Learning and development is a methodical
process to improve an employee’s skills, knowledge, and competency giving rise
to better performance in a work setting.
- Learning is concerned with the
acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
- Development is the broadening and deepening of knowledge in one's development goals.
The strategic role of Learning and Development
One of L&D’s primary responsibilities is to manage the development of people—and to do so in a way that supports other key business priorities.
Attract and retain talent.
Today learning
also contributes to employability. Over the past several decades, employment
has shifted from staying with the same company for a lifetime to a model where
workers are being retained only as long as they can add value to an enterprise.
Workers are now in charge of their personal and professional growth and
development. A lack of L&D is one of the key reasons people cite for
leaving a company.
Develop people capabilities.
When knowledge
becomes outdated or forgotten, the value of human capital declines and needs to
be supplemented by new learning and relevant work experiences. Companies that
make investments in the next generation of leaders are seeing an impressive
return
Create a values-based culture.
As the workforce
in many companies becomes increasingly virtual and globally dispersed, L&D
can help to build a values-based culture and a sense of community. Millennials
are interested in working for values-based, sustainable enterprises that
contribute to the welfare of society.
Build an employer brand.
An
organization’s brand is one of its most important assets and conveys a great
deal about the company’s success in the market, financial strengths, position
in the industry, and products and services. Investments in L&D can help to
enhance company’s brand and boost its reputation as an “employer of choice.” For
this, companies need to communicate their brand strength openly through an
employer value proposition.
Motivate and engage employees.
Research
suggests that lifelong learning contributes to happiness. When highly engaged
employees are challenged and given the skills to grow and develop within their chosen
career path, they are more likely to be energized by new opportunities at work
and satisfied with their current organization.
Employee Development Methods
Employee
development occur on the job, with the manager or an experienced co-worker leading
the development activity in the actual work environment or at training
facilities or other locations. Organizations also use online methods to develop
employees.
Coaching
Coaching involves a more experienced or skilled individual providing an employee with advice and guidance. The coach will work with you to help you build your self-confidence to master new abilities or enhance your current ones.
Mentoring
Mentoring matches less experienced
employees with more experienced colleagues through formal or informal programs.
They will offer guidance but won't be hands-on in assisting you in make decisions.
Individual development plans
This will list down an employee's
intentions and learning outcomes as well as support necessary to meet his or
her tangible growth goals.
The 9-box grid
This evaluates the employee's current and
potential levels of contribution to the organization. The 9-box grid provides a
visual reference that can include appraisal and assessment data to allow
managers to view employees' actual and potential performance.
Cross-training
Cross-training refers to training employees
to perform job duties other than those normally assigned. Cross-training can be
a short-term or ad hoc fix, or it can be an ongoing, planned process and does not result in immediate advancement.
Stretch assignments
These are projects or tasks that is
currently beyond your level of knowledge or skill. Such assignments serve to “stretch” you
developmentally by placing you in a challenging position in order to learn and
grow.
Job enlargement and Job enrichment
Job enlargement involves expanding the
employee's job by adding more tasks and duties, typically at the same level of
complexity. Job enrichment builds more depth to an employee's job through more
control, responsibility and discretion.
Job shadowing
Shadowers view the organization from a
different perspective and learn first-hand about the challenges facing workers
in other departments. This perspective helps employees realize the impact their
decisions have on other groups.
Job rotation
Job rotation is the systematic movement of employees from job to job within an organization. Typically, formal rotation programs offer customized assignments to promising employees to give them a view of the entire business.
Succession planning
Succession planning identifies long-range
needs and develop internal talent to meet those needs. Succession plans
typically focus on a one- to three-year process of preparing employees—not
preselecting them—for new roles in the organization.
Assessment centers
Assessment centers usually take place over
one or two days and can involve several employees or candidates at a time.
Evaluators rate participants based on standardized activities, games and other
simulations to predict the candidates' future performance. This help take decisions
on filling jobs, promoting employees or identifying employees for placement in
succession planning programs
Online employee development
Online training allows self-directed,
just-in-time, on-demand instruction. Employees in e-learning situations have
more control over their time than they have in a classroom.
Re-directing Talent Strategies
What kind of skills are most important to
employers and employees alike? LinkedIn’s recently released Most In-Demand
Skills list breaks down the most desired skills of 2023, in both general skills
and technical competencies.
Developing Skills
Soft skills that
AI can’t duplicate—such as management, communication, leadership and
teamwork—are high on the list. On the hard skills list, technical abilities
dominate the scene, including skills needed to build products as well as manage
and process the data that informs innovation and service.
