Aligning Training with Business Goals

7 Ways to Upskill Your People: Tell me, and I forget. Show me, and I remember. Involve me, and I understand. In today’s fast-changing world, upskilling isn’t optional—it’s essential. Great leaders focus on developing their team’s skills for the long term. Here are 7 ways to foster continuous learning and upskilling: 1. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 → Encourage curiosity and lifelong learning. → Make learning part of your team’s daily routine. 2. 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 → Identify skill gaps and align training with individual goals. → Personalization boosts engagement and results. 3. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 → Use AI-learning platforms like Shiken AI. → Use AI roleplay, quiz generation to upskill your people. 4. 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 → Give them autonomy to choose learning paths. → Ownership fosters accountability and motivation. 5. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 → Show how new skills lead to promotions and opportunities. → People are more likely to invest in learning when they see the payoff. 6. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗻-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 → 80% of learning happens through hands-on experience. → Pair employees with mentors or rotate roles to expand their skill sets. 7. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 → Recognize and reward efforts to gain new skills. → Use certifications, bonuses, or public acknowledgment to keep learners motivated. Upskilling isn’t just about staying relevant It’s about empowering your people to thrive. What’s your team doing to stay ahead of the curve? Let me know in the comments below 👇 --- ♻️ Find this helpful? Repost for your network. ➕ Follow Dr Alexander Young for daily insights on productivity, leadership, and AI.

Upskilling Strategies: Yesterday we looked at the Upskilling for business success and today we're going to look at customizing learning pathways for your Tech team. In today’s tech landscape, a one-size-fits-all approach to training just doesn’t work. To build a high-performing, future-ready tech team, upskilling programs need to be personalized and role-specific. 🔍 Start by assessing your team’s current skills: Use skills assessments, 360-degree feedback, and project performance reviews to understand the strengths and gaps within your tech teams. 🔑 Tailor learning pathways to meet the needs of specific roles within your organization. A few examples: ·       Cloud Engineers can benefit from certifications and training in platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. ·       DevOps Teams should focus on tools like Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, and CI/CD pipelines to streamline workflows and improve collaboration. ·       Cybersecurity Specialists need continuous learning in threat detection, encryption, and certifications like CISSP or CEH. ·       Software Developers could advance their skills in languages like Python or Java, or explore microservices and API development. 🎯 Personalization matters. When you align learning paths with individual roles and career goals, your team is more engaged and motivated, and the impact of upskilling is much greater. To create a successful upskilling strategy: ·       Set clear development goals based on current and future business needs. ·       Leverage e-learning platforms that offer customizable learning paths and assessments. ·       Encourage mentorship and peer learning to reinforce new skills within the team. ·       Investing in personalized learning paths doesn’t just future-proof your workforce—it drives innovation, improves retention, and keeps your tech teams agile and ready for the challenges ahead. Are your upskilling programs tailored to the unique needs of your tech team? #upskilling #personalizedlearning #techtrends #cloudengineering #DevOps #cybersecurity #continuouslearning #workforcedevelopment

I was just 23 and lacked experience. So how did I create a training program worth $1 million? My secret was working backward. I was the training supervisor for a call center. My task was to create a sales training program to help our customer service reps increase upselling. Most trainers work forward on projects like this: 1. Create content 2. Hope it gets used 3. Imagine it will lead to some result It's all very squishy. Working backward is more concrete. It focuses on the business goal and analyzes what it will take to get there. 1. Identify the business goal 2. Analyze what it takes to achieve it 3. Design specific training to close the gap Here's what that looked like for my upsell project: The business goal was a sales target. From there, I had to analyze what our customer service reps were doing (or not doing) that prevented us from selling more. I poured over the performance data. Then, I spent time with our top reps, our low-performing reps, and a few reps in the middle. This analysis allowed me to design a simple training program that targeted the reps' specific needs. It was just 30 minutes long, and was supported with tools and job aids that made it easier for reps to make sales. The customer service team did great! Our upsell program generated over $1 million in annual revenue. My training program wasn't cutting-edge. It didn't incorporate the latest learning theories or technology. It was actually pretty basic. It got results because I designed it by working backward.

