Get ready for peer-to-peer training
What better way is there to learn than from other's mistakes? Experts talk about peer-to-peer training, a trend that is fast catching on.
Today's industries are witnessing fast and dramatic changes in operations and these call for people at all levels to hone their skills on contemporary developments. Since not all receive such fast-paced advanced training, it is becoming inevitable for individuals to learn from their peers. So, what exactly is peer-to-peer training? Sudhanshu Pandit, director HR, Symantec says, "Peer-to-peer training is a method through which employees can learn from each other and their experiences within the same functional level. Peer-to-peer training not only helps in knowledge-sharing, but also fosters team spirit."
Explaining the advantages of encouraging employees in training each other, Umair Muhajir, VP and head of litigation solutions, Pangea3 says, "Peer-to-peer training is important because it is generally associated with a more interactive learning experience (as opposed to an instructor-centric approach); it is especially valuable in situations involving large teams, where maintaining consistency of learning and instructions can pose a challenge."
J M Prasad, HR-head, ING Vysya Bank says, "Usually, there is a high degree of inhibition between the trainer and participant, given the reduced time to build trust. Peer-to-peer enables a common playing field, thus enhancing the opportunity to exchange positivity."
Sharad Sharma, director & chief - HR, Vertex Customer Services India Pvt Ltd tells us about peer-to-peer programmes they follow, "At Vertex, we have a peer-to-peer training programme called ‘Bridge', which aims at peer level guidance and coaching for process-specific trainings. Once on the floor, a team of associates is aligned to one mentor/coach who is responsible for demonstrating the right behaviour to improve performance as per the set targets. Apart from this, a unique programme is designed - ‘Buddy Program' wherein the buddy will be the ‘friend@work' that a new hire can reach out to for all the do's and don'ts of the organisation, to understand the new hire's way around and spend time with in order to not feel isolated in the new set-up."
The peer-to-peer training technique helps them deal with and overcome the change in market dynamics such as the onset of recession or cutbacks in training budgets or changes in market dynamics of customers, which calls for developing an action plan to overcome day-to-day challenges. - Arshie Chevalwala
