Virtual shadowing

Virtual shadowing is a management technique that allows employees to observe, learn and imitate the tasks of their colleagues in order to gain experience and skills in a certain area. This technique utilizes technology to facilitate the shadowing process, allowing the employee to observe and learn from a remote location. Virtual shadowing enables managers to provide employees with an immersive learning experience in a cost and time efficient manner, increasing the speed of learning by allowing employees to observe and practice tasks at their own pace. This technique also allows managers to provide employees with real-time feedback in a safe and secure environment, thus helping employees develop their skills and grow in the organization.

Example of virtual shadowing

• Virtual shadowing can be used to help employees learn new software or processes. For example, a manager can set up a virtual shadowing session for an employee who is learning a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. During the session, the employee can observe their colleague as they complete tasks in the system, such as creating customer profiles, entering data, and running reports. The employee can take notes, ask questions, and practice completing the tasks themselves with the help of their colleague.
• Virtual shadowing can also be used to help employees learn new roles and responsibilities. For instance, a manager can set up a virtual shadowing session for an employee who is transitioning into a new position. The employee can observe their colleague as they complete tasks related to the new position, such as attending client meetings, conducting research, and preparing presentations. The employee can take notes, ask questions, and practice completing the tasks themselves with the help of their colleague.
• Virtual shadowing can be used to help employees learn new processes and procedures. For example, a manager can set up a virtual shadowing session for an employee who is learning the organization's hiring process. During the session, the employee can observe their colleague as they complete tasks such as screening resumes, setting up interviews, and making job offers. The employee can take notes, ask questions, and practice completing the tasks themselves with the help of their colleague.

When to use virtual shadowing

Virtual shadowing can be used in a variety of ways to improve employee performance and development. It is a useful tool for managers to teach and train employees in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. Virtual shadowing can be used in the following ways:

• To onboard new employees: Virtual shadowing can be used to help new employees quickly learn the processes and procedures of the organization. It can provide them with an immersive learning experience that helps them become productive more quickly.
• To provide feedback: Managers can use virtual shadowing to provide employees with real-time feedback on their performance. This helps employees improve their skills and knowledge in a safe and secure environment.
• To train employees: Virtual shadowing allows employees to observe, learn and imitate the tasks of their colleagues, enabling them to gain experience and skills in a certain area. This technique can be used to train employees in specific tasks and roles in the organization.
• To build team spirit: By allowing employees to observe each other’s work, virtual shadowing can help build team spirit and foster collaboration among employees.

Types of virtual shadowing

Virtual shadowing is a management technique that allows employees to observe, learn and imitate the tasks of their colleagues in order to gain experience and skills in a certain area. There are several different types of virtual shadowing, including:

• Live shadowing: This type of virtual shadowing involves the employee watching a live demonstration of the task. This type of virtual shadowing allows the employee to observe the task in real-time, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the process.
• Simulation shadowing: This type of virtual shadowing involves the employee participating in a simulated environment. This type of virtual shadowing allows the employee to practice the task in a safe and secure environment, without any risk of failure or injury.
• Video shadowing: This type of virtual shadowing involves the employee watching a pre-recorded video of the task. This type of virtual shadowing allows the employee to observe the task from a different perspective and gain an understanding of the task without having to actually participate in it.
• Mentorship shadowing: This type of virtual shadowing involves the employee being mentored by an experienced colleague. This type of virtual shadowing allows the employee to ask questions and receive real-time feedback, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the task.

Advantages of virtual shadowing

Virtual shadowing has several advantages for both the employee and the organization. It provides an immersive learning experience in a cost and time efficient manner, allowing employees to observe and practice tasks at their own pace. Additionally, virtual shadowing allows managers to provide employees with real-time feedback in a safe and secure environment, thus helping employees develop their skills and grow in the organization. Here are the main advantages of virtual shadowing:

• Cost-effectiveness: Virtual shadowing is a cost-effective way to provide employees with training and mentorship. It eliminates the need for additional resources and costs associated with traditional in-person shadowing.
• Flexibility: Virtual shadowing allows employees to shadow from any remote location, at any time. This increases the flexibility of the training process, allowing employees to learn and practice at their own pace.
• Scalability: Virtual shadowing can easily be scaled up or down depending on the needs of the organization. This enables managers to quickly adjust the shadowing program to help employees grow and develop.
• Real-time feedback: Virtual shadowing provides managers with the opportunity to provide real-time feedback to employees, allowing them to better understand their mistakes and learn from them.
• Secure environment: Virtual shadowing allows employees to learn in a secure environment, as all data is stored and transmitted in an encrypted format. This ensures that the employee’s information is not compromised.

Limitations of virtual shadowing

• Virtual shadowing may be limited by technological challenges such as slow internet connection or device compatibility issues.
• It cannot provide the same level of interaction as in-person shadowing, making it difficult to learn non-verbal cues and behaviors.
• Virtual shadowing is limited by the amount of content that can be shared and the level of detail that can be provided in a remote setting.
• It can be difficult to ensure mutual understanding and engagement between the employee and the supervisor in a virtual setting, as communication can be more challenging.
• Virtual shadowing can also be limited by the availability of mentors and supervisors, who may not be able to provide the same level of support as in-person shadowing.
• It can be difficult for employees to retain the knowledge gained through virtual shadowing, as the experience is often not as rich as in-person shadowing.

Virtual shadowing — recommended articles

Learning by doing — Tribal knowledge — New team member — Training and development — Job scope — Skills development — Exchange of information — Knowledge management processes — Process of learning

References

• Wheelwright, J. C., Pence, R., Richards, B., Stephen, R., Stroud, S., & Fix, M. (2022). 57 Virtual Shadowing as an Effective Approach to Gaining Exposure to the Field of Emergency Medicine. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 23(1.1).