Dive Brief:
- Learning and development decision makers believe two-fifths of companies don't have a clear strategy for learning, Forbes reports. The Challenges of Global L&D survey by Open University Business School reveals that another half believe learning is not viewed as important and 42% of L&D executives say they are lacking direction from leadership.
- Bernd Vogel, director of Henley Centre for Leadership at Henley Business School told Forbes, "L&D people often lack confidence and clarity about what they contribute to the business and it's not always about retention and investment."
- The report also showed that L&D lacks critical support from leadership, despite a firm belief on the part of L&D executives surveyed that organizations with learning cultures will outperform competitors.
Dive Insight:
As companies adjust to the challenges of keeping up with skill shortages and technology changes, it's vital that learning and development teams have the support needed to stay on top. Many L&D leaders understand the critical role L&D can play in helping organizations succeed, but based on the Open University Business School study, leadership is not always getting the message.
A better communication strategy is the next phase in the evolution of modern day professional development. By using technology and analytics well, L&D can produce reports and evidence to prove that they are helping employees become smarter and more prepared. These are words that leaders understand well.
Boosting the confidence of L&D leaders could also be beneficial if they find themselves in a position where they must convince other executives of the value updated, well-designed L&D programs could have for the overall sustainability of a business. Research shows that more than half of L&D providers are improving the structure and operation of their departments, but they continue to struggle against a perception among CEOs that they are ineffectual and lack strategy.
