Session Focus: Helping to prepare today’s workforce for tomorrow by L&D achieving their highest purpose–changing lives through learning.
The future of work is rapidly evolving, catalyzed by powerful forces like AI, automation and technological disruption. In this session focused on "Helping to prepare today's workforce for tomorrow by L&D achieving their highest purpose–changing lives through learning", learning experts drove home a crucial message: L&D professionals must proactively transform themselves into "trusted learning advisors" or risk becoming obsolete.
As Keith Keating, author of the upcoming book "The Trusted Learning Advisor" emphatically stated: "If L&D does not evolve it will absolutely become extinct...we will no longer exist if we don't adapt to the future." The stakes have never been higher for the learning profession.
To thrive in this era of unprecedented change, L&D needs to shed its traditional "order-taker" mindset and instead become indispensable strategic partners. "It is our responsibility as trusted learning advisors to have the largest toolkit possible I believe we need to have an awareness of everything that exists now," Keating urged.
Three key takeaways emerged as imperatives for L&D's evolution:
1. Proactively evolve and embrace new technologies like AI instead of being reactive order-takers, or risk becoming obsolete.
2. Stay aware of the full toolkit of learning methodologies, technologies and develop expertise to strategically apply the right tools for the business needs.
3. Take the lead in anticipating future skills needs, facilitating discussions with business leaders, and proactively upskilling/reskilling the workforce for changing job roles impacted by AI/automation.
The reality is stark - as Keating cautioned, "There are still millions whose roles will be completely eliminated." Rather than awaiting instructions, L&D must be the drivers - using research, prototyping solutions, and engaging business leaders proactively to "guide the discussions and learners through this change."
In this era of disruption, stasis means obsolescence for L&D. Embracing the mindset and functions of "trusted learning advisors" is an existential imperative to create an adaptive, future-capable workforce and remain indispensable strategic assets.
