by Mindtools
Mindtools is making headlines! Our Head of Insights and Analytics, Dr. Gent Ahmetaj, recently shared his expert insights in People Management magazine on why businesses must start measuring the success of their learning and development (L&D) initiatives.
Too often, L&D is seen as a ‘nice to have’ – an investment in people that’s valuable but hard to quantify. But in today’s fast-changing workplace, that mindset is no longer enough. To secure buy-in, demonstrate impact, and make data-driven decisions, businesses need to start measuring L&D success more effectively.
The data dilemma in L&D
Many organizations struggle to measure L&D success because they rely on outdated or incomplete metrics. While course completion rates and employee feedback provide useful insights, they don’t tell the full story. What’s missing is a clear link between learning initiatives and meaningful business outcomes, such as improved productivity, reduced attrition, or enhanced leadership capability.
The shift to business-centric metrics
To demonstrate impact, L&D leaders must adopt a more business-focused approach. This means aligning learning objectives with organizational priorities and using data to track performance improvements over time. As Gent highlights, companies leading the way in this area are leveraging real-time analytics, workplace performance data, and behavioral insights to build a more comprehensive picture of learning effectiveness.
Making the case for measurable L&D
Without robust measurement, L&D teams risk being seen as cost centers rather than strategic enablers. By focusing on metrics that matter, whether it’s sales growth, customer satisfaction, or leadership pipeline strength, L&D can shift from a reactive function to a proactive driver of business success.
Read the full article in People Management here.
Better teams need better managers
Mindtools is dedicated to empowering organizations across every industry with effective learning and development for their managers and leaders.
Find out more
At Mindtools, we help organizations create evidence-based management and leadership development solutions that support real-world impact.
Want to unlock the full potential of your L&D strategy? Get in touch to find out how our consultancy services can equip you with the tools and expertise to measure and optimize learning outcomes effectively.
