3 Secrets to Designing Effective Job Aids Effective job aids can be incredibly valuable tools for employees, providing them with the information they need to perform their jobs quickly and accurately. However, designing job aids that are actually effective can be a challenge. In this Mimeo Print webinar, 3 Secrets to Designing Effective Job Aids from IACET, we explored the three secrets to designing a mob of effective job aids. If you don’t have time to watch the whole video, here’s a meer breakdown of the insights we discussed: Secret #1: Keep it Simple The first secret to designing effective job aids is to keep things simple. When employees are in the middle of performing a task, they don’t have time to wade through complex instructions or navigate a confusing layout. Your job aid should be designed with simplicity in mind, presenting information in a clear, easy-to-follow format that can be quickly and easily understood. To achieve this, consider breaking down complex processes into smaller, more manageable steps. Use concise, action-oriented language that tells employees exactly what they need to do, without overwhelming them with unnecessary details. And when in doubt, remember the old adage: “less is more.” Secret #2: Make it Visual Visuals can be incredibly effective in helping employees understand complex processes or concepts. By incorporating diagrams, images, or other visual elements into your job aid, you can make it easier for employees to quickly grasp what they need to do. However, it’s important to use visuals judiciously. Don’t clutter your job aid with too many graphics or visual elements that could distract from the key information. Instead, focus on using visuals to highlight the most important information, and make sure that your visuals are clear and easy to interpret. Secret #3: Make it Accessible Finally, the third secret to designing effective job aids is to make them accessible. Job aids are meant to be used on the job, in the moment when someone needs help. So it’s important that they’re designed in a way that’s easy to access and use. This means making sure that the job aid is available in a format that can be easily accessed on the job. If your employees are working on a factory floor, using a print platform to create a paper-based job aid might not be the best option. Instead, consider creating a digital job aid that can be accessed on a tablet or mobile device. It’s also important to make sure that the job aid is easy to find when it’s needed. This could mean storing it in a central location that’s easily accessible, or even embedding it directly into a piece of software or equipment that’s being used on the job. Implementing Effective Job Aids in Your Organization Once you’ve designed an effective job aid, the next step is to implement it in your organization. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Make sure that everyone knows about the job aids and how to use them. This might mean providing training or creating a job aid usage guide. Keep your job aids up to date. As processes and procedures change, your job aids will need to be updated as well. Using Mimeo as your print platform and keeping the job aids in your Mimeo Print document library is a simple way to do this. Solicit feedback from your employees on your job aids. Ask them what’s working and what’s not, and use their feedback to continually improve your job aids over time. In conclusion, designing effective job aids requires a thoughtful, intentional approach. By keeping things simple, incorporating visuals, and making your job aids accessible, you can create tools that truly help your employees perform their jobs better. And by implementing these job aids effectively, you can help ensure that your organization runs smoothly and efficiently.
