Does Size Matter in Learning & Development (L&D)?
What are the thoughts on how a learning and development function can thrive in a VUCA world?
In today's Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous (VUCA) business climate, smaller L&D vendors can help lift your business to the next level at very affordable costs.
It's the quality of work that counts in L&D.
A few factors to note, when comparing L&D vendors.
Staff of large vendors are typically a potpourri, which means your account will not be given the best people unless you have a really, really huge budget.
Large vendors tend to send experienced & valued executives to propose L&D solutions for your account.
They then dish the work to junior ones once contract is secured.
Frustration sets in when you're trying to explain to the junior L&D fellow, the solution you require.
Often, just when the junior L&D executive begins to get the hang of it, he or she leaves the vendor for a better paying job.
Smaller L&D vendors offer senior executive experience. The people who propose L&D solutions, are the very same people who will be managing your account.
Smaller L&D vendors are usually set up by L&D professionals with strong corporate or large organisation experience, who very much prefer to give focus & attention to clients.
As such, clients can enjoy high quality advice without the exorbitant prices of larger L&D vendors.
The lesser layers of hierarchy in a smaller L&D vendor, allow the executives to be nimble & adaptable, when working to develop L&D solutions.
By leveraging all the senior executive talent in a small L&D vendor, its true value can be;
- Very low or no turnover rate of junior and middle-range executives unlike larger L&D vendors.
- Strong focus - proactive in reaching out to clients to improve retention.
- Owners & senior executives are likely to be more hands on - they roll up their sleeves when working on your account.
But if you are too scared to make the change the usual large L&D vendor to a smaller but likely much nimble & adaptable vendor, think of it as giving them a chance to see them soar like eagles.
At the end of the day, it’s not the size of the person in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the person.
