January brings a fresh start for learning goals. People naturally want to begin the new year with positive resolutions. But there is another important reason. This month starts the last quarter of the business year. Learning and Development teams in companies worldwide must review their plans for the next three months. They need to spend the annual budget fully and meaningfully.
The Problem with Corporate Learning Programs
L&D teams exist to support and customize your learning needs. However, large organizations face a big challenge. They cannot design individual learning paths for every employee. Specific training needs analysis often gets overlooked. As a result, TNAs group many employees into a single learning program. This creates a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why L&D Teams Struggle with Adoption
The mindset of L&D teams makes this problem worse. Matt Furness, an L&D expert, recently posted on LinkedIn about "organisational fairytales." Management still believes these myths, which hurt learning adoption. Furness listed five common fairytales:
- People will read our carefully crafted emails.
- People who ask for learning will actually show up.
- People will patiently search our Learning Management System.
- People will change simply because they intend to.
- People care deeply about business success.
Furness urges L&D leaders to focus on "behavioural literacy." They must understand what content their audience wants. They need to know preferred learning formats, modes, times, and attention spans. Modern LMS platforms can gather this data to improve outcomes.
The Rise of the Self-Directed Learner
A learning crisis has created a new type of professional: the highly invested learner. These individuals do not just follow L&D mandates. They take charge of their own growth journey. Gen Z workers especially embrace this trend.
The Voices @ Work report from Naukri provides interesting data. India's top job portal surveyed over 23,000 Gen Z professionals across 80+ industries. Results show 57% of respondents view professional advancement as skill acquisition on the job. Only 21% prioritize salary hikes, and just 12% care most about promotions.
The Challenge of Too Many Choices
Edtech platforms and online courses offer endless options. This abundance can cause decision paralysis. Many professionals start courses but never finish them. Exact completion rates are hard to find, but anecdotal evidence suggests only 10-20% of learners globally complete online courses.
You are not alone if you abandoned a paid course after a few modules. The initial excitement often fades without proper planning.
Five Practical Tips for Choosing and Completing Courses
If you want to learn a new skill this year, consider these five factors before enrolling.
1. Anchor Learning to Real Problems
Start with a specific work challenge. Ask yourself: "What do I need to improve at work in the next 3-6 months?" Learning tied to practical applications cuts through confusion. Managing teams, using data, or automating tasks are good examples. This approach keeps learning relevant long-term.
2. Just Enough is Good Enough
You do not need to become an expert immediately. Business leaders start with minimum viable products. Apply the same logic to learning. Aim for a minimum viable level of competence. Learn just enough to see if the skill works for you.
3. Less is More
Pick one primary platform and one secondary source. Following five newsletters, three apps, and ten creators creates cognitive clutter. Choose depth over width. Focus on quality learning materials rather than quantity.
4. Break It Down
Block a fixed, realistic time slot. Try 30 minutes twice a week and stick to it. Avoid ambitious goals like "finish the course in two weeks." Consistency builds momentum. Unrealistic targets create pressure and demotivation.
5. Apply What You Learn
Learning sticks when it turns into action. Each week, try to apply one idea at work. Explain it to a colleague, write a short note, or test it in a meeting. If you cannot convert learning into outcomes quickly, you might have chosen the wrong course.
Test the waters before committing fully. Watch previews, read testimonials, and talk to industry experts or alumni. Unleash your curiosity instead of succumbing to FOMO. Happy learning!
Work Vibes is a fortnightly column offering ideas to help you thrive professionally.
