Learning and Development
What is Learning and Development?
Learning & Development, usually part of the HR team, is the generic name for any training and people development that occurs within a company.
The sort of training that a company offers could be as follows:
- Soft skills personal and interpersonal skills, such as time management, team leadership, managing conflict
- Management development for potential management and leaders with a business managing a team, motivating people, communication skills, performance management
- Leadership development - same as above but for senior leaders and would include: managing change; influencing skills; commercial management
- Technical skills - IT, technology, systems training
- Product training - i.e. insurance, IT, products sales
- Sales Training
- Professional training - presentation skills, pitching for
new business, negotiation skills (usually for professional services
organisations such as Law Firms, Consultancy, Accountancy)
Methods of delivery:
These learning subjects can be designed and delivered in-house or outsourced to specialist third parties. Delivery methods vary to cover:
- Classroom training
- 121 career planning
- Coaching
- Action learning on the job training
- Seminars
- e-learning
- Modular learning programmes (encompassing all of the above)
Learning & Development Job Titles:
Learning and Development Manager Job Description
What do I need to be a Learning & Development
Specialist?
It is important to realise that organisations have different training functions and needs. Some outsource all their training to specialist companies, others keep it all in house and the training teams design and deliver all their training. Some companies do a bit of both! Therefore different companies require different skills from their Learning & development teams:
- You will need to have experience in a training function, either in-house or within a specialist training function.
- You will have designed training courses i.e. sales training, management development courses, which cover a variety of subjects
- You will have delivered/facilitated a variety of training sessions from stand up presentation to 121 feedback sessions
- You will be able to conduct Training Needs Analysis to ascertain what the needs are of the business and the people
- You will be able to evaluate and measure your training activity
- You will be able to work with specialist third parties who supply training services
- You will have excellent project management skills
