It’s an understatement to say that the role of Learning and Development
(L&D) has changed drastically since 2020. While it had already fortified itself
as an essential part of organizational success, the pandemic reiterated its
importance.
The 2021 Workplace Learning Report has pointed out that L&D has retained its
strategic position in organizations globally and has acquired a seat at the
executive table. And for good reason!
To begin with, L&D programs create a conducive learning environment
for employees right from the time they enter the organization. This is
important in remote working, especially in areas like onboarding. Remote
onboarding offers agile solutions that are easily scalable and replicable that can
help new hires fit into their role in a much better manner. The current digital
format ensures that you can reproduce this training for several individuals to
ensure that all new recruits have access to the same information and resources.
Secondly, L&D programs play a key role in bolstering leadership across all levels of the organization. Considering the agility, cost effectiveness, and simplicity of today’s L&D programs, it’s easier to execute solutions that are beneficial to employees at different levels in the organization.
So while leadership development and remote onboarding are some of the
most essential outcomes of strong L&D programs, they are not the only
benefits. There are many more. If your organization is looking at creating a
new L&D program or renewing the existing one, we have got you some fresh perspectives
to consider on how you can plan and implement learning initiatives for 2021 and
beyond.
- Improving Employee Engagement
Employee engagement and motivation are key elements for the development
of any organization. Lack of engagement within employees can cost businesses
dearly. Good training and development programs can boost employee engagement strategies
by nurturing talent and helping people learn new things to improve their
performance. Also, when employees feel that the organization is investing in
their development, it leads to a certain amount of loyalty among them and
motivates them to put their best foot forward to meet organizational goals.
- Attracting and Retaining Talent
In competitive markets, the best candidates prefer to work with employers
who are keen to invest in their employees’ career development. Millennials as well as Gen Z are eager to learn and grow in their careers. With
the help of a strong L&D program, you can show prospective hires as well as
veteran employees that you care about their development and are investing in
their learning.
- Strengthening Organizational Future
Covid has taught us that the best way to deal with change and
disruptions is to be prepared to adapt. Strong L&D programs are pathways to
ensure that companies can stay agile and be ready for future changes. They are
critical to future-proof employees and help them develop resilience. Luckily, the
recent shift to remote work has meant that content can be adapted for virtual
environments more easily and can be scaled up in a cost-effective manner.
While there may have been skills gaps in the workforce in the past as
well, remote work has made them more glaring by widening the chasm. Many
companies have had little time to address and remedy the gaps in hard skills as
well as soft skills. An L&D program
can target these gaps and create a setting that fosters continuous learning,
which in turn increases knowledge and competence among employees.
In Conclusion
As we progress further into 2021, it is becoming increasingly clear why
solid L&D programs are the table stakes for most industries. Fortunately,
given the current remote nature of work, it is easier to create replicable and
cost-effective programs that can yield good results across the organization.
