Even before this disruption caused by the Coronavirus, we were seeing more and more companies transition from the business office to the home office. Companies offered perks ranging from working 1 day a week from home to every day of the week. Before going full throttle with the Instructional Design Company, I managed a corporate team of remote instructional designers and employees all while working remotely myself.
Today, just about everyone I work with from clients to team members who help me build learning solutions for my clients is either a remote instructional designer, video specialist, eLearning developer, copywriter, proofreader, etc. Not every type of job is suited for remote working but if you are in Training & Development, your work can be done from just about anywhere.
Whether you provide instructional design services, create eLearning modules, or actually facilitate training, we can flex where we work and how we get our work done. Before we get into the benefits of allowing your team to work as remote instructional designers or eLearning developers, drop down to the comments. Tell me what you love (or would love) about working remotely.
I’ve got so much great information about telecommuting. Feel free to jump down to the section that interests you most! For employers who may be interested in moving their office-based employees towards remote work, I’ll walk you through some of the benefits of allowing the members of your training team to telecommute.
For my instructional designers and eLearning developers who are interested in learning more about remote work, those benefits definitely apply to you too, but don’t worry! In the coming weeks, I am also going to address some common challenges to working with a remote team. I will also give tips on how you can be an uber effective remote instructional designer so you can work smarter from home while social distancing. Plus, stay tuned for my favorite tools and most helpful tips for working as a remote instructional designer.
5 Benefits of Having Remote Instructional Designers (for Employers)
If you’re still not sold on the idea of remote work (for yourself or for your team), I know what you’re thinking: working from home is just an excuse to sleep in, stay in your pajamas all day, and watch TV while you “work”. Okay, hopefully, you weren’t thinking that. But I know I’ve encountered other professionals who make that assumption when I say I work remotely.
I once had a boss who told me he didn’t believe that remote workers were as effective as in-office workers and that I was just the exception to the rule. While it was a backward compliment, he was wrong in his thinking.
If what he believed was true, do you really think successful companies like Apple, Dell, Github, and Salesforce would have embraced it? No way! These companies (and so many others) are fully realizing the benefits of having remote employees.
Just last week I was on a video conference call with a sales rep from Hubspot and every single workspace that I could see behind him was empty because EVERYONE was working from home to help flatten the curve of the Coronavirus.
In my experience, remote employees are some of the hardest working, most self-directed talent- because they have to be! If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be able to keep their jobs. What I find hardest about working remotely, is forcing myself to stop working!
How about this: according to Global Workplace Analytics , top companies report their telecommuters are actually 35-40% more productive than on-site employees. Here are a few more of the benefits of remote ID work:
1. It saves money
Do I have your attention? You know I had to start with this one. If working remotely was too expensive, there’s no way it would be such a common practice.
Remote work can significantly reduce your office expenses. The less space you need, the fewer people who come into the office. This results in lesser spending on utilities, maintenance, supplies, hardware, and dare I say “toilet paper”.
Not to mention, employees who work remotely spend less of their own money on commuting, lunch, and professional attire.
2. It eases the stress of the daily grind
When we talk about the cost of maintaining an office environment, we don’t always think of the mental toll the workplace can take on its employees.
A huge benefit of allowing employees in your office to work remotely is the improvement it can have on their wellbeing.
Instead of spending an hour in the car driving to work, the employee can spend it running or working out. Instead of spending an hour driving home, the employee can use that time to focus on family, friends, and other areas of interest.
Trading drivetime can help your employees have a happy, fuller life while enjoying their professional work.
Even the best work environments come with stressors. Sometimes just taking a day or two a week to work from home can result in a considerable relief of your mental load. Happy employees are productive employees!
3. It encourages self-directedness
The remote instructional designer has to be extremely organized, so transitioning from traditional office work to remote work can be challenging for some people. Remote workers must be able to stay focused while working from home or from a café. Otherwise, work quality will begin to suffer. This isn’t true for just remote employees, however. In-office employees struggle with the same issue.
My response to John, my old boss who didn’t believe remote workers were effective, is to let the work results speak for the employee. Does the employee get their work done? Is the work quality? Is it on time or early? Those are the things you should be evaluating.