Last week, I helped a sales VP at a $850M+ company build a business case for a $50K sales training investment. His team was trending toward a $15.2M miss. Here's the exact framework we used to get it approved: STEP 1️⃣ Lead with the math problem, not the solution Don't walk in saying "we need training." Walk in saying: "Our org restructure and new quotas created a math problem. 50% of reps are under 20% to target, pipeline multiplier is 2x when we need 3.5x. We're trending towards 43% attainment despite showing 130% YOY growth." Numbers don't lie. Executives respond to math. STEP 2️⃣ Show what you've already tried "Here's what I've implemented: structured prospecting, improved joint sales planning, individual coaching, and a hiring pipeline." This proves you're leading, not making excuses. STEP 3️⃣ Zoom out to the bigger picture "Looking regionally, we're at $41.5M vs $150M target (27.7% attainment). Even our best territory is under 35%, with most averaging just 25%." Now it's an organizational issue, not just your team's problem. STEP 4️⃣ Present three scenarios Do nothing: 43% attainment Base case: 70% attainment with systematic approach Best case: 85%+ attainment with full implementation STEP 5️⃣ Make it easy to say yes Option 1: Pilot with one team ($25K) Option 2: Full organization ($50K) The secret? You're not asking for training. You're solving a business problem. The result? His RVP said "This makes complete sense. Let's move forward and get enablement involved with planning. Most sales leaders fail because they lead with solutions instead of quantifying the pain first. Bottom line: A $15.2M miss costs infinitely more than a $50K investment in systematic improvement. When you frame it as de-risking the business rather than asking for development budget, the conversation completely changes. Ready to build your own bulletproof business case? Here's what successful VPs do: 1. Run the math on your current trends 2. Document actions you've already taken 3. Present the strategic choice between hope and systems 4. Build your coalition before the big presentation The companies that consistently hit their numbers don't rely on heroics. They invest in systematic excellence. — Sales Leaders, want to be a world class sales manager and get your team crushing quota? Go here: https://lnkd.in/ghh8VCaf

📈 Unlocking the True Impact of L&D: Beyond Engagement Metrics 🚀 I am honored to once again be asked by the LinkedIn Talent Blog to weigh in on this important question. To truly measure the impact of learning and development (L&D), we need to go beyond traditional engagement metrics and look at tangible business outcomes. 🌟 Internal Mobility: Track how many employees advance to new roles or get promoted after participating in L&D programs. This shows that our initiatives are effectively preparing talent for future leadership. 📚 Upskilling in Action: Evaluate performance reviews, project outcomes, and the speed at which employees integrate their new knowledge into their work. Practical application is a strong indicator of training’s effectiveness. 🔄 Retention Rates: Compare retention between employees who engage in L&D and those who don’t. A higher retention rate among L&D participants suggests our programs are enhancing job satisfaction and loyalty. 💼 Business Performance: Link L&D to specific business performance indicators like sales growth, customer satisfaction, and innovation rates. Demonstrating a connection between employee development and these outcomes shows the direct value L&D brings to the organization. By focusing on these metrics, we can provide a comprehensive view of how L&D drives business success beyond just engagement. 🌟 🔗 Link to the blog along with insights from other incredible L&D thought leaders (list of thought leaders below): https://lnkd.in/efne_USa What other innovative ways have you found effective in measuring the impact of L&D in your organization? Share your thoughts below! 👇 Laura Hilgers Naphtali Bryant, M.A. Lori Niles-Hofmann Terri Horton, EdD, MBA, MA, SHRM-CP, PHR Christopher Lind

