Be a Thought Leader: 5 Free L&D Industry Reports to get Informed

A few years ago I was given some feedback that I really took to heart.  I was told that If I wanted
to influence change and affect or set strategy within the organization that I would need to be seen as a thought leader.   At first I wasn't sure what to make of that feedback.  My immediate thought was something akin to "Great, now I have to become the next Josh Bersin or Richard Branson if I want to make a real impact".   

Steppping out of my fixed mindset, I did a little research to see what being a thought leader was all about.  What I found is that it's not just about popularity or fame, there's much more to it than that.  

---

"Thought leaders are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise. They are trusted sources who move and inspire people with innovative ideas; turn ideas into reality, and know and show how to replicate their success."  Denise Brosseau of Thought Leadership Lab ​

The first step in becoming a thought leader is to be informed about what's going on in the learning industry.  To that end, I've compiled a list of five free reports on industry trends from 2017 to 19. 

Free industry reports:​​
The following repots can be accessed either directly or by submitting your information to the website first.  A small price to pay for access to some great information.  I've included a one or two sentence summary about each and one key take away to help you determine if you're interested in learning more.

2019 LinkedIn State of the Workforce Report
The 3rd annual​ report from LinkedIn Learning.  This report features insight into budgeting, marketing, closing skill gaps, and working across generations. 

One key take away: "Talent developers prioritize understanding skills gaps in 2019  with a 32% increase year over year."
LinkedIn, 2019 State of the Workforce Report

---

U.S. L&D Report 2019:  Benchmark Your Work Place Learning Strategy​
​This report dives into the benefits of innovation within L&D teams and Inclusion & Diversity training. 

One key take away:  "The same L&D professionals reporting that their employees are highly engaged are 94% more likely to be offering those staff members classroom training.  No other modalities were linked as closely with employee engagement..."  findcourses.com (2019). U.S. L&D Report: 2019. Retrieved from http://www. findcourses.com/ld-report-2019

---

Training Magazine - 2018 Industry Report
​Presented by Training Magazine, via trainingmag.com, this survey was conducted by an outside company.  It contains detailed data on budgets, expenses, and types of training used across small, medium, and large organizations.

One key takeaway:  ​"2018 saw an increase in the average expenditure for training outsourcing:  $422,321, up from $219,265 in 2017.  An average of 14 percent of the total training budget was spent on outsourcing.  The level outsourcing is expected tos tay relatively steady in 2019."   Trainingmag.com, 2018 Industry Report

---

Training Industry Magazine - The Modern Learning Mindset
Note that this link doesn't provide you with access to the full report.  However, you can read  summaries of the information contained in the full version.  

One key takeaway:  "The business environment in which organizations operate today is vastly different than a few decades ago. Learning is no longer viewed in the context of an isolated, one-time training event. Learning is now viewed as a continuous process throughout the employee lifecycle, without a definitive expiration date."  Training Industry Magazine, The Modern Learning Mindset

---

Gallup - State of the American Workplace
This report builds upon Gallup's 2013 State of the Workplace report.  It provides a detailed analysis of employee engagement, the benefits of highly engaged employees, and the changing face of work.   I enjoyed reading their piece on matrixed teams.

One key takeaway:  "Highly matrixed employees are 14% less likely to strongly agree they know what’s expected of them at work, compared with non-matrixed employees. In the absence of well-defined expectations and frequent, clear communication, multiple projects feel like a top priority, multiple team members’ roles begin to conflict and progress slows, hurting productivity outcomes."    Gallup, State of the American Workplace Report

​Combining the insights from the above reports along with your expertise and knowledge should allow you to form some thoughts on how you can enhance your learning organization.  Use this as base from which you can generate innovative ideas to solve the challenges faced by your company. 

Additional industry reports for purchase
If you are interested in doing some more research you can access additional reports from the following organizations.

•  Association for Talent Development 2018 State of the Industry Report
• Association for Talent Development Research Reports
• Training Industry Magazine Research​

What am I missing?
Please share the sites and research, for purchase and free, that you use to learn about the latest trends in the learning industry.