Working from home isn’t doable by everyone. In fact, you may find yourself shaking some low performers off the team. But overall, I think you may be surprised at how your remote instructional designers and eLearning developers step up their game. Their productivity is boosted. They continue to meet expectations and hit deadlines even though they might be working from their couch in their pajama bottoms.
4. It widens the talent pool
Once you open your candidate pool to include remote workers, the amount of talent you can reach has just grown exponentially. You can build your team by recruiting that genius ID who lives on the West Coast. No need to drop a huge sum on relocation fees.
This works both ways. As a remote instructional designer, you now have no limits on your search radius when it comes to your work. Whether you’re seeking full-time employment or looking for special projects here and there, working remotely opens a lot of opportunities. You can even accept a position halfway around the world. Just keep an eye on the time change when you’re sending those emails!
5. Skip flu season (and the Coronavirus!) when you work as a remote instructional designer
I know a lot of people are especially interested in remote work right now. Still, even during the regular flu season, everyone benefits from having the option to work from home.
Sick employees cost the company money! Even if they try to power through and come into work, they’re putting their coworkers at risk. Also, there’s no way they’re performing at their usual level.
On the other hand, sometimes an employee has a day when they don’t feel great. They’re not contagious and they probably could go in… but just the thought of getting ready, packing lunch, and driving to the office make that headache ten times worse.
Well, with remote work, employees might not be as productive as usual. Nevertheless, they’re more likely to clock in.
When you allow employees to telecommute, you make your office environment safer. Employees use their sick days when they really need them.
Being a remote instructional designer provides a better and healthier option for work
Embracing the remote style of working is not just convenient, time-saving, and money-saving. I genuinely believe companies that remain resistant to allowing their employees to telecommute are losing out in the long run.
Remote work is becoming more and more popular (especially in the face of public health concerns). Companies that require in-office employees will miss out on top talent as their competitors allow more and more telecommuting.
In light of the pandemic that is sweeping around the world, there is no better time to start putting in place some work-from-home guidelines.
If you need help organizing your new way of working, give me a call. I can help you set up your remote team. While it’s not rocket science, why reinvent the wheel on your own? Pick the brain of someone who has already done it and is doing it on a daily basis.
Those of you who have already tested the telecommuting waters or are planning to, staying organized and focused is the key to your productivity! Working from home can be a rewarding experience and at this time, a healthier option.
I love hearing your thoughts on my Facebook page , so join the community and share with me how you plan to embrace the perks of being a remote ID! If you have any questions or concerns about remote work, just drop me a line!
Ready to dive in and become a full-stack Instructional Designer and eLearning Developer without getting another degree? Check out my 12-week immersive program: Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator Certificate Program.
JOIN OUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK OF IDCers!
The Testimonials are In:
Client
Shola Richards
Working with Shanwtay and Katie at the Instructional Design Company was a dream come true. Their creativity, expertise, and professionalism throughout the entire process was beyond top notch. I engaged them to help turn my first book into a training course, and I could not be happier with how the final product turned out. If you have an instructional design project and you’re considering which company to work with, you can stop your search and thank me later. They are truly the best in the business.
Shola Richards
Student
Graphic Designer
I joined the Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator Certificate Program because I struggled to find jobs in instructional design beyond the development phase. I’ve done a couple of training programs with lots of random projects, but I was overwhelmed, not connecting the dots, and not good at structuring my writing to hit learning objectives. I was looking for motivation and direction at beginning a better Instructional Designer.
After taking the Instructional Design & Tech Certificate program and joining my fantastic team for support, I found the structure and approach to be what I need to take my next steps, evening improving my skills in the development stage.
Gayle Bower
Student
Teacher, Future Instructional Designer
I love how this course let’s you work at your own pace. I got great tips and learned many things. The ongoing support for multiple people and groups is what I love the best. You are never alone in this process. I have been able to adjust my resume and began creating a portfolio of work I’ve completed to add when applying for jobs. I use many of the PowerPoint skills in my lessons and trainings. I would highly recommend this for anyone wanting to become an instructional designer.
