5 Essential Skills for L&D Professionals to Create More Effective Training Programmes

5 Essential Skills for L&D Professionals to Create More Effective Training Programmes

Previously we discussed the critical role learning and development professionals have in an insurance firm and how they ensure that employees have the skills and capabilities to perform their jobs effectively, help the organisation achieve its goals and objectives and meet regulations set by regulatory bodies.

However, creating effective training programmes requires more than just subject matter expertise. Below are 5 skills L&D professionals must possess to design and deliver effective training programmes.

Management Skills

Trainers hold the responsibility of equipping employees with the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively and remain compliant. Achieving this requires strong managerial skills to motivate the team, set clear expectations and goals, and offer feedback and coaching to help employees improve.

In the insurance industry, continuous professional development (CPD) is of utmost importance to ensure that firms meet regulatory requirements and ensure compliance. Good management skills such as attention to detail, planning, organisation, and effective communications are vital to understanding what is required of firms and how to set out an effective learning plan.

Managing a training and development department involves creating, maintaining, and adhering to training budgets, managing administrative tasks, and coordinating with other departments to ensure that training is aligned with the company's strategic priorities.

Leadership Skills

Good leadership skills can help execute organisational goals and build professional development initiatives that result in high-performing employees. By setting a clear vision for the training and development department a culture of learning can be created within the organisation.

Effective leadership skills are necessary for building strong relationships with other departments, senior management, and stakeholders. Good leadership skills, such as effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, are essential to achieving this goal.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is essential to ensure that employees understand the training and development programmes, the goals, and objectives, and how they relate to their job roles. Clear and concise communication helps to avoid misunderstandings and confusion, ensuring that employees receive the necessary training and development to perform their job roles effectively.

Good communication skills can lead to collaboration with other departments, such as HR, marketing, and IT, to identify and address potential challenges and obstacles, resulting in a more efficient and effective training and development programme.

Organisation Skills

Good organisational skills are essential for effective time management, meeting deadlines, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget. By being well-organised, L&D professionals can reduce stress and improve productivity, which ultimately benefits the entire organisation.

Critical Thinking

Good critical thinking skills are essential for problem-solving and decision-making. Through critical thinking, problems can be identified, and effective solutions developed to address them. By being able to think critically and objectively, L&D professionals can help their organisations make better decisions and improve overall performance.

It is important to analyse information and data to identify skills gaps and training needs within the organisation. This allows the firm to assess the learning needs of employees and develop effective training programmes that address those needs.

The Development Zone is the system of choice for over 16,000 professionals in the insurance and other regulated sectors and boasts an extensive catalogue of more than 500 regulatory, technical, and business skills courses.

The Aviva Development Zone offers a 14-day free trial, with no commitment, allowing users to experience the new features and see the benefits for themselves.

For more information about the Aviva Development Zone and to sign up for a free trial or a demo, visit www.mydevelopment.zone or get in touch with our support team.

About the author

Luke joined RWA from July 2022 - July 2023. He has 10 years of graphic design experience creating marketing material and 7 years of direct marketing experience, most recently working as a freelance social media marketing manager. Luke’s role at RWA involved overseeing RWA's social media channels and assisting with the creation of e-learning and blog content.

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