Reflecting on a Non-Traditional Journey
As the Production Team Lead at New Leaf Technologies, my journey has been anything but conventional. With a background (before joining New leaf) planted in advertising and Digital Marketing, my transition into the realm of eLearning has been marked by a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and innovation. It was not easy and most definitely had its fair share of up’s and down’s. I have discovered invaluable lessons along the way that have shaped my approach to leading the production team and helping drive successful eLearning projects for a variety of clients from a range of different industries.
Lessons from the World of Advertising
In the fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of advertising, the ability to generate big ideas and execute them with precision is paramount. From crafting compelling narratives to designing visually captivating campaigns, my years in advertising honed my skills in creativity, storytelling, and project management. However, it was during this time that I also learned the importance of collaboration and the power of a cohesive team, from the start of a project, all the way through to the “Review Cycle” (which in my opinion is the most crucial stage of all) this can either make or break a project.
Translating Philosophy to eLearning
In advertising, the creative process often involves bringing together diverse talents – copywriters, designers, strategists, and account managers and more often than not, inter–agency collaborations; to brainstorm, refine, and execute the creative campaigns that resonate with the desired LSM (Target market). Each team member plays a unique role in bringing a vision to life, and effective collaboration is essential for any business’ or team’s success. It’s about finding the balance between fostering individual creativity and harnessing the collective genius of the team.
This philosophy seamlessly translates into the world of eLearning, where multidisciplinary teams collaborate to develop engaging and effective content than not only resonates with learners, but also aids in their personal growth and development.
Importance of a Small Review Team
Just as in advertising, the key to success lies in keeping your ideas big, while keeping your review team small. By assembling a tight-knit group of SME’s with complementary skills and perspectives, you can foster a culture of innovation and drive the development of high-quality eLearning experiences based on the subject matter.
In the High stakes environment of eLearning and in the process of creating a module, or a batch of modules that fall within a wider course of materials, it is almost imperative to keep your review team to as few as possible – this not only keeps the feedback precise and consistent but ensures that the final product does what it was always intended to do: to uplift, upskill or EMPOWER.
Conclusion: Guiding Principles in eLearning
In conclusion, my background has provided invaluable insights and lessons that have guided my approach as a Production Team Lead within New Leaf Technologies. From the importance of creativity and storytelling, to the value of collaboration and adaptability, the principles I’ve learned continue to shape my work and drive success in the dynamic world of eLearning. By keeping our ideas big and our review teams small, we can create innovative and impactful learning experiences that inspire, educate, and empower learners – not just in South Africa but around the world as a whole.
