Escaping the L&D Activity Trap

Measuring Impact 

L&D is under increasing management scrutiny. The fact is, businesses need tangible value from any learning investment. Traditional activity focused measures, including engagement and course completion, are not resonating – and they haven’t for some time. Management wants proof that compliance has improved. Revenue grown. Or customer service enhanced.

L&D increasingly recognises the limitations of prioritising activity over business goals. And yet, they remain stuck in what we are calling: The Activity Trap. The latest report from Kallidus and Fosway confirms the problem. Just 14% of L&D professionals believe they are ‘advanced’ at mobilising around strategic priorities. Only 2% think they are advanced at measuring the impact and value they deliver. L&D knows the problem. They understand the limitations of activity focused learning. The challenge is making the change.

Prioritise Business Goals

Change is now urgent. Declining management confidence is matched by declining L&D investment. In 2022, 41% of companies were planning budget growth; that is now well under 30%. L&D needs to demonstrate its impact. It must show clear evidence that learning delivers business value.

Demonstrate Value

As the leading companies demonstrate, L&D deserves a seat at the table. It can play a vital role in reducing risk, enhancing performance and driving innovation. The starting point is the delivery of learning that supports business goals and measures that prove tangible benefits. This demands a commitment to understanding business problems and how they affect business outcomes. It requires goal clarity and a clear definition of the desired outcome. Followed by a delivery plan and, critically, agreed measures of success.

Conclusion

Change is hard. But its value is clear. By mapping learning to business goals and adopting business performance measures rather than tracking activity they are doing more than demonstrating L&D value. They are gaining business influence and changing L&D’s status throughout the organisation.