We can all agree that having the right leaders in place improves any organisation immeasurably. Put simply, it increases productivity, it reduces turnover (interestingly, 75% of employees that voluntarily leave their jobs do so because of their bosses), it grooms future leaders, and it increases employee engagement. These are good things. So, how can virtual reality training be used to make a company’s leaders better?
1. Greater Learning Retention:
Recent research shows that we retain considerably more information through virtual reality training than we do through more traditional methods such as computers and books. Indeed, an in-depth 2018 study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) reinforces this reasoning. For the study, the UMD researchers recruited 40 volunteers, most of whom were completely unfamiliar with virtual reality. They then put the volunteers through a series of memory recall tests using both virtual reality headsets and traditional desktops. The results? There was an 8.8% improvement in recall accuracy using virtual reality headsets.
2. Immersive Experience:
Virtual reality training environments are considerably less pressurised. It’s right there in the name, virtual reality. This isn’t embarrassingly role-playing in front of a room of cringing colleagues, this is a fully immersive training experience that encourages creativity to solve problems.
3. Realistic scenarios
Virtual reality training labs can put a company’s leaders in problem-solving and emotionally-testing scenarios they could potentially face in their actual workplaces. They can fully immerse themselves in these situations, learn from their mistakes, tweak their techniques, build empathy. The benefits here are diverse and many.
4. A Learning Style for Everyone
Virtual reality training lends itself to a variety of learning styles. We all learn in different ways, we all have learning-technique preferences, so a company’s leaders will be no different. Some will retain more information through auditory learning, which essentially means through listening. Some will find it easier to learn in a kinaesthetic way, by carrying out physical activities. Finally, some will benefit more from visual stimulation: diagrams, pictures, photos, videos, graphics. Virtual reality training has the unique ability to simultaneously appeal to all the senses. This appeal means it effectively satisfies the learning preferences of the leader, whatever he or she’s learning preferences may be.
5. It’s fun
Yep, that’s right….it’s fun. Virtual reality training is fun, fun, fun. Many would ask if that is important? The answer is a big yes, it’s incredibly important. We will have all been to training days which were more of an endurance test than an effective learning experience. You know the ones - where a three-hour afternoon session feels like a twenty-four-hour epic. Where you spend a good chunk of the time contemplating your life choices, trying desperately to keep your eyes open, and wondering why the hands on the clock have started to move in slow motion. Were those sessions conducive to effective learning? Of course they weren’t. They were uninspiring and dull, pretty much forcing the brain to look elsewhere for stimulation.
Virtual reality training is the complete polar opposite. It’s innovative and enjoyable. It’s interactive. It makes people smile….not fall asleep.
If your leaders are enjoying their training experience, it leads to a higher level of engagement. A higher level of engagement leads to a higher level of understanding. What does that lead to? Simple, it leads to better leaders.
Book your first Virtual Reality Leadership Training in our new Virtual Reality Leadership Lab opening this September!
Resources
https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/features/4155
https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-education/advantages.html
https://mutualmobile.com/resources/6-advantages-virtual-reality-learning-training