Why Compliance Training Fails (and How to Fix It)

Compliance training has earned a bad reputation, and I might add – it’s well deserved

From an L&D perspective, we treat compliance as a “once-sized-fits-all” exercise that team members must “get through” to earn the tick-in-the-box.

For the team member, when we think of compliance training, the mental picture that comes to mind is long slideshows with endless text, dry legal jargon, and little connection or relevance to their day-to-day work. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

Compliance training can be engaging, relevant, and even interesting when designed with the learner’s experience in mind. In fact, rethinking compliance training can transform it into a tool that not only informs but also empowers team members to do the right thing at the right time –  while adding real value to their roles.

But it all starts with planning for change. 

Let’s cut to the chase: training is about change. Change in action and change in behavior. If we’re not aiming to make people do things differently, why the hell are we wasting everyone’s time? Now, compliance training? That’s the odd duck Uncle we’re forced to invite to Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, it’s mandatory, but that doesn’t mean it gets a free pass on actually changing mindset and behavior. 

Let’s face it—we know this to be true—if your employees aren’t willing to change how they work, all those mandatory, AI-generated voice-over slides are just expensive background noise while they eat lunch.

Scary Number!

An interesting nugget is that a Globalscape report, “The True Cost of Compliance With Data Protection Regulations,” says non-compliance costs companies a whopping $14.82 million. That’s not chump change. It’s enough to make any CEO break out in a cold sweat and shove compliance training onto every team member’s to-do list. But here’s the kicker – if people just zombie-clicking through slides while daydreaming about cocktail hour, you might as well flush that money down the toilet.

So, what’s the fix? First off, let’s stop treating compliance training like another box to tick. It’s time to make compliance actually interesting. I know, I know, it sounds like I’m trying to make taxes fun, but hear me out. If we don’t engage people, and – dare I say it – make compliance fun and slightly less soul-crushing, we’re just shouting into the void. Done right, this could be the secret sauce to rewiring how people think and act about compliance.

How do we get there from here? 

How do we make compliance training less soul-sucking? In all my years in this industry, I have yet to see a compliance training requirement say, “Please, while you’re at it, make this as boring as humanly possible.” So why do we often end up with the driest, most monotonous content? Compliance training development shouldn’t differ from the principles that drive any other effective eLearning.

In other words, we need to apply the same tools and methods that make other learning experiences work: tell a story, add a challenge, use a simulation. Make it real, make it relevant. People remember situations that feel personal. Challenge them with scenarios they might actually face in real life, not some far-fetched situation that’ll never happen unless aliens invade.

Science for the WIN! 

We know, and learning science tells us that when we present people with a scenario that mirrors a challenge they might actually face, we become one step closer to changing behavior. It’s not enough to throw information at people and hope it sticks, and it shouldn’t be a game of ‘who can cram the most legalese into one slide.’ 

The key is to create a connection between the compliance requirement and the everyday actions of the learner.

For example, instead of another slide filled with legal terms, you present your employees with a real-world scenario that involves a challenging decision, and the outcome depends on their choice—whether they get it right or make a mistake. One decision involves them installing a roof and going home to the family BBQ, while the other involves them falling off it and heading to the hospital with a broken leg and a large hospital bill.

When people are asked to actively think through a situation and see the impact of their decisions, compliance training becomes more than just a requirement. It becomes a practical tool that helps them make better decisions in their day-to-day work. Training that’s both engaging and useful—that’s the goal.

Compliance Training Beyond Scenarios

Now that we know simulations and scenarios can really level up your compliance training, here are a few more tips to take it to the next level:

Action speaks louder than words (or endless slides)

Move beyond reading, watching, and listening. Let’s face it—nobody’s ever said, “Wow, that was a riveting PowerPoint!” Get your people to participate instead of just being zombies in front of their computers. Use interactive videos or decision trees. Try creating puzzles, timed challenges or scavenger hunts. The more they interact, decide, and problem-solve, the more likely they are to stay awake—and maybe even learn something.

Bite-sized is the right size

Think of your training like a good Netflix series – short episodes that leave you wanting more. Break it down into bite-sized pieces. Think YouTube Shorts with hot spots, quick games, or Augmented Reality games. Microlearning is easier to digest and it gives people a faster sense of accomplishment. “I didn’t break my arm in the scenario!” sounds a lot better than “I’m still slogging through these endless elearning slides.”

Make them think, not just blink

Yes, multiple-choice questions are easy to grade, but are they actually teaching anything? Throw some curveballs their way. Present knowledge check scenarios that make them pause and go “Hmm…” It’s not about tricking them. It’s about helping to make the learning stick. If they have to really think about how to apply what they’ve learned, you’re on the right track.

Who doesn’t love a good game?

A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Leaderboards, badges, even a simple progress bar can tap into that part of our brain that loves to see numbers go up. It’s amazing how motivating a virtual gold star can be, even for grown adults. Connect completion to safety scores and create an organizational challenge to support the results. You’d be surprised how quickly people get invested when there’s a chance to be at the top of the leaderboard or unlock a badge. Suddenly, compliance training isn’t just something to finish—it’s something to win.

Let’s Wrap This Up

In short – compliance training doesn’t have to be the corporate equivalent of watching paint dry.

By embracing engaging scenarios, bite-sized learning, thought-provoking challenges, and a dash of healthy competition, we can transform compliance training from a necessary evil into a powerful tool for real change. It doesn’t have to be about ticking boxes anymore. Compliance training can be useful and helpful. It’s about equipping our teams with the knowledge and decision-making skills to stick to compliance standards in their day-to-day work, not because they have to, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Remember, at the end of the day, effective compliance training isn’t just about avoiding that eye-watering $14.82 million non-compliance price tag. It’s about creating a workforce that understands why compliance matters and how to apply it in real-world situations. It’s about turning “I have to do this” into “I know how to do this right.”

We can do it!  

Let’s raise the bar on compliance training. Let’s make it engaging, relevant, and dare we say it – maybe even a little fun. Who knows? With these changes, we might just hear someone say, “That compliance training? It wasn’t half bad.” And in our corner of the world, when it comes to compliance training, that’s practically a standing ovation.

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