While summer is often associated with relaxation, family time, and holidays, it can also be an ideal period for L&D teams to prepare for the upcoming busy seasons.
With training demands typically lower, industries like education and retail often experience a slowdown, reducing the immediate need for extensive training programmes due to seasonal work patterns and staff taking annual leave.
Not only that, with two-thirds of workers facing daily interruptions of 30 minutes to 2 hours, summer presents a valuable opportunity to get ahead and capitalise on these quieter moments.
To help L&D teams make the most of their off-season time, this article will offer five suggestions for making the most of the summer lull.
1. Develop yourself by understanding AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionised workforce development by making training more personalised and efficient. In fact, its ability to automate repetitive tasks like tracking employee progress and handling administrative paperwork are just a few examples of how AI can streamline and elevate L&D – providing significant benefits to learners, L&D teams, and the wider organisation.
That said, AI technologies evolve rapidly, with new tools and platforms emerging almost overnight. This can affect how L&D design, deliver, and manage learning experiences.
Take full advantage of the downtime to deepen your understanding of AI in L&D. Keep up with AI trends and tools and position yourself to lead new innovations. This will ensure your training programmes stay up-to-date and effective in a competitive workplace that’s becoming more technology-focused.
Action Steps:
- Enroll in courses or certifications, for example, preventing discrimination and bias, to ensure fairness and inclusivity in your L&D programmes. Extend your knowledge about recognising and mitigating any unintended biases in AI systems that could affect training outcomes and learner experiences.
- Attend webinars, workshops, or conferences to stay updated with industry trends and the latest legislation relating to GDPR or the recent EU AI Law.
- Join professional networks, like LinkedIn or Slack communities, for up-to-date AI insights and peer learning.
2. Check your systems
Completing day-to-day tasks can leave you little time to tackle the important strategic responsibilities at the bottom of your to-do list.
Tasks such as reviewing L&D policies for remote and hybrid learners, managing personal information, or evaluating software fall by the wayside. These omissions result in missed opportunities for improvement and compliance with outdated practices that do not reflect the latest legislation or address the evolving needs of your workforce.
Leverage low-activity periods by prioritising tasks to check your L&D systems. Ensure your systems stay relevant and effective and adhere to best practices and legal requirements.
Action steps:
- Audit current systems and identify areas for improvement. Incorporate recent developments, best practices, or feedback from previous sessions and update L&D policies.
- Develop an action plan and share it with relevant stakeholders.
3. Expand your L&D knowledge base
Why not use the slowdown to set yourself a summer reading challenge?
Dive into books and articles on the latest L&D trends, best practices, and emerging technologies. Exploring topics like handling distractions at work, innovative instructional design techniques or strategies for effective remote training can increase confidence and expand your expertise.
By immersing yourself in these resources, you’ll gain fresh insights and ideas to refine your L&D strategies and better equip you for the busy months ahead.
We especially love Cal Newport’s “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World.” This book is valuable for anyone who wants to improve their focus and productivity amid constant distractions. It provides practical tips for boosting concentration skills and doing meaningful work.
Action steps:
- Check out the latest books for L&D practitioners and set up a summer reading challenge.
Share your learning with the rest of the team. Collaborative learning software like Blossom allows you to post ideas and respond to others within your organisation.
4. Evaluate and optimise learning programmes
Repeating the same L&D processes time and time again without considering the impact is like putting chlorine in one end of a swimming pool – pretty pointless.
Use the quieter summer months to review your L&D strategy critically. Assess what’s working and what isn’t, gather feedback from participants, and make data-driven improvements. Maybe you want to track how effectively participants apply the skills learned in training to their jobs. If there’s a gap between training and on-the-job performance, use the slower pace to develop follow-up sessions or additional resources to support skill transfer.
Action Steps:
- Evaluate past performance and celebrate success. This could include scheduling success stories or testimonials from employees who have benefited from the training–serving as inspiration and validation for your L&D programmes.
- Explore new technologies or upgrades that could enhance learning delivery and analytics. As Blossom is modular, it’s easy to scale as your organisation grows.
- Pilot new tools by inviting staff to test new features, such as AI skills mapping, to ensure they meet both individual and organisational needs.
- Set goals for continuous improvement. Allocate dedicated time in your schedule now to monitor progress and adapt.
5. Change your habits
Bad work habits can seriously affect your work performance. Skipping breaks or not caring for yourself can lead to burnout, making you less happy at work and less productive. Inefficiency or procrastination often results in missed deadlines and unfinished tasks, affecting your job and team.
Spend time thinking about what habits make your job more efficient and impactful. Maybe you’re already great at delegation and Identifying tasks that can be offered to others, freeing up time to focus on more strategic responsibilities. Or perhaps excellent communication is your super-skill – ensuring everyone is aligned with goals, deadlines are met, and processes run smoothly.
Regularly assessing your habits and work style can streamline tasks, eliminate distractions, and set better goals, making your workday smoother and more effective. A reflective journal is a valuable tool for enhancing self-awareness and boosting performance. It can help you achieve better work-life harmony, reduce stress, and refine your approaches. It also leads to more effective workforce development initiatives.
Also, a reflective journal is a personal record of your professional journey, helping you continuously learn, adapt, and stay aligned with your development goals. Here are some questions to help you get started:
- How have I been addressing business goals in L&D?
- Who are my high-level supporters, and who are my detractors?
- Where is my network in L&D?
- What initiatives do I anticipate to increase stress levels in September and beyond?
- What can I do now to help mitigate busier periods in L&D?
Action Steps:
- Start or maintain a reflective journal to document your L&D experiences, successes, and areas for improvement. This practice will help you gain deeper insights into your habits, strategies, and decision-making processes, leading to continuous personal and professional growth.
- Leverage digital tools and apps to monitor and improve work habits. For example, task management software can track progress on goals or remind you to take breaks, helping to maintain a healthy work rhythm.
Transform summer slows into productive gains
Let’s be honest: having spare time on your hands is a luxury. But something must be said about “fixing the roof while the sun shines” to ensure you’re prepared for the busy times ahead.
Use the quieter summer months to research, reflect, and refine. Take the actions listed here to care for yourself, strengthen your approach, improve efficiency, and drive impactful results. By making a conscious effort to use your time well, you can set yourself up for success when the pace picks up again.
Why not use the summer lull to test our latest LXP features? Book a demo today.
