Learning & Development Need to Be Unlearned First

IN ANY SPHERE OF LIFE, the importance of continuous but impactful learning and development cannot be overstated.

- Srinath Sridharan & Steve Correa

Organisations prioritising a culture of ongoing growth and improvement are better equipped to adapt to change, innovate, and succeed in the marketplace. In India, where competition is fierce and the pace of change is accelerating, building such a culture is not just a competitive advantage – it’s a necessity.

“Learning and development: where we spend more time planning the team-building retreat than actually building skills.”

There is a need for an honest introspection on Learning and development efforts within organisations that must transcend beyond tokenism and examine why they have often fallen short, yielding limited impact. Learning initiatives, too often, are treated as checkboxes to be ticked rather than strategic investments in employee growth and organisational success. Also crucial is the need to address underlying issues such as outdated training methods, lack of alignment with business objectives, and insufficient support from leadership. Additionally, there is often a disconnect between the skills employees are taught and the skills they need to perform their roles effectively in a rapidly evolving workplace. Changes in legal and compliance requirements and evolving industry standards necessitate continual training content and methods updates.