This is the most underrated problem I've seen when trying to build or expand partnership GTM: Leadership is initially fully behind a new partnership, excited about its potential, but that enthusiasm never makes its way down to the sales teams who are expected to execute. Without alignment, even the best partnership can stall before it has a chance to succeed. Why does this happen? Sales teams are often focused on their core products, and if a partnership doesn’t clearly benefit them or fit into their day-to-day operations, it becomes an afterthought. To turn things around, you need to make sure your partnership incentives, compensation, and training are in lockstep with the teams that will be selling your product. Here’s how to align incentives and drive results: 1. Ensure your incentives are compelling enough for frontline teams. It’s not enough to excite leadership—sales teams need a clear, tangible reason to sell your product. - Introduce a financial incentive or bonus structure that’s competitive with what reps earn on their core products. This could be a one-time bonus for the first sale, or an ongoing commission that rewards consistent effort. -Tie the incentive to their existing sales goals. If your product helps them hit their targets more easily, they’ll naturally prioritize it. 2. Structure partner compensation to motivate co-selling. If your partner compensation doesn’t align with their core goals, they won’t push your product. - Design a compensation plan that aligns with both the partner’s and your business objectives. For instance, if your partner’s core offering is hardware, incentivize bundling your software as part of the sale to create a win-win situation. - Offer performance-based incentives that reward partners for hitting key milestones—whether that’s a certain number of units sold, a specific revenue target, or even customer engagement metrics. Keep it simple and measurable. 3. Provide consistent training and engagement so your product isn’t just another checkbox. Sales teams won’t advocate for your product if they don’t fully understand its value or how to sell it. - Develop ongoing, bite-sized training sessions that fit into their schedules. Instead of overwhelming them with lengthy sessions, focus on 15-minute, high-impact trainings that teach them how to identify the right opportunities. -Pair training with real-time support. Join sales calls, offer one-pagers, and provide direct assistance during key customer engagements. When they feel supported, they’re more likely to feel confident pushing your product. This kind of alignment can make the difference between a stalled partnership and a thriving one. When sales teams are motivated, equipped, and incentivized to sell your product, the partnership stops being just another checkbox—it becomes a key driver of growth.

🚀 How do you maintain your competitive advantage and ensure you don’t fall behind? To keep pace with rapid tech advancements, organizations must ensure their Learning & Development (L&D) programs are tightly aligned with company strategy. As a Leadership and Team Coach, I’m passionate about helping organizations build resilient, high-performing teams. 💪 In my doctoral research, I aim to create a roadmap for reskilling workforces in the AI era. 🤖 Here are five transformative insights from Anand Chopra-McGowan from Emeritus, shared in a recent Harvard Business Review article: 1️⃣ Adopt Agile L&D Approaches Accelerate learning with cross-functional, feedback-driven teams such as with a "learning sprint." 2️⃣ Prioritize Strategic Skills Focus on capabilities that drive enterprise success, not just role-specific training (i.e., start with the end-in-mind). 3️⃣ Encourage Hands-On Application Create engaging, practical learning experiences to foster real-world adoption (i.e., connect the dots to actual work projects). 4️⃣ Shift to Outcome-Based KPIs Evaluate L&D success through business outcomes like productivity or customer engagement—not just participation (i.e., balance between outcomes and engagement/learning). 5️⃣ Build Strategic Partnerships Cultivate strong ties between L&D and business leaders to ensure alignment. With the rise of generative AI, remote work, and shifting consumer behaviors, these strategies can make L&D a powerful driver of business transformation. 🌍💼 How is your organization aligning learning with strategy? Please share in the comments below! 👇 #LeadershipDevelopment #LearningStrategy #Upskilling #FutureOfWork #Careers #Leadership #Thinkers50 #Coach #Professor #Advisor #MG100 #BestAdvice #JennyFernandez https://lnkd.in/dB8HrHxC

You can't out-coach a toxic environment. But here's the other side: Broken talent systems and outdated people strategies hurt even the best performers. Last year, I worked with a tech company that understood this balance. They didn't just bring us in for leadership development. They brought us in WHILE they rebuilt their systems. Same timeline. Same urgency. Same commitment. Here's what that looked like: While our team at Perfeqta worked with managers on difficult conversations, we worked with HR to redesign their feedback processes. While we built inclusive leadership skills, they updated promotion criteria. While executives learned new ways to lead, the company addressed pay gaps. The magic wasn't in the coaching and training alone. It was in the alignment across people, process, and performance. Too many companies treat people development and culture as separate initiatives. They'll invest in their leaders in Q1. Then maybe look at systems in Q3. If there's budget left. But transformation doesn't work in silos. Your best people need both: • Skills to lead differently • An environment that supports their ability to do it Think about it: What's the point of teaching someone to innovate if your systems punish risk? Why develop inclusive leaders if your policies stay exclusive? How can new behaviors stick when old systems pull people back? The companies that get extraordinary results understand this: People change and system change amplify each other. They work together or they don't work at all. So yes, invest in your leaders. Development is imperative. But also: • Audit what behaviors you actually reward • Align your policies with your stated values • Hold everyone accountable to new standards • Measure both individual growth AND environmental shifts It's not either/or. It never was. — Hi, I'm Latesha, a workplace culture strategist who helps companies align people development with system change. Follow for guidance on leadership and building high-performing cultures.