Upskilling for all
This area is
becoming increasingly important to business leaders looking to become more
agile and adapt to today’s changing economic landscape. Data shows that since
2015, skill sets for jobs have changed around 25%, and, by 2027, this number is
expected to double.
L&D for retention
It is critical to
get the right person in the right role, right at the beginning whilst retaining
the workers already in employment. Not only are these employees more productive
than someone new to the role, but the upfront expense of recruiting new talent
can come with a high cost not just in money, but also in morale. “81% of recruiting professionals say they need
to work more closely with L&D as their responsibilities expand to include
internal mobility, skills-first hiring and employee retention.”
The L&D function in transition
Over the years, we have identified and field-tested nine dimensions that contribute to a strong L&D function.
References
Perna, M.C. (2023) In the war for talent, may the best learning & development cultures win, Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2023/03/21/in-the-war-for-talent-may-the-best-learning--development-cultures-win/?sh=151f800a3be2 (Accessed: April 21, 2023).
Toolkits (2022) SHRM. Available at: https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/Pages/default.aspx (Accessed: April 21, 2023).
Brassey, J., Christensen, L. and Dam, N.van (2019) The essential components of a successful L&D Strategy, McKinsey & Company. McKinsey & Company. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-essential-components-of-a-successful-l-and-d-strategy (Accessed: April 21, 2023).
Vulpen, E.van (2023) Learning and development: A comprehensive guide, AIHR. Available at: https://www.aihr.com/blog/learning-and-development/#What (Accessed: April 21, 2023).
- Rangana Prasad Naotunna
This blog is very informative and useful for any person who wants to know about L&D. It very clearly explains how Incorporating Learning and development into your overall business strategy helps create a productive environment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to share your comment. I am glad to hear you found it useful and hope they can be applied at your workplace as well.
DeleteAs L&D is such an important subject as these programs help employees manage tasks individually or in teams, relying on a greater understanding of processes and clearly defined goals.
ReplyDeleteEmployees who are well-versed in the skills required for their job, they will require less time to find ways to perform tasks.
Thanks for your perspectives. I agree with you when you said that it is essential that we get it right at the start: recruitment to match the right candidate to the job which will cut down on the effort that need to be put to minimize the skills gaps.
DeleteVery creative article Ranga Adding more Finding skill gaps in your organization and understanding your employees needs will help you create programs designed for success. For example, 'improving your project management skills and reducing your sprint time' is a goal that you can achieve with dedicated group training and coaching. The goal of Learning and development is to align employee goals and performance with that of the organization's. Those responsible for learning & development within an organization must identify skill gaps among employees and teams then develop and deliver training to bridge those gaps.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more. The line manager or direct reporting managers also have a big role to play in identifying skills gaps as they work with the employees the closes. These can then be addressed with the help of HR in finding solutions to close gaps.
DeleteThis article deeply explained the strategic role of Learning Development, employee development methods & re-directing talent strategies. Learning and development plays a vital role in company success. We have to practice the L&D strategies, methods & talent strategies in order to make the company success.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you found the article useful, Kavindi. Hope there was some points you can take back and apply at your workplace.
DeleteI found your article on learning and development in the workplace to be both informative and insightful. As you have highlighted, learning and development play an essential role in an employee's growth and success in their career. It not only helps to improve their skills and competency, but also contributes to the overall success of the company.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your point about how companies need to invest in the next generation of leaders to see a return on their investment. Employee development programs help to ensure that knowledge remains current and relevant, leading to better performance and engagement. Additionally, creating a values-based culture is critical for retaining employees, and L&D can play a significant role in achieving this.
I also appreciate the comprehensive list of employee development methods you have included in your article. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and it is essential to choose the right approach based on individual employee goals and learning styles. Moreover, online training and development opportunities have become increasingly popular, providing employees with self-directed, on-demand instruction and more control over their time.
Lastly, I agree with your point about the importance of upskilling. As the job market continues to evolve, so must employee skill sets. It is crucial to continuously develop and enhance skills, both soft and hard, to stay relevant and competitive in the job market.
Overall, this was an excellent article that provides valuable insights into employee development and the role of L&D in creating a thriving workplace culture.
Learning and development opportunities have a significant impact on employee retention. In fact, one study found that 94 percent of employees would stay with a company longer if the company invested in their career development.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, this is a great article that provides valuable insight into employee development and L and D's role in creating a successful work culture. Good blog Rangana.