The L&D Loop!

  To remain competitive in today’s corporate world, it’s vital for organizations to invest in continuous employee learning. Mentoring and coaching are two examples that are creating a lot of buzz in corporate L&D. Are mentoring and coaching the same thing? The short answer is no. Mentoring is a structured, long-term relationship where an experienced professional (mentor) provides guidance, knowledge, and support to a less experienced employee (mentee). Mentoring offers an element of personalized learning that is customized to fit to an individual’s needs and career aspirations (Kram, 1985). Coaching on the other hand, is a short-term, goal-oriented process in which a coach helps employees improve specific skills and performance areas (Whitmore, 2017). Unlike mentoring, which focuses on long-term development, coaching focuses on achieving immediate professional goals. What is better? Mentoring or Coaching? While both mentoring and coaching contribute to employee learni...

  AI has completely revamped the way organizations approach all business functions, including Learning & Development. AI based learning is the new kid on the block. It’s revolutionizing corporate training, by improving employee engagement, and driving business performance. Let’s dive in and understand how. 1. Curated learning through AI-Driven Learning Paths AI’s ability to personalize learning experiences is a game changer. Traditional training programs are generic and may not cater to individual employee needs. AI-driven Learning Management Systems can analyze employee performance, skills, and learning preferences to recommend customized learning paths (Johnson, 2023). For example, in the organization I work in, the LMS’s come equipped with AI- powered machine learning algorithms and chatbots that can suggest learning content based on an employee’s job role, past training, and KPIs. Research by Deloitte (2023) found that organizations using AI-based personalization in...

  L&D used to focus on traditional training programs that were catered generically to a large pool of learners. Not only did this fail to address individual learning needs, but it also showed lower learner engagement and poor ROI on the job. Organizations, having understood this, have now moved towards personalized learning paths. A personalized learning path tailors training to address employee’s skill gaps, KPIs, and even their unique learning styles. This article explores how personalized learning paths boost employee engagement and drive better organizational performance. 1. Curated learning = Increased motivation Employees are more engaged when their learning content is more relevant to them. Studies (Deloitte, 2019) show that organizations that provide customized learning opportunities see a 20% increase in employee engagement. Organization XYZ, where I work at, encourages curated learning as well by investing in platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Cousera wh...

  L&D has evolved rapidly in the past decade. Here, we will explore 7 key trends in the L&D arena that corporates can adapt to stay ahead. 1. AI based Learning Artificial Intelligence is transforming corporate learning by delivering personalized learning content tailored to fit employee needs. A study done by Huang (2022) shows that AI driven platforms can analyze learning preferences, past performance, and career goals to recommend customized training programs. This can improve engagement and help employees hone the skills they need for their career growth. 2. Microlearning Microlearning is the process of delivering short, focused learning modules. Research shows that bite-sized content improves knowledge retention by 17% compared to traditional methods (Salmon, 2021). Microlearning is gaining popularity mainly due to its flexibility and on-demand access that enables employees to learn anytime, anywhere, encouraging self-directed development. It also shows higher eng...