What is learning and development?

Learning and development (L&D) is an HR process that enables employees to upgrade their competencies and thereby strengthen their company’s performance. L&D equips personnel with the necessary skillset to assume new responsibilities or elevate their work performance within their current role. Employees can fortify their abilities in areas such as:

Why should HR leaders care about learning and development?

L&D provides employees with the framework and resources to acquire empowering, essential skills to thrive in the evolving work world. Investing in employees’ work education can increase:

  • Employee value
  • Job satisfaction
  • Retention
  • Motivation
  • Engagement
  • Employee confidence
  • Company performance

According to Deloitte’s 2019 Human Capital Trends Survey, candidates rank “opportunity to learn” as one of the major attractions of a job. L&D draws employees because it infuses additional meaning and fulfillment into work, enriching the employee experience. 

With the world of work continuously transforming, employers, too, directly benefit from enhancing employees’ skills– integrating employee education into the work routine is more efficient and cost-effective than hiring external candidates.   

What can HR leaders do to implement an effective learning and development program?

HR leaders can facilitate the infusion of L&D into an organization by implementing these strategic steps:

  • Identity target employee group. Focusing on a department or specific team of people can help HR leaders narrow in on engaging learning opportunities to offer. 
  • Employee autonomy. Giving employees the freedom to control their future career path is essential to ensuring employee cooperation. Rather than forcing personnel to engage in training, allow employees to choose the topics and their preferred learning style. Using an LXP (Learning Experience Platform) can support employees’ ability to design their learning curricula. It provides a user-friendly, social media style format that enables different learning methods and topics. HR influencer Josh Bersin explains that it’s the “Netflix of Learning and development,” and can effectively promote employee growth.  
  • Analyze the needs. HR leaders should assess and compare the company’s status quo with their needs. HR can implement the appropriate training, coaching, or e-learning methods to close this gap. 
  • Evaluate the L&D program.HR can assess and measure the improvement in employee performance using L&D metrics. Checking the effectiveness of the L&D ensures that it continues to elevate and broaden employee work performances while supporting company progress. 

How do learning and development improve company culture?

Learning and development facilitate growth, movement, and momentum in employees. In turn, these empowered employees can contribute immensely towards a vibrant, attractive, and robust company culture.