Laurie Henderson
Student
Teacher, Future Instructional Designer
I have searched for the last few years to find some suitable career change where I wouldn’t have to earn another degree and where I could use the talents and skills I already have as a teacher. When I came across the Instructional Design Accelerator course, I loved the fact that Shawntay was a former teacher and could relate to a teacher’s need to transition from the classroom. This was what sold the course for me. Her experiences are invaluable especially when translating teacher duties to instructional designer duties. I would (and have) recommended this program to other teachers I know who are looking to transition out of the classroom. I do appreciate ALL of her feedback on my projects!
Wendy McMillian
Student
L&D Project Manager
The Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator certificate program is one of the most comprehensive ID programs out there for beginners. If you’re looking to grow your schools in ID and development then I highly recommend this program. Not only will this program give you an overview of theory, but you will receive a thorough walkthrough of how to apply what you have learned. Although I had already secured a position in Learning & Development when I bought this course, it helped me to move up into a new position as a Learning & Development Project Manager!
Gabby Grimaldo
Student
Future Instructional Designer
If you have any interest in ID, sign up for this program NOW! Shawntay and her team are top notch! The course content exceeded my expectations in a big way and the encouragement and support continues to be so valuable. You will not feel alone going through this course, you will learn so much, you’ll have many cheerleaders, and you will have fun!
Shanna Howe
Student
Future Instructional Designer
I am really enjoying this program! It’s prerfect for someone who is thinking about a career shift to Instructional Design and does not have a lot of experience. This is my first real introduction to Instructional Design and it’s been the perfect beginner course to help me get my feet wet. The modules are broken down well and it’s great to go at your own pace and at your own time. The modules themselves are very comprehensive and you learn a lot from all of them. I really like how each one build upon each other and you’re working towards the bigger project of designing your first training course from scratch. I’m learning so much from going through this course! I was provided great feedback from Katie and Shawntay through the process via Trello Boards, comments on the Google documents, and Facebook group. This course has been well worth the time and effort and I appreciate the fact that I will always have the resources available to me after I complete the training (just in case I’m not quite ready to transition yet).
Aviva Berkowitz
Student
Future Instructional Designer
I can’t say enough great things about the Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator Certificate Program! The length of the program is perfect; it doesn’t feel rushed and there’s just the right amount of structure to give you the accountability you need. There are so many opportunities to get live answers to any questions you have related to the course content or anything ID-related! This program gave me the support and structure I needed to both feel affirmed in the relevant skills I already had coming in and to fill in the gaps I had as a career-changer going into ID. Shawntay, Katie, and all the coaches are super helpful and supportive. I now feel confident that I have the tools and access to resources I need to apply for ID jobs without wondering if there’s something I’m “missing” in the preparation process. I’d highly recommend this program to anyone wanting to transition into ID or who just wants to brush up on their skills in the field.
Krista Johnson Awomoyi
Student
Freelance Instructional Designer
I’d highly recommend the Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator Certificate Program. I’m blown away by how much I learned in just 12 weeks. I had ID experience prior to taking this course and was just looking to get a better understanding of applying adult learning principles. This course well exceeded my expectations! Not only did I gain a clear understanding of adult learning principles, I was also able to apply those principles by creating assets for your portfolio using PowerPoint, Adobe Premiere Pro and Storyline. The hands on support that we received was top notch.
Darlene Dalgleish
Student
Instructional Designer
This program is one of the most robust yet fulfilling L&D programs I’ve seen. I learned so much about the industry and about the limitlessness of my own capabilities. I am so appreciative of Shawntay and all of the trainers who took part in the program. They went above and beyond with not only guiding, but communicating live and working one on one or in small groups. If you are on the fence, I say take the leap and you will not regret it! There’s so much to learn, not only from the trainers, but also the learners in your group. Everyone comes in with their own skills and can be additional support and guidance for you. Thank you for creating this program!
Shawnice Edge
Student
Instructional Designer Training Facilitator
Shawntay is an amazing individual. She is very knowledgeable in all aspects of ID and eLearning. She is also very compassionate and loves to help and see everyone around her grow and prosper. Shawntay has been a great mentor to me and she has helped me mature as an instructional designer and eLearning developer. She has provided me with opportunities when others have overlooked me. I am very grateful to have met and built a lifelong relationship with Shawntay.
