## Introduction: The Fastest Learner Wins In today's rapidly changing world, the ability to learn and adapt at speed is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. As the CEO and Co-founder of HowNow, a leading edtech platform, I've seen firsthand how traditional approaches to learning and development (L&D) can hinder an organization's ability to stay ahead. In "Learning at Speed," I argue that it's time to revolutionize L&D by embracing Lean and Agile methodologies. The world is changing fast, but are you? Do you know where the skills gaps are in your organization? Do you know how to fill these gaps? Most importantly, can you make the necessary changes quickly enough to succeed? These questions are at the heart of what I aim to address in this book. ## Where L&D is Going Wrong and How Lean Can Fix It Traditional L&D approaches often fall short because they are slow, cumbersome, and disconnected from the real needs of the business. They focus on creating perfect, detailed resources that take months or even years to develop, only to find that the landscape has changed by the time they are ready. Lean learning is a mindset that challenges this status quo. It is built on three main principles: action, continuous improvement, and outcome. Action means acting with speed, delivering solutions now even if they are initially flawed. Continuous improvement involves iterating based on feedback to get closer to the best possible solution. And outcome-focused learning means knowing exactly what result you want and measuring it to ensure success. For example, consider the story of Quibi, a startup that failed spectacularly because it didn't solve a real problem. Quibi spent millions developing a platform without understanding the needs of its users. This is a classic mistake that L&D teams can avoid by first identifying the problems that need solving. ## Finding the Right Business Problem to Solve and Creating an L&D Strategy The first step in effective L&D is to find the problem that needs solving. This involves leveraging company data to understand learning needs and identifying the gaps in your organization. Once you've identified the problem, you can plan your strategy using tools like the Learning Canvas. The Learning Canvas is a framework that helps you deconstruct a learning strategy and optimize each element for improved results. It ensures that your learning initiatives are aligned with business outcomes and that you are addressing the real needs of your workforce. For instance, at HowNow, we use the Learning Canvas to create dynamic learning ecosystems that are tailored to the specific needs of our clients. This approach has allowed us to deliver learning solutions that are both effective and efficient. ## Building a Dynamic Learning Ecosystem and Personalizing Learning at Scale A dynamic learning ecosystem is one that is adaptable, responsive, and continuously improving. It involves creating an environment where learning is integrated into the workflow, rather than being a separate activity. This can be achieved by using sprints, a concept borrowed from startups, where you focus on achieving a specific outcome within a short period. Personalizing learning at scale is also crucial. With the help of technology, you can now deliver learning experiences that are tailored to the individual needs of each employee. This involves using data and analytics to understand learning behaviors and preferences, and then using this information to create personalized learning paths. At HowNow, we've seen significant improvements in learning engagement and outcomes by personalizing learning experiences. For example, one of our clients, a global enterprise, saw a 30% increase in learning completion rates after we implemented a personalized learning strategy. ## Measuring the Proof of Impact and Delivering Continuous Learning Measuring the impact of L&D is often overlooked, but it is critical to understanding whether your learning initiatives are successful. Lean learning emphasizes the importance of tracking metrics that matter and using feedback to improve continuously. Delivering continuous learning involves using sprints to iterate and improve learning content. This means starting with a minimum viable product (MVP) and then refining it based on feedback. It also involves scaling your learning impact by leveraging marketing principles to promote learning within the organization. For example, we use learning sprints at HowNow to develop and refine our learning content quickly. We start with an MVP, gather feedback, and then iterate to improve the content. This approach ensures that our learning solutions are always relevant and effective. ## Building a Business Case and Getting Stakeholder Buy-In To implement these changes, you need to build a strong business case and get stakeholder buy-in. This involves demonstrating the value of your L&D initiatives and showing how they align with business objectives. In "Learning at Speed," I provide practical advice and tools to help you build this business case. This includes templates, worksheets, and case studies that illustrate how to track metrics that matter, get the most from your budget, and secure stakeholder support. For instance, one of our clients, a tech unicorn, was able to secure significant investment in their L&D program by presenting a compelling business case that highlighted the impact of learning on business performance. ## Conclusion: Always Winning In conclusion, the speed of learning is your moat in today's competitive landscape. By adopting Lean and Agile methodologies, you can create a learning ecosystem that is agile, responsive, and continuously improving. As Donald H Taylor, Chair of the Learning Technologies Conference, noted, "This book captures sustainable shifts to a more appropriate, effective L&D function, better suited to modern businesses of today and the future." Michelle Parry-Slater, Learning and Development Director at Kairos Modern Learning, added, "With practical suggestions, a myriad of story examples, support to build a new learning ecosystem, and more, this book really is a must-read for modern L&Ders in business." In "Learning at Speed," I offer a practical guide to help you achieve this. It's time to move beyond the buzzwords and start building a learning strategy that truly drives business performance. Remember, your company's speed of learning is your moat – this book is how you build it.

Here are the key insights from "Learning at Speed" by Nelson Sivalingam: ## Embrace Lean and Agile Methodologies The book advocates for revolutionizing learning and development (L&D) by adopting Lean and Agile methodologies to enhance organizational performance and adapt to rapid changes. ## Identify and Fill Skills Gaps Quickly Organizations must identify skills gaps and fill them quickly to stay competitive. This involves understanding where the gaps are and making necessary changes swiftly. ## Lean Learning Principles Lean learning is based on three principles: action (delivering solutions quickly), continuous improvement (iterating based on feedback), and outcome-focused learning (measuring success against specific results). ## Avoid Traditional L&D Pitfalls Traditional L&D approaches are often slow and disconnected from business needs. Lean learning avoids these pitfalls by focusing on rapid, iterative solutions rather than perfect, detailed resources. ## Use the Learning Canvas The Learning Canvas is a framework that helps deconstruct a learning strategy and optimize each element to align with business outcomes and address real workforce needs. ## Build a Dynamic Learning Ecosystem A dynamic learning ecosystem integrates learning into the workflow, uses sprints to achieve specific outcomes, and continuously improves. This approach ensures learning is adaptable and responsive. ## Personalize Learning at Scale Using data and analytics, learning experiences can be personalized to individual employee needs, leading to improved learning engagement and outcomes. ## Measure Impact and Deliver Continuous Learning Tracking metrics that matter and using feedback to improve learning content continuously is crucial. This involves using sprints to iterate and refine learning content. ## Build a Strong Business Case To implement changes, build a compelling business case that demonstrates the value of L&D initiatives and aligns them with business objectives. Use templates, worksheets, and case studies to secure stakeholder support. ## Leverage Marketing Principles Scale learning impact by leveraging marketing principles to promote learning within the organization, ensuring that learning solutions are always relevant and effective. ## Continuous Improvement and Feedback Emphasize continuous improvement by starting with a minimum viable product (MVP) and refining it based on feedback, ensuring learning solutions are always improving. By implementing these insights, organizations can create a learning ecosystem that is agile, responsive, and continuously improving, thereby driving business performance.