Free training: why time, not money is the currency training providers should trade in
Challenging market conditions for training providers have prompted many to consider offering free places on courses or discounts as an incentive, but this is usually a big mistake. Here’s why… Training providers are having a tough time in today’s unpredictable economic climate. Corporations cut training the moment the downturn began in 2008, and the market is […]
Training efficacy: what L&D is getting wrong
Most training doesn’t work because organisations are relying on outdated methods that have no connection to the reality of employees’ everyday lives. For training to really take effect, it’s time for L&D professionals to re-assess their approach. Training doesn’t work. There I’ve said it. I feel a whole lot better now! Of course I need to put […]
An interview with an L&D data detective on finding the facts about learning impact
Following on from his session at LEARNING LIVE 2018 on data for learning’s impact, we caught up with Kevin M. Yates, Fact-Finder for Learning & Development, to find out more about his detective work in the world of L&D data… Kevin, you describe yourself as “a learning and development detective solving the mystery of where, […]
How to get better return on your training spend with experiential learning
There will always be members of the team who think training is a waste of time – but it doesn’t have to be. Providing experiential learning, with adequate time for reflection, will always produce better results. A client of mine was telling me about some recent conflict management training she attended and remarked that she resented taking […]
Setting a clear direction on your workplace learning analytics journey
In the second of a six-part series on the components of a workplace learning analytics strategy, Trish Uhl looks at how to map your course and make sure that you’re delivering on all your essential priorities when creating your strategy. I’ve spent the past seven months traveling the world meeting with learning practitioners in cities spanning […]
Are you ready to start the workplace learning analytics journey?
In part one of six-part series, Trish Uhl – Founder, Talent & Learning Analytics Leadership Forum – offers insight to L&D professionals on the components of a workplace learning analytics strategy and how to get started on your workplace learning analytics journey. Workplace learning analytics is a specialised segment of the broader people analytics movement that […]
Performance management: should we stop trying to measure the ROI of training and development?
ROI doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to measuring the impact of L&D programmes. It’s time we found new ways of measuring and expressing the outcomes of training efforts. The number of articles and discussions about ROI in learning and development is huge, a testament to the fact as a profession, we are […]
Learning and development: why measuring ROI is a false grail
Measuring ROI is a fool’s errand when it comes to learning and development. It’s time to stop chasing this false grail and focus on the things that matter. Organisations need to stop pursuing the myth that we can (or even should) calculate the ROI of L&D efforts, notably for essential skills training, and especially leadership […]
Training spend: eight ways to maximise your ROI
Too many businesses plan their training without considering how to measure its value. It’s time to re-evaluate this. Against a backdrop of political and economic turmoil, it seems almost inconceivable that many businesses continue to see a rise in training budgets. The drivers for this investment are undoubtedly based on a mix of strategic and […]
Your competitors will be using the Apprenticeship Levy – don’t get left behind
Jonathan Fitchew, CEO and Founder of training and recruitment specialist Pareto Law, explores recent survery results that indicate more businesses are seeing the benefits of the Apprenticeship Levy. He argues that those companies who have not yet signed up are missing a great opportunity – which their competitors are harnessing – to upskill their people and boost productivity. If […]
How far should you invest in employee learning?
Matched learning, employee development, sponsored qualifications – whatever you may call it, offering an employee learning scheme brings the double advantage of upskilling the workforce while serving as an effective retention tool. Most workers highly value the opportunity to learn – even more so if work is offering to pay for said qualification. At potentially […]
Use learning as a perk and see your people and your business grow
Integrate learning into your rewards and recognition offering and you will see a learning culture grow within your business, argues Rajeeb Dey, CEO of Learnerbly. If I mention employee rewards, or perks, what springs to mind? Many employers will think first of financial incentives and bonus schemes, or maybe they’ll point to the most traditional trade-off for […]
L&D could fix the UK’s graduate jobs market
With average debts of £50,800 and a declining number of graduate jobs on offer, students that graduated in 2017 don’t have much to look forward to. However, companies can employment a more attractive prospect by rethinking their approach to graduate hiring. Analysis from The Times found that two in five of the UK’s biggest companies are […]
Five tips to a people-centric approach to learning and ongoing performance
In the past, the performance management process was very much backward looking. Typically, an annual performance review meeting would make a judgement on past performance and use it to determine learning and development plans for the next year. But HR and L&D leaders know this approach just doesn’t meet the needs of today’s workforce. According […]
How To Improve Sales of Your Training Programmes
You may be a solopreneur. You may be part of a larger organization. And what you have are some amazing training programmes. Not only do they have the latest and greatest conceptual frameworks and curricular content. You have incorporated cutting edge interactive technology, even some VR, and the feedback from your testing of a few […]
Focusing on Trainable Skills for Sales Teams
For sales managers, there are two sets of skills to examine both during the hiring process and beyond. Those are skills that can be taught and those that cannot be taught. Some of the skills and personality traits that cannot be taught include drive, integrity, and self-awareness. If those kinds of traits are not already […]
The New Learning Organisation: what is it and how to get there
This is an interview with Jane Daly, Head of Strategic Insights, and Genny Dixon, Head of Research, at Towards Maturity. It was conducted off the back of the release of Towards Maturity’s free new report, In-Focus: Driving the New Learning Organisation. Jamie Lawrence, Managing Editor, TrainingZone: What are current trends suggesting the future of workplace learning will […]
VR in learning isn’t as hard as you think
Microsoft, Apple, Google and Sony are betting big on mixed reality. For many people it’ll be their best shot at visiting The White House, taking part in an action epic or recovering from serious illness. You might think that, between futuristic headsets and incredible camera rigs, there’s no place for VR in a typical business. […]
How to Measure ROI of Training Programs?
You conducted a training program, but were it able to deliver trainees with what you wanted? Did the participants like it or not? Conducting training programs is one thing, and measuring its ROI is another crucial thing to identify its actual success. As per McKinsey and Company, only half of the learning enterprises bother to […]
Lack of line manager involvement is killing your L&D investment
Organisations are spending vast sums of money on the development of their workforces, yet results from the new Global Learning Transfer Research 2017 – Insights for Impact study highlights that 46% of respondents said their ‘line managers were not significantly involved in the learning process’, and a shocking follow up is that only 22% of […]
