Can Virtual Workshops Train Leaders As Effectively As In-Person Ones?

Leadership has long been recognised as the foundation of organisational success. Research has linked it to improved efficiency, productivity, creativity, agility, innovation, resilience, and a host of equally desirable benefits. In the past, in-person workshops were the gold standard. With today’s technology, virtual leadership workshops are also an option. However, are they really as efficient? Here’s our verdict.

What Are The Benefits Of In-Person Leadership Workshops?

There’s nothing quite like the dynamic of an in-person workshop. When a gifted teacher takes you on a journey, it can create powerful meanings. Most of us can remember an experience where someone’s passion for a topic ignited our own flame, and research shows that this type of learning can imprint very deeply. In other words, when a teacher is enthusiastic, you’re more likely to remember what you’re learning. As such, it is always worth considering an in-person leadership workshop, even if it’s a one-off luxury.

What Are The Challenges Of In-Person Workshops?

In today’s hectic and cash-strapped world, the two main challenges of in-person leadership workshops are logistics and costs. Venues can be complicated, travel can be awkward, and taking time away from normal work can be problematic. These are all aspects that leadership experts are very familiar with, so if you opt for an in-person workshop experience, you will have a lot of sympathetic support. Equally, you may have to do some preparation on your side to ensure that the organisation can function while key employees are away.

What Are The Benefits Of Virtual Workshops?

Virtual leadership workshops reduce the issues of accessibility and flexibility that in-person events can present. With a virtual workshop, you have much higher levels of control over when and where you do your course. This has some surprising benefits. For instance, remote team members can easily connect and collaborate, ensuring that geographical barriers do not hinder participation and learning. Additionally, the reduced costs of virtual leadership workshops can mean that more employees can attend.

What Are The Challenges Of Virtual Workshops?

Leadership and learning are both closely intertwined, and both are very personal, which is why one-to-one learning is traditionally preferred. The main question that affects virtual learning is one of successful engagement. For this, the only solution is cutting-edge technology combined with custom project delivery, which can infuse the experience with deeper levels of meaning. In order to make a lasting difference, this is something that the warm and inclusive teams at Penguin Learning strive to ensure.

Our Verdict: Leadership, And What’s Best For You!

All companies recognise the kaleidoscope of benefits that leadership training can offer. Whether your objective is to push for creative innovation, tighten your project management, or transform your organisational atmosphere, leadership workshops can be powerfully transformative. Ultimately, both in-person experiences and virtual experiences can bring benefits. However, deciding which is right for you will nearly always boil down to a question of cost, accessibility, and how much dynamic interaction you feel might be needed.

Find Out More

At Penguin Learning, we are committed to providing high-value training opportunities that make a genuine difference. Whether you want to do in-person or virtual training, we are here to support you. To find out more, please contact our friendly team today.

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