7 Tips for an Effective Intranet Training Program

Launching a new intranet is more than just giving employees a new software tool; intranets enable organizations to change (and improve!) the way they work together. This is particularly useful for hybrid workplaces, or environments with deskless employees, who don’t have the same opportunity to connect to each other in-person, or to stay informed on company news. 

While ThoughtFarmer is very user-friendly and intuitive, employees need training on new processes and best practices specific to your company’s intranet. Plus, for less tech-savvy employees, training gives them a boost of confidence to get started with the intranet, therefore spurring company- wide adoption. 

Here are some tips to help you design your intranet training program:

1. Offer one-on-one intranet training for executives

Executive intranet adoption is important. They hold the keys to budgets, strategic direction, and governance. Plus, they are key ambassadors that other employees will follow.  Plan to give them one-on-one training when and how they want it. You could even set up a “reverse mentoring program,” in which younger, tech savvy employees help executives get comfortable with the new intranet.

2. Plan different training tracks for different user groups

Design training sessions for different types of users, so you can emphasize the most important intranet features for them. We often divide training based on how the user will use the intranet, but you may also choose to divide it further to the role or department level. Common user groups for your intranet training program include:

• End Users
• Content Owners
• Community / Group Page Managers
• Intranet Administrators

This approach gives you the flexibility to include both technical training and best practices (e.g. a “writing for the web/intranets” portion of your “News publishers” training).

3. Train power users for each office location

Modern workplaces are dispersed and/or hybrid environments. For this reason it is useful to train power users in groups. For example, if your workplace is a mix of in-person and remote workers, identify and train power users in each group. 

A few tips:

• Work with those power users and their managers to make their role as trainers official
• Provide direct, high quality support to those power users
• Offer training scripts and tips
• Go out of your way to keep up your relationship with those power users (e.g. call them individually just to catch up)
• Schedule a monthly call for those power users

4. Create a welcoming intranet training program environment

To make users comfortable, you need to create a welcoming environment.

Frame the training as “I’m here to help you get the most out of this cool new tool” rather than “you must use this now!” Use language that reinforces the proper messages and bring a corresponding attitude.

Or instead of positioning a training session as “Intranet Training”, try an angle like, “How to quickly post company news from your department.” The latter is much more likely to pique interest.

5. Create an intranet help forum

Create a forum where users can post questions and anyone can answer them. Encourage your super users to post answers through the standard set of enticements — recognition, chocolate, gift-cards, meal delivery vouchers.

6. Hold weekly drop-in sessions

Now that you’ve trained everyone, the next step is to reinforce what they’ve learned and help them apply it to real life scenarios. You can provide this training in-person, online, or a hybrid setting.

7. Design refresher courses

There can be a big gap between “training” and “learning.” The former is a thing that happens at a specific time. The latter is an ongoing process. Provide refresher courses that are shorty, pithy and flexible enough to adapt to attendees’ needs. Consider creating videos on specific topics that can be used as refresher courses.

Good luck on your intranet training program!