When Did You Last Conduct Face-to-Face Training for Your Employees?

I’m not suggesting we go back to the days of typewriters, but I do want to make a point: in our pursuit of the newest and most efficient tools—AI, Skillsoft, Ethena, or TalentLMS—we sometimes overlook the value that traditional methods still hold. The typewriter, placed in a modern office, symbolizes the potential benefits of blending the best of the past with today’s innovations.

Twenty years ago, compliance training was human-centered. Employees gathered in a room, shared experiences, asked questions openly, and learned from one another.

Today, training is just a few clicks away—efficient and convenient. But have we lost something vital along the way? Have we sacrificed the personal touch that made learning resonate, made it memorable, and ensured it stuck?

It may be time to revisit some of the old methods. Not to resist progress, but because the best solutions aren’t always the newest. Bringing back the human touch in compliance training through face-to-face sessions could make it impactful, memorable, and deeply human once again.

In this article, we'll explore two aspects: the value of face-to-face training delivered by a compliance officer (not just a professional trainer delivering generic sessions) and the added benefit of an external perspective brought by experienced compliance professionals. These elements can transform a training program from mere box-checking into an engaging and effective learning experience.

The Value of Face-to-Face Training by a Compliance Officer

Face-to-face compliance training offers unique advantages that are often hard to replicate online, especially when conducted by someone embedded in the organization, like a compliance officer. Direct engagement, building trust, emotional storytelling, and hands-on exercises are what set this type of training apart.

1. Real-Time Engagement and Immediate Feedback

   Face-to-face training led by a compliance officer fosters active engagement and immediate interaction. Participants can ask questions, and trainers can respond right away, addressing any ambiguities on the spot. A compliance officer understands the company’s culture and specific pain points, making the conversation more relevant. This two-way dialogue helps clarify the complexities of compliance, ensuring a deep understanding of both the rules and their practical application within the organization.

2. Building Trust and Encouraging Openness

   Being physically present with others builds a sense of trust that is difficult to achieve online. When the compliance officer—a familiar face within the organization—conducts the training, it fosters openness and transparency. Employees are more likely to share experiences, raise concerns, and discuss ethical dilemmas. This openness is particularly important in compliance training, where addressing ethical gray areas is crucial for building a culture of integrity.

3. Emotional Connection Through Storytelling

   Face-to-face sessions provide opportunities for storytelling that make compliance principles tangible. When led by a compliance officer, these stories often come directly from the organization's own history or industry-specific challenges. Real-world stories shared in person resonate more deeply; participants remember not only the rules but also why they matter, as they connect with the human experiences behind them. This emotional engagement is crucial in making training memorable.

4. Non-Verbal Communication and Increased Focus

   Body language, eye contact, and facial expressions all play a significant role in conveying the seriousness of compliance topics. A compliance officer who understands the context and nuances of the company can read participants' non-verbal cues and adjust the approach in real time, which is impossible in virtual settings. In-person training also reduces distractions, providing a focused environment where participants are less tempted to multitask, leading to higher retention of key concepts.

5. Hands-On Practical Exercises

   Face-to-face training allows participants to actively engage in role-playing exercises and simulations under the guidance of a trainer who knows the specific risks facing the company. By practicing how to respond to real-world situations involving bribery or undue influence, participants gain hands-on experience that enhances their ability to make ethical decisions in practice. This level of interaction is far more effective when conducted in person by someone who is well-versed in the organization's unique challenges.

What Trainers Learn from the Audience

Face-to-face training isn't just beneficial for participants—it's also an important learning opportunity for the trainer. A compliance officer gains valuable insights from interacting with employees. They can better understand the specific challenges faced across different teams, the cultural nuances that affect how policies are interpreted, and hear first-hand about emerging issues that might need addressing. This kind of feedback is crucial for improving the compliance program itself, ensuring it remains relevant and practical.

This kind of reciprocal learning is an essential reason why the compliance officer should be directly involved in delivering training sessions. It’s not just about conveying information—it’s about gathering it, too, and adapting the compliance framework accordingly. This is why compliance officers or external compliance experts, rather than a generic trainer, should lead these sessions.

The Value of an External Perspective

Another advantage of face-to-face training is the effectiveness of bringing in external trainers. An external facilitator provides a fresh perspective and can illuminate blind spots that internal trainers may overlook.

1. Breaking the Familiarity Barrier

   Messages from an external expert can have a different impact than those delivered by a familiar colleague. A new face brings novelty, and with it, an opportunity to capture attention in a way that internal trainers, who are part of the daily work environment, may not. Employees may also perceive an external expert as a neutral party, which encourages a different level of engagement and openness.

2. Specialized Expertise and Comfortable Openness

   External trainers bring specialized knowledge from diverse industries, offering broader insights that internal teams might not possess. Their presence also provides a level of psychological safety, making employees more comfortable discussing delicate topics. When concerns are not being noted by a direct superior, employees may feel more at ease sharing, leading to a deeper understanding of the compliance landscape.

3. Boosting Engagement with Real-World Insights

   Employees tend to engage more deeply with external trainers due to the unfamiliar dynamic and the breadth of real-world examples they bring into the room. External trainers use diverse storytelling, scenario-based learning, and role-playing exercises that facilitate a deeper understanding of compliance concepts, often leading to richer discussions and enhanced engagement.

Real-World Impact: Schering-Plough

In 2004, Schering-Plough faced SEC action for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), related to improper payments and donations in Eastern Europe. To rebuild its compliance culture, the company implemented face-to-face anti-corruption training across its global operations, particularly targeting regions with high compliance risks.

These in-person sessions allowed trainers to address cultural nuances directly, helping employees understand how local customs could conflict with anti-bribery standards. Scenario-based exercises enabled participants to practice handling requests for donations and hospitality—common sources of compliance issues. Immediate feedback provided during these sessions helped employees develop the confidence and skills needed for complex ethical decision-making.

Most importantly, the face-to-face format fostered an environment where employees felt comfortable raising questions and concerns. This visible commitment to personal training helped build a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability, effectively addressing gaps that virtual training often left unaddressed.

Conclusion: Revisiting What We Got Right

Imagine an employee faced with a complex compliance decision. What would guide them better—a fleeting digital module clicked through during a busy workday, or the vivid memory of a face-to-face session where similar decisions were explored in depth?

Today, in the pursuit of efficiency, we may have lost some of that depth. The best way forward could be a blend of technological advancements with the timeless effectiveness of human interaction. There are certain matters, like anti-corruption and bribery, where going back to the past and embracing analog approaches is not just ideal, but necessary.

To learn more about my expertise, please visit:

www.kruk.ch/general-8

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Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences on the importance of in-person compliance training. Have you found a particular method that works well for your team?