Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2025 - 21

career advancements can provide
insights into the long-term benefits of
L&D initiatives.
* Training Requests: By monitoring
training requests, L&D teams can gain
valuable insights into the organization's
learning needs and foster a culture of
continuous improvement. By analyzing
the frequency, content, and source of
requests, L&D teams can identify skill
gaps, prioritize training initiatives, and
empower employees to develop the
skills they need to succeed.
KPIs should evolve with your business.
At Workleap, initial metrics focused on
participation and satisfaction. Over time,
we shifted to measuring continuous skill
application and business results driven
by leadership initiatives.
investment in their own growth
and development.
* 360-degree feedback: Capture
insights from peers, direct reports
and supervisors for a well-rounded
view of leadership skills.
Initially, Workleap relied on learning
management system (LMS) data
to evaluate leadership programs.
Recognizing the need for deeper
insights, we expanded to engagement
surveys, offering richer perspectives
on how leadership development
impacts teams.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND
STAYING ADAPTABLE
KPIs SHOULD
EVOLVE WITH
YOUR BUSINESS.
Measuring leadership development isn't
without hurdles. Common challenges
include low engagement, difficulty linking
outcomes to interventions and external
disruptions like organizational restructuring.
Here's how to stay ahead:
* Monitor and adapt: Regularly review
your data for trends and adjust your
program accordingly.
* Stay relevant: Tailor program content
to participants' roles and real-world
challenges.
GATHER DATA WITH PRECISION
Effective measurement hinges on robust
data collection methods. Here are some
proven techniques:
* LMS analytics: Monitor attendance,
course completions and feedback.
* Post-session reflections: Gather
qualitative insights into participants'
experiences.
* Engagement
surveys: Use tools
like pulse surveys to track team
engagement and leadership impact.
For example, Workleap surveys
assess things like feedback frequency
and leaders' ability to manage team
performance. We also used pulse
surveys to gather data on leaders'
perceptions of the company's
* Close the loop: Create feedback
channels to continuously improve and
fine-tune your approach.
When organizational changes prompted
Workleap to transition from a fixed
program to a continuous learning model,
we adapted our measurement strategy
to focus on sustained engagement and
real-world skill application. This flexibility
has been key to the program's success.
CASE STUDY: LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT AT WORKLEAP
WorkLead began as a 12-month program
aimed at building strategic decisionmaking
and engagement skills in
emerging leaders. Success was initially
measured by participation rates, skill
improvement and team engagement.
A turning point came with the program's
evolution into a continuous learning
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - WINTER 2025 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
model, allowing leaders to develop at
their own pace. Measurement priorities
shifted to sustained engagement and
the practical application of skills in
dynamic business scenarios so we
could measure deepened leadership
impact while also reinforcing a
culture of continuous learning across
the company.
TIPS TO GET STARTED
Here's are some quick tips to help
you get started with measuring your
leadership development efforts:
1. Define and revisit success criteria:
Align goals with business priorities
and adjust them as needed.
2. Mix
data
metrics (e.g.,
types: Combine hard
skill gap reduction)
with qualitative feedback.
3. Automate where possible: Use
technology to simplify tracking
and reporting.
4. Focus on practical outcomes:
Prioritize results that directly improve
performance, such as faster decisionmaking
or higher engagement.
CONCLUSION
Measuring leadership development
impact is not a one-time task but
an ongoing process of learning and
refinement. Clear goals, thoughtful KPIs,
robust data collection and adaptability
are critical to demonstrating value and
driving continuous improvement.
As Workleap's experience shows,
leadership development programs
thrive when measurement becomes
a
part of the process - not an
afterthought. With these best practices,
organizations can create programs
that not only develop leaders but also
deliver lasting results.
Kiara Graham is a talent development
expert
with
over
a
decade
of
experience in learning design and
change management. As a talent
management advisor at Workleap, she
helps organizations transform their
leadership strategies with innovative
HR tech solutions. Email Kiara.
21
https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine
Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2025