I recently got hired into my first instructional design / training position and Shawntay was one of the first people to congratulate me!
Brian Hightower
Student
Freelance Instructional Designer
My teacher-to-instructional-designer journey began two years ago when I left my teaching comfort zone and started my first freelance ID job. Now, I’m stepping out of the classroom and taking my freelance work full-time, so I’m thrilled to be joining the Tech Accelerator program. Adding technologies like Articulate 360 and Adobe Premiere Pro to my qualifications will help me take my courses to the next level and attract more clients!
Sarah Smith
Student
Teacher Transitioning into Instructional Design
I am genuinely grateful for this course. I wanted a real-world perspective and feel like I got it. I’m teaching now, but nearing retirement age but can see myself working as an instructional designer well into my retirement years. My other goal is to take as many courses in statistics as possible in hopes of bringing some mathematical precision to the ROI question. Like you say, getting accurate metrics to measure ROI can be a challenge, but I intend to work on that part. That’s unimportant right now, what is important is the fact that I feel like this course was well worth every penny I spent and I would to it again in a heartbeat. I have too much going on right now, but as soon as I get some time freed up I intend to take your course in project management.
Lee R
Client
Turns Your Written Thoughts Into a Masterpiece!
Shawntay Skjoldager can turn your written thoughts into a masterpiece. She is great to work with and the most organized person I know!
Sheryl Rhoades
President and CEO, The Creative Entreprenuer
Client
Shawntay has been incredible!
Shawntay has been incredible and her team is responsive and effective in translating my training programs into professional presentations. Don’t hesitate to contact her for your project.
Beth B. De Lima, MBA, SPHR-CA, SHRM-SCP
President and Principal of HRM Consulting, Inc.
Client
IDC is My Secret Weapon to Soar Above My Competition!
The IDC team has been my secret and special weapon of success. They have delivered above and beyond with every single project out in front of them. They have met and beat timelines. They have been Uber responsive every step of the way. I keep them on speed dial and have and continue to recommend them to friends and clients. If you are in need of instructional design and plenty more, this is THE ALL-STAR team that will more than deliver and help make you and your project soar above the competition.
LT. COL. Jason O. Harris
U.S. Air Force Officer, Special Operations Pilot, U.S.A.F. Academy Instructor, Motivational Speaker
Client
A Tremendous Asset to the Project Team!
Working with Shawntay and the Instructional Design Company has allowed our university to meet the growing demands of our programs. Shawntay’s expertise allowed for the course development to be completed on time and met all of the university requirements. Shawntay’s project management skills were phenomenal and allowed my team to work on other areas while she completed this project for us. Her work is of high quality and her professionalism and willingness to help made her a tremendous asset to the project team.
Amanda Buckley
Academic Quality Assurance Specialist, Abilene Christian University
Client
Creative & Highly Talented!
Shawntay is a creative and highly talented instructional designer. She brought a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and leadership that enabled her to own the design and creation of a full scale facilitator curriculum and train-the-trainer program. It was a pleasure to partner with Shawntay, her project management and communication skills ensured the project was on time and on budget.
Susan Gatti
President, IMMIXID
Client
Breaks Down Mammoth Projects
“Shawntay is quick study and carefully synthesizes information for presentations that are clear, concise and captivating. Her personality draws the audience in and her content mastery is excellent. A team player and organizer, Shawntay has the ability to break down mammoth projects, keep everybody on time and on task.”
Rick Miller
Author, Speaker, Strengths Coach
Client
eLearning Development
“I have had many opportunities to work with Shawntay—mainly in the support of implementing new eLearning initiatives. I have been very impressed by her ability to quickly learn how to use rapid eLearning development tools and effectively use them to create multiple courses within a short timeframe. Shawntay’s enthusiastic nature, attention to detail, and dedication to her work make her a pleasure to work with and a great asset to both Texas A&M University-Commerce and the broader training community within the Texas A&M University System.”
