We’ve all encountered at least one individual who’s self-taught when it comes to IT. The field always outpaces academia, so professionals who want to remain useful and relevant show initiative by expanding and deepening their skills on their own or via peer mentoring.
 
Unfortunately, not everyone in your company has the same drive as those exceptional IT staff members. This means that there is costly lag between the moment of receiving technology and the time when the recipient is actually able to take advantage of it.
 
To illustrate, cloud computing makes collaborating on files easier than ever, but you might find some teams still working on files by discussing them over mile-long email threads — a practice that is inefficient and prone to communication errors.
 
As a form of technology, the cloud has matured and become integral to businesses of all sizes. To take full advantage of its benefits, you must help your staff adopt the cloud and grow in its use. Here are three steps to make this happen:
 

Implement role-based training tracks

When it comes to learning about the cloud, nobody needs to know everything. Much like how an English Literature major might find accounting classes useless, HR staff are unlikely to appreciate training modules for hybrid cloud administration. So, per role in your organization, assign skills that staff must learn to become more adept at fulfilling their role — and develop a curriculum that is designed to help staff become proficient in those skills.
 
To help you make cloud training both apt for learners and not so disruptive to operations, consult with your cloud service provider (CSP). Top-notch CSPs have role-based training tracks, especially for app developers and cloud administrators.
 

Apply lessons learned immediately

Training sessions will be wasted if trainees forget what they are taught. To retain what they’ve learned, your staff must apply their new skills in real-world situations immediately and continually. Provide assignments that exhibit how their lessons can and will be applied in actual on-the-job situations.
 
To illustrate, if a training topic is about creating a cloud-based platform where internal teams and clients can securely share and collaborate on files, then you can have the trainees form an even number of groups. Have one group pair up with another group, and let each take turns playing the role of either an internal team or a client. Practical assignments such as this one will reinforce the lesson being taught and make the skill readily available when the need to use it arises.
 

Grant further learning opportunities

The cloud’s practical applications are broadening, opening up opportunities for innovation. This means that while training can be an effective launching pad for teaching base skills, staff members must be allowed to build upon what they’ve learned by taking on subjects outside of their curricula and initiating experiments on how to improve operations. Encourage teams to take on side projects, perhaps even grant incentives for those who are able to come up with cloud-based solutions that bolster productivity.
 
You can also assign projects that push employees to step out of their comfort zones. For example, you can point them towards a new cloud-based tool that promises to solve a persistent problem of yours and have them explore the viability of that tool.
 
Don’t allow your organization to be left behind when it comes to cloud technology. Let SimplyClouds help you bring your staff up to speed so that you can take advantage of the benefits that cloud computing offers.