New Paradigm for the L&D

Truly said, change is the single factor which could be said to be constant in our life. Technology is now ubiquitous and is gradually becoming a fundamental need today. Digital technology has spread its wings everywhere like the Mongolian invaders influencing the culture and people and impacting the communication, interaction, information, execution etc.

The organizations face global challenges, socio-economic-environmental issues, policy paralysis, human resources issues like skilled workforce deficiency & talent retention, competition barriers, and many more.

The optimal execution of a business plan based on the strategy, may not be adequate to survive or thrive in the current scenario. While there could be a couple of differentiators for a sustained growth path, innovation incontrovertibly will play a key role. We may not be able to achieve continual innovation from the methods we've used in the past and as such need to align to a creative thought process.

Training alone, whether class room, on the job or web based addresses perhaps one or two elements of the equation. More is required to be done for fruitful outcome and for survival of the business in current environment.

What leads to innovation is the capability for people to interact constructively. Barriers to innovation need to be dismantled systematically making sharing safe and trusting others. The diversity not only needs to be accepted instead encouraged. Ideation platforms need to be created and fresh ideas should be welcomed and appreciated. L&D has to be the enabler for the same.

Barriers also include culture, facilitation, and technology utilization to optimize performance solutions. Getting into more details of innovation, I had read a blog of Jeff de Cagna sometimes back which talked about six core values of innovation as under:

• Capability
• Inclusivity
• Possibility
• Opportunity
• Sustainability
• Responsibility

These live within the DNA of any organization irrespective of size or scope if suitably adopted.

Thus, one of our biggest challenges is that we're not leveraging technology in a way that's aligned with how people really think, develop a perspective, work, gain knowledge etc. Digital approaches are the perfect complement to our brains when we use them correctly. This is the paradigm shift which is desirable.

Suffice to say, the new approaches needs to be embraced for improved fructification and L&D engine has to sustain the innovative initiatives.