
The pandemic has popularized "workcations" — going on a vacation but working while there.
Why it matters: Just because work-from-anywhere means we can work on vacation doesn't mean we should. Experts warn that the pandemic's upending of work-life balance could drastically worsen burnout in the U.S.
Pandemic-era remote work has only accelerated the uncoupling of work from time and location, and that means the line between working and not working is increasingly blurry. And when work can happen anytime and anywhere, boundaries aren't automatically set. "You have to make that happen," Leiter says.
The big picture: Americans have always underused vacation days, and we're working even longer days during the pandemic.
https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-atwork-0dc53e9e-3f5c-467a-91bb-a9d0e46eb52a.html
What Is Your Organization’s Long-Term Remote Work Strategy?
Companies shifted quickly and unexpectedly to remote work in early 2020, but leaders planning for a post-pandemic future have an opportunity to take a more intentional, strategic approach to remote work. Most likely this will involve revisiting a number of 1) company policies and 2) management practices. This helpful article examines key emerging trends in these areas and suggests ten questions leaders should ask themselves as they plan for their organization’s optimal mix of remote work.
https://hbr.org/2021/03/what-is-your-organizations-long-term-remote-work-strategy
The Truth About Learning Styles
If you’ve spent any time working in the L&D field the odds are that you’ve encountered the idea of “learning styles.” And if you’ve yet to take any time to dig into it beyond the surface, it may seem like a reasonable way to approach your learning design work. If you’re one of those people, you’re not alone – 80% to 95% of people believe in learning styles.
The actual truth is that these are really learning preferences and there is zero evidence that tailoring your learning programs with these learning styles in mind has any value.
https://www.change4growth.com/ideas-4-growth/2021/3/23/the-truth-about-learning-styles
Looking for a previous edition? Browse the Change Notes archive here.
About the Author: Mike Taylor
With over two decades of real-life, in-the-trenches experience designing and delivering learning experiences, Mike Taylor understands that effective learning isn’t about the latest fad or trendy new tools. Known for his practical, street-savvy style, Mike is a regular and highly rated speaker at industry events and consults on organizational learning design and technology at Change 4 Growth in Columbus, Ohio. Mike holds an MBA degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree in educational technology from San Diego State University.