Building Success Brick by Brick: L&D’s Supportive Role in Organizations

When people think of learning and development within an organization, most of the time they picture mandatory compliance training. But I’m here to tell you there is much more to it than that! Over the years, the Learning & Development department has become a strategic partner to the business. We are here to help move the organization forward and equip employees and leaders to succeed.

As a Manager of Learning & Development and in my previous role as an Instructional Designer, I have seen the impact we have made. Insurance is an ever evolving and fast paced industry, and a lot of people will tell you that they learned what they know on the job from their peers or leaders. We take that internal knowledge and experience and combine it with industry standards to create streamlined learning programs for all employees within the organization. This includes programs such as new employee orientation and onboarding, role-specific technical training for all levels, and career and leadership development.

Learning & Development partners with the business to identify gaps that training could fill or opportunities where learning programs can take us to the next level of service. Once we identify the gaps or opportunities, we work with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop the content and determine the appropriate delivery and metrics to measure our success. Outside of the normal instructor-led training and online learning courses you are familiar with, we create:

• Engaging and interactive workshops where learners can immediately apply what they’ve learned.
• Animated videos that walk learners through processes and scenarios that they may encounter.
• Visually appealing infographics that outline best practices.
• Short microlearning bursts that help learners recall topics several months after the program.
• Learning and talent frameworks that support growth within the organization.
• And so much more!

At AmTrust, one of the most pivotal programs that we have put in place is our Claims Associate Onboarding Program. Prior to this program, there was no formal onboarding process for new Claims Adjusters. The Learning & Development department worked with SMEs throughout Claims to create a comprehensive program to set new hires up for success in their role. It features engaging workshops, interactive online courses, scenario-based learning and on-the-job training opportunities. After implementing the Claims Associate Onboarding Program in 2022, 92% of participants stayed with AmTrust and 76% of participants were promoted within nine months All of which is a true testament to the impact a well-executed learning program can have on employees.

We have taken great strides to transition from simply developing training to more of a learning and performance support partner to the business. I hope this helps you see the benefit that a great Learning & Development team can be to an organization.