Years ago, when the Canadian Society for Training and Development was formed, an executive there decided we needed to celebrate Learning and Development, and picked the second week of September as the time to do so. At that point, few in Learning and Development had a seat at the table, but we all knew champions who were leading the way for L & D in their organizations. We felt we wanted to acknowledge them, and thus started our plan. For the next few years, we nominated individuals and acknowledged them at the annual conference of CSTD.
Today, our industry has grown in acceptance, and with Chief Learning Officers, Talent Directors, and VP’s of Learning and Performance, we are now at the table. Most organizational leaders recognize that they must work smarter and faster – that change is inevitable. They have come to realize that L & D can play a key role in steering the organization, providing learning that promotes the organization’s goals, and can provide a workforce that is primed and agile enough to handle any shift in the landscape.
We have come of age. The challenges are still many, and the responsibilities we shoulder to provide this strategic focus, help align the organization’s goals, retain staff and prepare them to deal with constant learning is daunting, but it is our mission moving forward. We can be the drivers of success in our organizations and in our country.
In this month of Performance and Learning, celebrate your role, and share with others how you are working on these challenges.
About Dale
Dale Wilcox is president of WATMEC Limited. A Learning Strategist, she holds a CTDP from the former CSTD, and a Human Performance Improvement certificate from the former ASTD. For over 25 years she has been an award winner with WILEY and is certified to deliver and debrief all their assessments. Previously Dale was a Board member and inaugural chair of CSTD. She has over 45 years of Board member experience in both for profit and non-profits organizations. An entrepreneur at heart, this is her 4th business venture.