What should L&D teams look like today? 

With more next gen technology and new ways of working influencing how we learn at work, it’s caused L&D teams to evolve fast. 

This article shares what skills you need and how to structure a modern day L&D team. 

L&D skills have changed

The launch of new technology means we’re working with a whole new set of tools which requires a different approach. It’s not as scary as it sounds. A modern learning platform like THRIVE actually provides brand new opportunities for your team to learn new skills and take on new challenges.

More traditional LMS’s tend to host more long form content in the shape of elearning, compliance courses and classroom events. Whereas the objective of an LXP is to provide an environment for learners to potentially find the answer to any question they might have in the flow of work.

This means your first big change is all about content. Whether it’s curated, created or user generated, your platform is only as powerful as the content it has in it. So, your team needs to have a focus on content skills, it’s crucial for continuous, real time learning.

The second key reason for change is engagement. This isn’t something that tends to be considered with an LMS as your traffic is based on pushing content and users being told to access it. 

However, with modern platforms, you have much more scope to cater for self directed learning, which reflects how people learn in their everyday lives. But this means you need to have a focus on maintaining always-on user engagement.

This article looks at the job roles you might adapt or recruit for, but first let’s look at some of those new skills your squad should contain. 

Evolve your content skills and strategy

Content doesn’t need to be a dedicated role, the more people you can involve in content creation, the better. 

In an ideal world, this is something your whole business contributes to. Tools like user generated content support a cocreated L&D strategy, that means your people are also creating videos, sharing links, asking and answering questions, writing articles and more. 

This takes the pressure off your team to create everything and you become more knowledge facilitators. 

But we understand you have to set the example and start at the top. So, when working with clients we run workshops focussed on content creation to give you the best start possible. Here are some easy wins to get content going: 

• Video capture on your smartphone
• Simple video editing
• Interview techniques
• Research and curation
• Tool discovery and usage
• Design skills
• Writing

Make time for marketing skills 

This skill set is all about user engagement. Successfully launching your LXP and using tactics like campaigns, comms and data to maintain momentum. 

We believe you need to treat the launch of a new learning platform in the same way you’d treat a product you’re launching to customers. Then this skill is all about continuing to internally market it through initiatives such as competitions, challenges and campaigns to grow traffic and keep up activation. 

Data and understanding learner behaviour also comes into this skill as new platforms tend to have an advanced suite of analytics so you can take time to delve into the data and understand how to adapt. Here’s a quick overview of those new skills: 

• Campaign planning
• Data analysis
• Competitions and challenges 
• Understanding your audience
• Appointing influencers
• Copywriting

Adapt your people skills

This is all about communicating your message, talking with passion and gaining showing where L&D can add value to individuals for optimum buy-in. A lot of these are sales skills as you will essentially be internally selling your platform to people.

A big part of this is networking, building trust and most importantly exerting a positive attitude. Every team has it’s challenges but it’s super important for your team to stay positive and enforce why learning is essential to your business. These people skills include:

• Communication
• Positive Attitude
• Networking
• Curiosity
• Presentation

Now you know what new skills you’re working with, explore what new job roles you need to cover in this useful article.