3 Benefits of Using a Learning Strategy for Your L&D Plans

Learning and development leaders are reevaluating their training plans so they can better support their teams with effective virtual training, remote learning, and easy access to tools and information. A June pulse survey by Training Industry, Inc., revealed that approximately 60% of respondents are either reworking their current L&D plans or lack the confidence in executing it. [i]

What is the best way to re-prioritize your plans?

Before you jump right in to get your training initiative started, it’s important to have a clear plan to support your decisions—to save time, money, resources, and risk of an unsuccessful outcome.

So, before you race ahead, you want to make sure you are answering the ever-important questions, of how and why you plan to accomplish your training goals. Jerry Gschwind, a TTA senior learning strategy consultant, and innovator reflects on his vast experiences over his 26-year career implementing award-winning learning programs and offers the following advice.

“Often L&D teams are under pressure to produce results and focus on a solution before they really define the problem or understand the goals,” says Jerry. “It’s important to ‘hit the pause button to get a clear, shared understanding of how you are going to accomplish it and why you are doing it in the first place.”

3 Benefits of Learning Strategy

Now, more than ever is time to take advantage of the benefits of using a learning strategy. A learning strategy engagement can give you the clarity to validate and turn your ideas into action—helping you to make better decisions about the people, technologies, and priorities for your team.

Here are three ways a learning strategist can help:

1. Innovate: A learning strategist from outside your organization provides a unique perspective and offers strategy expertise, to help you answer important questions and bring creative ideas and innovative solutions to the forefront of your discussions. A learning strategist who has industry experience can offer solutions never thought of before—often integrating training approaches that were previously successful in other companies with similar challenges.
2. Prioritize: Typically, L&D leaders have too many great ideas and priorities for their team. A learning strategist can help determine what to focus on by predicting what will have the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time.
3. Mitigate Risk: Learning from previous opportunities, a learning strategist provides best practices and helps you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls. They consider business drivers, constraints, and diverse experiences to make informed decisions and provide a plan for successful training outcomes.

You may think a learning strategy engagement is a costly investment, but companies who invest in a learning strategy agree that it is worth the minimal upfront investment to be prepared and have a defined plan.

Get the Most Out of Your L&D Plans
As you navigate the increased L&D demands, having the right plans in place will make it easier to make decisions that improve your learning programs. A learning strategist can be a helpful guide to support you along the way and help your team in many ways, including:

• Align and map hybrid learning strategies across the learner experience
• Make training recommendations based on research and analysis
• instructional quality and outcomes
• Build effective learning programs based on function
• Uncover and analyze training opportunities
• Design and deliver mission-critical training initiatives and programs

As you take the time to determine how to create the best value in your L&D plans, consider the benefits of a learning strategy. A learning strategist performs a needs analysis to help assess your current situation and future objectives so that you have a clear road map for success moving forward. By using several research methods and tools, they ensure their recommendations are aligned with the needs of the organization and learners. The best part is that it can all be done virtually.

Check out our podcast episode, Learning Strategy: Mapping Out Success to discover how a Learning Strategy can positively impact your organization’s learning initiatives.

 

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[i] https://trainingindustry.com/articles/outsourcing/training-spend-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/