Elevating Learning & Development: Insights and Practical Guidance from the Field

For professionals seeking to hone their organization’s learning and development efforts, Elevating Learning & Development: Insights and Practical Guidance from the Field is the ideal resource.

McKinsey & Company, August 2018 | Nick van Dam

An organization’s capacity to enhance the capabilities of its workforce and create a culture of continuous learning are increasingly vital to remaining competitive. These trends make an effective learning and development (L&D) function more critical than ever.

This book, from L&D professionals at McKinsey, discusses every facet of professional development and training—from ensuring that L&D efforts are closely aligned with business strategy to advancing the L&D function, executing flawlessly, and measuring impact.

Download the introduction for a sample chapter: “Components of a successful L&D strategy”

Learn more about the book

A deeper dive

About the lead author

Nick van Dam

Elevating Learning & Development combines the insights of 35 McKinsey L&D professionals who operate across the L&D value chain, from designing learning journeys to scaling solutions to learning analytics and technology. The book was coauthored and edited by McKinsey Chief Learning Officer Nick van Dam, an internationally recognized thought leader, adviser, researcher, author, and speaker on corporate learning and leadership development.

Endorsements

“In a world of fast-paced change and radical technological advancement, I firmly believe L&D teams must play a strategic role enabling lifelong employee learning and high-impact, sustainable organizational performance. Teams that play this role will be highly valued and recognized for the benefit they bring; those that don’t will be increasingly marginalized. This book helps facilitate the transformation needed in L&D in support of this strategic ambition. I would recommend it to practitioners who are serious about positioning themselves and their teams for value generation and relevance over the longer term.”

—Nic Brassey, SVP, human resources, Ahold Delhaize

“As business leaders, it is our responsibility to provide those in our span of care with opportunities to realize their potential and know that who they are and what they do matters. How else can we help them realize their potential and elevate humanity? Let this practical yet inspiring compendium guide you on your journey to create a thriving organization.”

—Bob Chapman, chairman and CEO, Barry-Wehmiller Companies, author, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family

“Built from profound insights, this important book shows what it takes to be a purposeful learner and sets the corporate agenda to inspire and motivate learning. A must-read for anyone who cares about learning.”

—Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice and executive education faculty director, London Business School

“Foresight, agility, digital savvy, innovation, and urgency . . . critical capabilities for the future. Do you want more of these for your organization? Elevating Learning & Development: Insights and Practical Guidance from the Field provides invaluable insights for adapting your learning and development function to fuel growth.”

—Karen Kocher, general manager, 21st-century jobs, skills, and employability, Microsoft