Learning: How does your chamber fill this need?
When I speak with chamber leaders, we often discuss the importance of ‘learning’ as a member service. Learning is one of the big three expectations members have for their chamber. Through their chamber membership, many business owners expect to learn, to lead and to make a difference.
What’s the best way for chambers to fulfil this need for learning? It’s hard, right? What exactly do members want to learn? Is it professional development, personal growth or business assistance that is in most demand? What times of day/week and formats are preferred to deliver the content? When is a seminar preferred over a webinar or interactive workshop? And, at what price should chambers provide these learning services to its members. I bet not a day goes by without chamber leaders wrestling with solutions for these questions. Asking your members through surveys, focus groups or other feedback forums is smart advice. But don’t delay - Millennial and Gen Z business owners, the largest cohorts in North America (i.e. your biggest pool of members and prospective members), expect convenient and relevant learning opportunities now.
One chamber that is investing all-in on learning as a service, is the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC). Through its collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec (FCCQ), OCC has launched Skills Bridge. Skill Bridge’s mission is to empower businesses by providing asynchronous learning solutions. Currently, Skills Bridge offers six learning pathways, at no cost to businesses.
Skills Bridge employs a user-friendly learning management system.
Interactive elements like videos, quizzes etc. help learners retain valuable content.
OCC has chosen to provide six pathways that offer professional development (for example, 1. Management and Supervisory Skills or 2. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Employees and Leaders), Personal Development (3. Communication and Collaboration or 4. Creativity and Innovation) and Business Skills (for example, 5. Business Essentials or 6. Advanced Digital and Professional Training). More content and pathways are under development. Accessing the learning is straight-forward. Once a business account is set-up through a simple online sign-up, business owners can access learning at any time of the day or night and in any sequence they choose.
Skills Bridge employs a user-friendly learning management system involving interactive elements such as video, quizzes, flash cards etc. typically presented in four, 50-60 minute modules, so that learning is both engaging and digestible for busy business owners.
I’ve experienced the Creativity and Innovation pathway firsthand. I like it. This particular pathway explained how organizations can infuse principles of creativity and innovation into their business, from definition to practical application. Modules included building resiliency and positive team connections and creative problem-solving. It was an enjoyable experience.
OCC and FCCQ are currently marketing Skills Bridge to its broad chamber and business network. Kudos to OCC and FCCQ for their leadership on this initiative. It is a model for all chambers wanting to provide relevant learning for its members.
I encourage you to visit Skills Bridge today, to set up an account. And please share the link with your members. They will thank you for it. It’s free-of-charge, relevant, convenient and time-efficient. Soon to become commonplace, the future of chamber-led online learning for business is in high demand. It’s time to start learning!
