What does Learning and Development at the workplace stand for?

With the world of work getting more competitive, one cannot predict the future of work right. Take the extra steps to prepare yourself for an ever-increasing workforce rate, so you have the skills to fit the unknown careers of the future. We all know that change is inevitable and necessary for the growth of an organization. One way is through learning and development. 

L&D usually forms part of a company’s talent management strategy to attract, acquire, nurture, engage and retain top talents. Talent development, both upskilling and reskilling, is vital to sustainable business growth and success.

What is Learning & Development?

Learning & Development is about building the right culture and environment for continuous learning throughout the organization.

L&D is a function within an organization that is responsible for nurturing employees’ growth and developing their knowledge, skills, and capabilities to drive better business performance and growth.

Impact of L&D at the workplace

HR leaders can provide support and resources to help their employees achieve their maximum productivity, which in turn impacts their happiness, engagement, and ultimately their innovation!

Bringing in a positive work culture

A learning culture is where members of an organization actively learn, encourage others to learn, and share their knowledge. L&D generates a positive culture by:

·  Relying on a very specific corporate culture centered on the evolution and personal development of employees

·  Providing them with a playful, interactive, rich, and entertaining learning experience, that’s why L&D exists.

Employer and employee objective alignment

According to a study by Brandon Hall Group in 2020, 87% of businesses agreed that it is critical to keep business objectives top of mind when developing training programs.

The benefits are as follows:

• Deliver training programs that are relevant to your employees, and that allows them to grow in ways that impact their job performance
• Be more strategic when investing in an employee training initiative
• Have a clear idea of the cost and return on investment
• Improve resources utilized
• Increase the effectiveness of L&D programs

Learn more on how to align employee development with business goals

Employee retention

An empowered learning and development workforce improves employee retention. Talents are encouraged to stay when they are provided with continuous learning that will help them reach their career goals within your organization—rather than at another company. When employees know that their company is investing in them, they will feel challenged to grow which makes their jobs more fulfilling, and in return will be more inclined to invest their energy in the organization.

Increased motivation and engagement

In a report by Gallup, they identified that 87% of millennials agree that learning and development in the workplace are important, while 59% of millennials mentioned that having opportunities to learn and grow is extremely important when applying for a job.

So learning doesn’t just build skills, it motivates people and increases engagement. It creates value for their work, which makes them more productive. The opportunity to learn and develop is the most important driver of employee happiness.

When employees see that you are providing learning opportunities to advance their careers, they feel you care about their growth and become more empowered and committed to their jobs.

Employee performance and quality of work improvement

As employees acquire new skills and information, it builds their confidence because they have a stronger understanding of the industry and their responsibilities. This confidence will push them to perform better and bring new ideas that help them excel. Continuous learning keeps employees at a competitive edge in industry development. Reskilled and upskilled employees help the business hold a position as a leader and strong competitor within the industry.

Stronger Employer Brand

As you know, your employees are your most valuable asset. Developing a brand that makes them want to work with you and stay is important for your growth in this competitive workplace. Having a good employer brand isn’t just about saying you offer L&D opportunities. It’s about actually doing it. The more you build a culture of continuous learning, the better your reputation as an employer. It is important to highlight your strengths as an employer and provide differentiation when talents compare your organization to other potential hires.

How can Engaged Solutions help?

We offer a powerful learning journey that drives meaningful change. From the first Discovery Session throughout the learning partnership, we bring tailor-made Learning and Development solutions with a holistic approach that combines workforce development with the business context.

The Learning and Development programs by Engaged Solutions are led by our team of experienced, top-tier trainers. Our methodology: workshops & webinars, customized training programs, and coaching.

As your learning partner, we…

·   Start off by understanding your needs

·   Customize the delivery to suit your needs

·   Share meaningful insights with leadership post training

·   Then follow-up after 3/6 months on progress if any, and

·   Where needed, provide individual coaching.

Final thoughts

The first step toward achieving transformation within the organization is learning how people learn and develop as individuals so that leaders can better guide them. Finally, rethinking the learning experience within an organisation is an approach with high added value in the service of the transformation of work, the employee experience, and the development of the company. Because if the links between employees are important, just like guaranteeing their well-being, it is also essential to strengthen the links between the company and its stakeholders.