Ashley Christian
Director of Learning Strategy, Caveo Learning
Client
Top Notch Professional
Working with Shawntay has been an immense pleasure. She is atop notch professional who brings enthusiasm and extensiveexpertise to professional curriculum development and execution. Her knowledge of tried and true techniques to maximize the effectiveness of presentations is invaluable.
Nancy Drapeau, PRC
Vice President of Research, CEIR - Center for Exhibition Industry Research
Client
Fortunate to Find Shawntay!
“I was fortunate to find Shawntay when our organization was looking to expand and update our educational offerings. Shawntay proved herself to be an educational and personal development expert who immediately made an impact with our clients throughout Europe. Everyone who came into contact with Shawntay was immediately impressed by her level of expertise and willingness to share her knowledge with those around her. I would not hesitate to recommend Shawntay to anyone looking for an education subject matter expert.”
Jonathan Burt
Director of Qualifications and NSD Services, Mary Kay Inc.
Client
Short Turn Around. On Time. Under Budget!
“We hired Shawntay to develop a training facilitator’s guide and PowerPoint slide deck for an operations manual heavy with technical content. The project was made more challenging by a very short turn around, 5 business days, and the fact that the operations manual wasn’t complete and was being updated simultaneously with the facilitator’s guide and slide deck. Despite these challenges, Shawntay delivered as promised. On time and under budget.”
Dave Beeman, CPP
Vice President, Andy Frain Services
Client
Need an Expert Who Consistently Delivers?
“Working with Shawntay you will immediately notice her professional presence and poise, but over time her tenacious pursuit of excellence and her skills in instructional development and adult learning will really impress you. I worked with her at Mary Kay, and was able to experience firsthand her great rapport with regional partners in Europe, understanding their unique sales force training needs. In addition, Shawntay consistently exhibited grace under pressure, made executive decisions to move business forward. If you are looking for an expert who consistently delivers and goes the extra mile to get things done, contact Shawntay!”
Mellora Moore
Marketing Director, Academic Partnerships
Client
Quality Products & Solutions!
“I had had the pleasure of knowing and working with Shawntay on more than a few occasions. I found her to be a very good business partner and very committed to delivering a quality product or solution in a timely manner. I have always had a positive experience in partnering with Shawntay and would recommend that you consider leveraging her talent.”
Judy Owen, CPC
Transformational Leadership Coach
Client
“Invest in yourself and take your skills to the next NEXT level!”
Get yourself signed up for Shawntay Skjoldager’s Instructional Design & Tech Accelerator Certificate Program today and be on your way to success! Within the first week of taking her course, you will experience growth! Be sure to plug into her Facebook Q&A sessions for personalized help, too. This is THE course to take if you are new to instructional design or have landed on the training team and need help getting started.
Patrick Hodges
Managing Partner, PHiG
Client
“Her enthusiasm for adult learning is contagious!”
Shawntay has exceptional knowledge and experience with all aspects of creating and implementing effective, performance based training for adults. She is exceptional at needs analysis – identifying target audiences and collaborating with business owners to keep training focused on business needs. And she is great to work with – always providing great support to get projects done on-time and on-target. She is always on the look-out for new and more effective ways to engage learners. Her enthusiasm for adult learning is contagious!
Mike Stubblefield
eLearning Developer/Instructional Designer, Vivos Therapeutics
Client
“Spot on”
I have known and worked with Shawntay as a education program director and use the expertise of ShawntayMichelle for the development of my presentations. The service has always been “spot on” with professionalism, care and attention. Shawntay’s recommendations to my ideas make me look good to my clients.
Al Lomas CMP, CEM, CMM, CFE
Owner, Certified Consulting Services
Client
“Shawntay Skjoldager reached in and made my training life so much easier!”
I am new to the training design and development world and I was SO excited to get in there, but I really lacked the real-world knowledge that would set me apart from my peers. And, then Shawntay Skjoldager walked into my life with an outstretched hand and a seemingly endless list of ways to knock every training out of the park. From the Training Analysis Form to the Tay Tay tips, this course made my life so much easier and even ironed out the review process that I had been struggling with for months.
Take time to invest in your own learning and make sure to put Shawntay Michelle at the top of your personal development list!
Katie Carter
Training Specialist, LegalShield
