I recently received a picture via text from a friend who is a college professor, which sparked an extended discussion about
His initial text was a photo of my younger son that made me both smile and cringe a bit. My son is enrolled in his mass communication class.
The picture captured a moment during their final exam period when students were presenting their projects. True to his style, my son was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, shorts and Hey Dude shoes, notably without socks.
I replied, "Well, it's good to see he's dressing up for the occasion." In response, my friend sent a smiling emoji and said, "Don't worry. I didn't specify any dress code for their final presentations. About 90% of the class looks like they're ready for a nature hike rather than a final project presentation."
This exchange led to a broader conversation about the challenges faced by everyone from college professors to corporate training departments in
He said, "You shouldn't expect today's students to read between the lines … or read your mind. If it's important, say so. If you don't clearly state it … then apparently it isn't."
A bigger challenge he expounded on was that even exceptionally intelligent students seem to have shorter attention spans than folks, "back in our day." Of course, we were one of the last generations to turn in papers typed on word processors.
We also relied on the hieroglyphic-like system known as the Dewey Decimal Classification and hoped the books we needed weren't already checked out. To today's students, that sounds like reading from unrolled parchment by candlelight.
Now, it's worth noting that the societal shift toward shorter attention spans isn't just confined to those under 25 years old. I have many 50+-year-old friends who are as tethered to their phones as my
We now live in an era where all the world's information is readily available at our fingertips. Concurrently, the competition for our attention has reached unprecedented levels, with large and powerful social media companies constantly devising new strategies to capture even more of our limited attention span.
And the idea that people will avoid using their smartphones for extended periods, whether at work, in class or during meetings, is becoming increasingly quaint.
Banks, payment companies, mortgage lenders and insurance providers are racing to seize an advantage from generative artificial intelligence. Some have been especially aggressive in deciding which workflows — or entire jobs — can be handed off to AI.
As my friend described some of the adjustments he's implemented in his classroom approach to maintain student engagement, I found myself reflecting on similar challenges that I've discussed with bank trainers and leaders in recent years.
Providing teams with comprehensive training materials is essential. However, even when an organization has identified critical information and skills development resources for their teams, the effectiveness of these materials depends heavily on the methods and channels of delivery.
During the semester break, my son mentioned that one of their assignments in mass communication class involved creating memes. I half-jokingly questioned the rationale behind paying his tuition for what seemed like such frivolousness.
He then inquired about the type of content my friends and I (the old folks) text each other. He bet that a large percentage of our exchanges consisted of memes. He wasn't wrong.
Beyond that, he pointed out that we tend to remember humorous memes for extended periods. And yes, I instantly recalled a few sales and customer service themed memes from recent years.
Now, should banks start transforming their training programs into memes? Clearly, that's not a practical solution.
However, the attributes that make memes so compelling — their visual appeal, succinctness, humor and cultural relevance — highlight key elements for effective communication in today's fast-paced, visually driven world.
Memes have a unique ability to cut through the noise. Incorporating similar elements into banker education, such as short videos, podcasts and even audiobook versions of training materials, could significantly enhance the effectiveness of learning and skills development.
As we observe the transformation in preferred methods of learning, retaining and sharing information, it becomes evident that new approaches are worth considering.
Students of all ages today — whether in college or corporate training classes — are as intelligent and talented as ever. Yet, the evolution in learning style preferences has outpaced the adaptation in communication styles of many teachers, trainers and leaders.
Reimagining the delivery of selected bits of your training and reinforcement practices could breathe new life and effectiveness into even age-old messages.
