Multiple factors have affected the business milieu in the recent years. The changing corporate landscape and increasing complexity are reshaping the entire world. The rise of a multigenerational workforce and business ambiguity constantly shift the focus towards upskilling and reskilling. Also, digitization shows that the need for a technology-savvy workforce is more important than ever. All these trends have increased the role of learning & development talent within every organization, and non-profit is no exception.
Organizations implement L&D programs so, employees learn new skills, engage more, and remain productive in their job roles. As per McKinsey research, by 2030, 14% of the global workforce or as many as 375 million employees, may need to switch occupational categories as digitization, automation, and advances in artificial intelligence disrupt the world of work. An effective L&D program for non-profit organizations helps employees upskill, imbibes a better sense of purpose, and accelerates business growth.
To unlock the full potential of a non-profit organization, business leaders must plan a well-crafted L&D strategy. Key aspects that highlight the role of learning & development talent within a non-profit organization are as follows:
- Aligning L&D Initiatives with Business Goals
Traditionally, achieving business objectives that align with the L&D efforts took a lot of work. In the current scenario, non-profit organizations focus on implementing an effective L&D strategy that maps with the key business goals. For instance, the L&D function creates employee career growth and skill development opportunities. They upskill employees based on their learning journeys or strengthen the leadership succession pipeline. Ultimately, this improves the learning experience, boosts engagement, and fuels performance.
- Focusing on the Learner Experience
Remote and hybrid work environments, employee wellness, digital transformation, and learner experience are key areas of focus for an L&D function. It is more than just converting instructor-led training into online courses to boost learner experience. Learning talent function must focus on various aspects-
- How to deliver online courses that meet the suitable learning need?
- Are learners engaged and motivated with the training program?
- How to ensure social learning among peers, so they feel connected?
- Is the training course modular for the bespoke mobile device?
By considering the above aspects, non-profit companies can craft a well-structured L&D strategy to meet suitable learner needs and drive the learner’s experience. The 2022 Workplace Learning Report states that L&D is still responsible for producing high-quality learning experiences by developing innovative working methods and constant prioritization.
- Creating Opportunities to Encourage Upskilling
Employee upskilling is yet another crucial aspect in non-profit organizations. Employees must acquire new skills to fit into new job roles and achieve the business mission. L&D talent delivers effective skill development programs so employees can upskill, reskill, and unlock their potential to enable success.
Conclusion
Today, non-profits have recognized the need to leverage their employees’ relevant skills and experience for business growth. They plan an effective learning & development talent strategy to develop an engaged, inspired, and high-performing workforce. In response to the economic disruption, L&D has taken full ownership to respond to the change. With organizations rethinking their L&D initiatives, the focus is now more on driving employee motivation, upskilling, increasing productivity, and improving well-being.
When I read the above article, it is “internally focused” on NGO employees. I was expecting much more information to prepare NGO employees to develop learning programmes addressing practical community issues and challenges.