A lot of time and money goes into corporate training—but not nearly enough comes out of it. In fact, companies spent $130 billion on training last year, yet only 25% of programs measurably improved business performance. Having run countless training workshops, I’ve seen firsthand what makes the difference. Some teams walk away energized and equipped. Others… not so much. If you’re involved in organizing training—whether for a small team or a large department—here’s how to make sure it actually works: ✅ Do your research. Talk to your team. What skills would genuinely help them day-to-day? A few interviews or a quick survey can reveal exactly where to focus. ✅ Start with a solid brief. Give your trainer as much context as possible: goals, audience, skill levels, examples of past work, what’s worked—and what hasn’t. ✅ Don’t shortchange the time. A 90-minute session might inspire, but it won’t transform. For deeper learning and hands-on practice, give it time—ideally 2+ hours or spaced chunks over a few days. ✅ Share real examples. Generic content doesn’t stick. When the trainer sees your actual slides, templates, and challenges, they can tailor the session to hit home. ✅ Choose the right group size. Smaller groups mean better interaction and more personalized support. If you want engagement, resist the temptation to pack the (virtual) room. ✅ Make it matter. Set expectations. Send reminders. And if it’s virtual, cameras on goes a long way toward focus and connection. ✅ Schedule follow-up support. Reinforcement matters. Book a post-session Q&A, office hours, or refresher so people actually use what they’ve learned. ✅ Follow up. Send a quick survey afterward to measure impact and shape the next session. One-off training rarely moves the needle—but a well-planned series can. Helping teams level up their presentation skills is what I do—structure, storytelling, design, and beyond. If that’s on your radar, I’d love to help. DM me to get the conversation started.

Upscale and Reskill Talent at Manufacturing Sites In today's rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, companies continuously seek innovative ways to enhance productivity, improve efficiency, and stay ahead of the competition. With the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to upscale and reskill talent at manufacturing sites and leveraging AI-driven solutions, organizations can optimize operations, empower their workforce, and achieve unprecedented success. 1. Identifying Skill Gaps through Data Analysis Machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics can analyze vast data and identify skill gaps within the manufacturing workforce. By examining factors such as employee performance, historical data, and industry trends, organizations can gain invaluable insights into areas where upskilling and reskilling efforts are required. This data-driven approach enables targeted training programs, ensuring employees receive the specific knowledge and skills needed to thrive in their roles. 2. Personalized Learning Paths It is crucial to provide personalized learning paths for each employee. AI-powered platforms can assess individual skill sets, learning preferences, and career aspirations to create tailored training programs. By offering personalized learning experiences, organizations can foster employee engagement and motivation and accelerate their professional growth. 3. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Training VR and AR technologies are revolutionizing training methodologies in the manufacturing sector. These technologies enable employees to simulate real-world scenarios, practice complex tasks, and develop critical skills in a safe and controlled environment. By leveraging VR and AR training programs, organizations can enhance the learning experience, boost knowledge retention, and improve operational efficiency. 4. AI-Enabled Performance Support AI-driven performance support systems provide real-time guidance and assistance to employees on the manufacturing floor. By utilizing sensors, IoT devices, and AI algorithms, these systems can monitor operations, identify potential bottlenecks, and offer actionable insights to optimize workflow. Furthermore, AI can provide instant feedback and suggestions to enhance employee performance, ensuring high-quality output and reducing errors. 5. Collaborative Robots (Cobots) Collaborative robots, "cobots," are designed to work alongside human workers, complementing their skills and capabilities. Cobots are equipped with AI algorithms that enable them to learn from human operators, adapt to changing production requirements, and perform repetitive or physically demanding tasks. Manufacturers can enhance productivity, improve workplace safety, and free up human resources for more complex and strategic assignments by deploying cobots. Embracing these best-in-class strategies will empower the manufacturing workforce, foster innovation, and pave the way for a successful future.