From Dreaded to Delightful: A Guide to Compliance Training

How to Turn Compliance Training Into Something Learners Look Forward to and Even Enjoy

For many organizations, the word compliance sparks more dread than enthusiasm. Yet, the irony is that compliance topics are among the most important things employees need to know, and deep down, most people want to learn about them. Take safety, for example. Everyone wants to go home at the end of the day just as healthy as they arrived. Whether they’re following safety protocols in a high-risk environment or simply locking up the office correctly at the end of the day, safety matters to everyone.

Or consider the Code of Conduct — employees genuinely want to understand what’s expected of them so they can succeed in their roles. So why, then, do so many people dread compliance training? If it’s not the topic, then it must be the delivery or the user experience. And let’s face it, that experience often needs an upgrade.

Drawing on the belief that learners are capable, motivated adults who want to do well, I’ve pulled together a few tried-and-true approaches — along with a few new ideas I’m eager to try this year.

Tried-and-True DOs

Show the navigation menu (course map).

It can be very frustrating when a learner doesn’t know where they are in a course. It feels a little like being a kid again in the back seat on a road trip asking, “Are we there yet?” — with no point of reference of how and when you’ll arrive.

Unlock the navigation menu.

While at times it makes sense to lock screens until all tasks or audio are completed, this often backfires and frustrates learners who feel stuck instead of supported. Instead, incorporate ways to check the learners’ knowledge of the content rather than forcing them to listen to every minute or complete every pop up.

Tell a story.

This can seem intimidating, and even my first thought is sometimes, “I’m not a good storyteller.” However, “telling a story” simply means sharing real-world or on-the-job examples that highlight why the training matters. Your goal is to draw learners in and make them wonder, “What happens next?” or “What would I do?”

Keep it bite-sized.

“Bite-sized” doesn’t mean superficial, overly short, or chopped up. It means taking the objective(s) and breaking them down into small, manageable parts and then presenting those parts in an organized fashion. For example, a seven-minute e-learning course, a three-minute video, a five-minute reflection or manager check-in, another five-minute e-learning course or video, and finally a 10-minute check-what-you-know assessment. There’s your 30 minutes of intentional, organized, bite-sized training.

Keep it fresh.

Even when the content doesn’t change from year to year, you can still update the look and feel of the presentation so it doesn’t feel stale. Think of it like a favorite holiday tradition — some parts are non-negotiable, but there’s always room to try something new to keep it fresh and exciting.

When it comes to compliance training, there are certainly going to be some non-negotiable items, for example, passing an assessment at 80% or reviewing a list of standards. However, can you change out or revise the graphics? Can you switch up the color palette, or change the interaction format? If it’s an e-learning course, many software platforms now have built-in AI features that allow you to quickly transform a tabbed interaction into an accordion-style or flip-card interaction.

Offer flexibility.

Consider allowing learners to test out of some of the content or providing a shorter “refresher” version of the course after their first couple of years.

Next-Level Ideas to Try

In the year ahead, I’d like to see more creativity applied to compliance courses and find ways to draw learners in from the moment the course opens. Here are some suggestions:

• Have the course open with a video sequence.
  • Keep them guessing: Have the opening sequence end with a “hook” that won’t be resolved until the end.
  • Raise eyebrows: Show what not to do and then train on what should be done.
  • Try an If/then approach: Start a story and design the content so that the story is completed as the course progresses. Provide opportunities to go back and try again to achieve a different result.
• Open to an intriguing course “map.” Think gameboard, hiking trail, city map, a day-in-the-life, or even a house with rooms to explore — something that aligns with your topic and draws learners in with eagerness to see and experience what comes next.

Kick Compliance Dread to the Curb

Compliance training doesn’t have to be a dreaded, once-a-year box to check. With a little creativity, thoughtful design, and a dose of respect for your learners as capable adults, you can, believe it or not, make compliance training something employees appreciate and actually look forward to!

Do you have any creative compliance training ideas that successfully kicked compliance dread to the curb? If so, please share them!