Learning and Development should focus on what now matters most in business: adaptability and collaboration

True - to support today's disrupted world of work. But the basis of 'L&D' comes from the traditional, industrialised model of work:

Success in the 'Build > Sell > Cut costs > Build cheaper' era required efficiency, compliance and conformity;

Stakeholders and leaders needed certainty of output and results;

"Training" and measurement fast tracked the idea of control in the system;

Responsibility for "Training" could easily be sub-contracted out to a "Business Support" function; (whilst leaders got on with the really important stuff...).

Much current L&D focus and investment still links back to this industrial mindset of driving efficiency and standardisation across an organisation. I believe this is revealed by:

'L&D's ongoing battle to demonstrate 'value' to senior people

The need to find acceptance from the organisation

The need to create and manage 'resources' that provide "the way to learn what's needed around here"

An obsession with new technologies that (might) help with the points above

Of course, there is still important work to help employees follow the standardised processes which work best. But the bigger opportunity now for 'L&D' is to help the organisation in areas which create value in today's connection economy. Organisations now do better work through:

Developing adaptability

The emerging, sustainable value in an organisation comes from its ability to make sense of and adapt to complex, ambiguous challenges. Demonstrating and encouraging the mindset to help people embrace and thrive in an uncertain business world

Developing collaboration and interaction

Creating an environment where workers at all levels can obtain and transfer knowledge and ideas as much and as easily as possible. Building connections, encouraging and rewarding participation across teams and functions.

Paul works alongside L&D teams who need to lead the right environment for better adaptability and collaboration. (So people can do better work).