In-house inspired: Employee-sourced content 

The secret to success can be found in the collective wisdom already present among your employees. Facebook, for example, is known for its hackathons, where employees collaborate to drive innovation. Netflix's unique culture is another example of tapping into internal resources, where employees are entrusted to help build the culture. A pivotal shift happens when businesses recognize the untapped potential of their in-house experts.  

This especially applies to employee development. Employee-sourced content has become a game-changer for training and development. By leveraging their unique perspectives, employees not only become content creators but also drive the success of training experiences.  

In essence, your team holds the key to its development. Who would have thought?  

Employee-sourced content: Tapping into your team’s potential  

Employee-sourced content — also called employee-generated content (EGC) or user-generated content (UGC) — puts the power of knowledge creation into the hands of your workforce. It makes content more accessible, but also more impactful. Statistics show that EUGC is eight times more engaging than company-created content, demonstrating that individual employees know a thing or two more about content that actually works  

So, what does employee-sourced content look like, exactly? It can be original content created by employees directly, or public content suggested by them. From blogs to YouTube videos, EGC comes in all types of formats. 

More and more, forward-thinking managers are increasingly recognizing the importance of creating a structured content strategy that aligns with employees' interests and ambitions. Employee-sourced content is an approach that not only fosters continuous learning but also turns the workforce into a self-sustaining learning community — redefining employee development as a whole. For this strategy to work though, budgeting time for it is key.  

Why have an employee-sourced content strategy? 

Harnessing the insights of your workforce not only transforms them into content creators but also reshapes the entire experience around employee development. And who is better placed to create or suggest employee training material than the employees themselves? After all, they are the subject matter experts. 

If you’re looking to involve your employees in your content strategies, here are some of the many benefits:   

• Accessing pre-vouched content: By using content that employees recognize as relevant and helpful to them, you’re choosing content that is already vouched for by your teams. Whether using original content or external content suggested by employees, it’s possible to put together a learning system that is more impactful without additional resources.  

• Accelerated learning progression:  When learning paths fit seamlessly into your team's day-to-day work, progressing through training and development becomes more accessible. Employee-sourced content allows for the creation of tailored learning experiences that align with employees’ realities, increasing the efficiency of learning paths. 
• Guarantees knowledge transfer: Through role changes and team reshuffles, preserving the knowledge within your organization is critical. Employee-sourced content strategies act as a safeguard to knowledge transfer, preserving critical know-how and allowing your team to build upon it. 

• Increased engagement and collaboration: When your team becomes part of the content-building process, a culture of collaboration and engagement naturally evolves. Inviting employees to help build training experiences helps them see how their participation impacts business success. 

When your team becomes the driving force behind knowledge creation, the benefits extend beyond simply revving up the traditional training model. It nurtures innovation, participation, and a shared mission for learning. 

Using technology to implement employee-sourced content training 

So, how do you transform your team into content creators? Leveraging the right technology is key. Here are ways managers can implement employee-sourced content to feed into their training programs:  

Collaborative platforms 

Collaborative platforms offer employees channels where they can share insights, create content, and engage in meaningful discussions seamlessly with peers and managers. Look for platforms with real-time collaboration features, allowing employees to share momentum and see where they can help. This makes the experience more engaging and dynamic — and is especially useful for remote teams. 

Learning management systems (LMS) 

LMS solutions streamline the planning, mapping, and tracking of training content — providing a centralized hub for a cohesive learning experience amongst your team. These systems usually have features like content creation and interactive assessments. Look for ones that offer creator access to both managers and employees.

Multimedia integration  

Video is one of the most effective learning mediums there is — so it’s important to incorporate multimedia elements into training. Tools that support the creation of videos, podcasts, and interactive presentations empower employees to express their ideas in innovative ways and help create richer learning experiences all around. 

Gamification and microlearning

Gamification elements and microlearning modules turn the training process into fun, achievable steps to success. Features like point systems and virtual rewards fuel motivation. Breaking down training into bite-sized learning also helps improve information retention. Technology-driven approaches like these make learning so much more accessible and enjoyable. 

Data analytics

Hindsight provides a lot of learning too. That’s why data analytics tools are an important aspect of training programs — they help managers and employees gain insights into the effectiveness of employee-sourced content training, highlighting what performs best and where there’s room for improvement. So it’s a good idea to look at training tools with performance dashboards. 

Workleap LMS: Create training content that actually matters 

As we move through an era of continuous learning, the value of employee-sourced content cannot be overstated. It’s a movement towards a smarter, more engaged, and self-sustaining workforce.  

Success is not about doing it all, but about focusing on what matters. Workleap LMS can help you start building a better learning and development culture by capturing team knowledge and transforming it into structured training programs. With user-friendly features for course creation, evaluations, and knowledge management, Workleap LMS can empower managers to turn in-house experts into powerful content creators for impactful learning experiences. 

Don’t hold back on tapping into the brilliance within your team — the future of your organization's success might just be a few learning experiences away. Try Workleap LMS today for free.