Business psychologist, and regular TrainingZone contributor, Nigel Harrison, told delegates at World of Learning that it was time to get out of their comfort zone if they are to deliver effective L&D interventions.

In his seminar on "Constructing a compelling business case for L&D activities", Harrison talked delegates through his performance consulting approach to L&D interventions which involves moving L&D away from being what he calls "order takers" to more of a consultative relationship with business sponsors.

TrainingZone talked to Harrison after his seminar. He said L&D departments were happy to keep the status quo as order takers because, "it is uncomfortable to open up about your performance issues and business isuues".

Harrison said it would take a lot of skill and courage for L&D to get "out of their box" and start to talk to the business. But tougher economic times could be the catalysat that L&D needed as there would be more pressure to create the change.

He suggested that L&D teams could transform themselves by making sure they do not sponsor any of their projects. He said all projects should be sponsored by the relevant person in the bsuiness who would then define the contribution from L&D.

He added: "It's simply putting every L&D project in a list saying this is the business sponsor, this is the business need, this is the value we are going to add and this is the bit of L&D investment that is going towards that. Align everything to a business sponsor and a business need."

Watch the TrainingZone interview with Nigel Harrison.