Why Learning & Development Is Needed Now More than Ever Before

I’ve opted in to receive quite a few newsletters from different HR/Learning organizations and it’s always interesting to see what topics are being covering. As I was scrolling through my email, reading some of the headlines in the articles and even the subject lines of the emails, it struck me that a topic raising in the ranks of both urgency and importance is how to better address the ongoing need for development for employees.

Do employees need more development now than in the past?

There seems to be consensus that the speed of change is faster now than ever before. Thanks to the Internet, problems are voiced more quickly and more broadly, and there is an increasing ability for all to share solutions, feeding the natural human desire to be trusted and helpful. The increased speed in sharing information ultimately leads to interest in applying different solutions shared. The greater connectivity we have is leading to the demand for increasingly valuable solutions and those solutions are expected quickly. In order to deliver those solutions, solution providers need to increase their capabilities, and in fast order.

How is technology our question and solution at the same time?

Technology allows for greater sharing of information. I remember using a set of encyclopedias at home to work on papers for school. Can you even buy a set of encyclopedias anymore? Any topic, no matter how unique, likely has an on-line forum related to it where you can learn more (I know it will be tempting to test that out immediately on Google, but hang on for a few paragraphs). We can now access information anytime, anywhere – which supports learning and development. That being said, while technology enables learning, it also drives learning because it raises questions. How so?

The rapid changes with technology have impacted the way people work – which then drives a need for learning and development to answer questions around:

1)     We have new technology related tools at work, how do I use them?

2)     Prior to some of our technology solutions at work, we needed a significant amount of time to collect and analyze data. We would need multiple meetings, in person, to talk through the analysis and recommendations with multiple audiences. Now that we have different ways to gather data and interact with key audiences around the world, how does that impact how we complete work, how we socialize ideas and ultimately determine the most appropriate solutions?

3)     Leaders with employees in multiple locations often relied on significant travel for themselves and their teams to drive connectivity and shared solutions. In person connection continues to be powerful, but in an environment where decisions need to be made more quickly to meet the expectation for increased velocity in meeting customer needs, how can the leader-employee interaction be adjusted?

We expect different solutions as the result of technology

Technology has also impacted the solutions that customers expect, in every industry. Right now, you may be reading this article from the perspective of someone who provides solutions, but you, like all of us, are also a consumer. We all expect to be able to:

·      Place orders for our daily needs in the click of a button

·      Be able to compare prices in a matter of seconds, not minutes and certainly not hours 

·      See recommendations for other products or services based on search history

·      Resolve the issue or get an answer to a question immediately – and not just one answer or solution, but a few different options from different perspectives. And, we expect to be able to do this on-line without actually using our physical voice.

Customer expectations have changed

 Our customers expect the same type of solution design and delivery that we expect as consumers. Those expectations are resulting in each of us as solution providers, to create differently and more quickly than in the past. Changing customer expectations mean that we must adjust what solutions we provide, and how we deliver and support those solutions. 

Changing expectations require increased capabilities

We must develop ourselves, increasing or growing capabilities in order to make the changes needed. That means then, that Learning & Development is only increasing in importance to the talent strategies to support the business. 

Have you begun to see the demand for L&D increase in your organization? What areas of learning & development are being requested most?