How to Future-proof your Career in Learning and Development

Do you ever think about where you want to be in 3, 5 or even 10 years from now? No, this isn’t a job interview question, it’s a career development question. And if your answer is “in Learning and Development”, then what are you doing to future-proof your career?

The future is here, and it's time to embrace it with open arms. But it’s not just about jumping on the bandwagon. It’s about steering your career in the right direction. Let’s see what are the 3 most important things you need to keep in mind to prepare your career for the future.

Table of Contents:

AI for L&D

Data Literacy and Analytics

Strategic Business Acumen

Conclusion

AI for L&D

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Ever since OpenAI announced ChatGPT in 2023, it has taken the world by storm. Suddenly, everyone was using it – marketing specialists, software developers, lawyers, content creators… and L&D? The research is inconclusive.

For example, CIPD did their research Learning at work 2023 just weeks after the announcement of ChatGPT. At the time, “only 5% of respondents were using it and a further 6% were planning to”. Donald H Taylor, one of the leading voices in L&D, also researched the state of AI in L&D in September/October 2023 (The L&D GSS Focus Report 01). Of the 185 respondents, 55% of companies did something with AI (either using it extensively, some parts of it, or piloting and testing). But the respondent’s pool is too small to be representative of the entire L&D population.

What does that mean for your career? AI is here to stay – regardless of how you feel about it. The sooner you make it your friend, the better.

How can you use AI in L&D?

There are tons of ways to benefit from AI in your day-to-day work. Some examples include:

• Creating training and learning content

• Automating administrative tasks like scheduling, emails, and report generation.

• Personalizing learning experiences by adapting content to individual learner needs.

• Analyzing large datasets to identify learning needs and skill gaps.

• Providing intelligent tutoring and support through chatbots and virtual assistants.

• Facilitating adaptive learning pathways for learners.

• Implementing predictive analytics for forecasting future learning trends and needs.

How do you use AI in your work? Let us know in the comments below.

Data Literacy and Analytics

According to LinkedIn Learning’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report, the fourth most important priority for L&D was improving data literacy. Do you know how L&D impacts the business? No, it’s not by showing how happy employees were with your training. It’s by highlighting how the business performance has improved, how employee productivity or retention has increased, or how many new strategically important skills people have learned.

Not a lot of L&D pros can boast about knowing how to demonstrate these metrics. That’s why you need data literacy and analytics. The data is there; you just need to know how to find it and let it whisper its secrets to you.

How can you use data analytics in L&D?

It’s a wonder what you can do with data. For example, you can

• Track and measure the effectiveness of learning programs.

• Analyze employee engagement and learning patterns.

• Identify skills gaps and training needs through data trends.

• Measure ROI of L&D initiatives by linking learning outcomes to business performance.

• Evaluate learner feedback to improve future learning content and delivery.

• Predict future learning needs and trends based on current data analysis.

• Monitor and improve learner retention rates over time.

• Use data to advocate for L&D resources and budget within the organization.

• Continuously refine L&D strategies based on ongoing data analysis.

Strategic Business Acumen

You can be the best learning designer or the most experienced facilitator in the world. But none of that would mean anything if you don’t know intimately the business you are serving. That’s why the third way to future-proof your career in L&D is to have a solid understanding of the business operations and strategy. This means being well-versed in change management, understanding organisational culture, and the ability to align L&D initiatives with business objectives. This also means being able to articulate the ROI of learning programs in terms of business outcomes.

How can you use strategic business acumen in L&D?

Knowing and understanding the business is one of the most important steps in becoming successful in Learning and Development. Here is what else it can give you:

• Align L&D strategies with overall business goals and objectives.

• Identify and prioritize training initiatives that have the highest business impact by addressing specific business challenges or opportunities.

• Develop learning programs that support organizational change and business growth.

• Communicate the value and ROI of L&D initiatives to stakeholders.

• Foster partnerships with key business units to ensure learning relevance and applicability.

• Advocate for L&D as a strategic tool in achieving business success.

• Collaborate with leadership to understand and support their vision and goals through targeted learning initiatives.

Conclusion

And there you have it – 3 ways to future-proof your L&D career: AI, data analytics and business acumen.

The landscape of L&D is ever-evolving. No yearly report or research can truly encompass everything that happens or stirs L&D. But keeping pace with technological advancements, understanding the language of data, and aligning your L&D strategies with the broader business goals will not only enhance your skillset but also elevate the value you bring to your organization.

How do you get ready to step into the future of L&D? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below, and let's continue to learn and grow together in this exciting journey of L&D!