Learning analytics are important, but how do you turn them into meaningful actions? How can you use them to improve workforce performance and build a culture of continuous growth? While numbers alone can’t improve processes, the insights they reveal — when properly analyzed and acted upon — can spark significant change.
By turning learning analytics into meaningful, data-driven stories, you can uncover trends, address performance gaps, improve training effectiveness, and align learning initiatives with measurable business impact.
As highlighted at Seismic Shift ’24, organizations can turn learning data into actionable insights that transform their business for the better. Here are some of the ways we explored how to build a highly successful, data-driven learning culture at Shift.
Why learning analytics are important
Learning analytics aren’t just about tracking who completed a training program or how many modules were viewed. They’re about connecting behaviors to positive outcomes for your business. That could mean:
- Stronger employee performance: Identify skill gaps and tailor training to address weaknesses, resulting in higher productivity.
- Better retention: Reduce turnover with engaging learning programs that align employee growth with business goals.
- Increased ROI on training programs: Discover the most effective training strategies and what aspects of training can be improved for greater ROI.
- Better customer experiences: Align training with customer needs, ensuring your team delivers consistent, confident, and precise interactions that enhance satisfaction.
Turning data points into stories
Data alone doesn’t tell the story – it’s the narrative and context surrounding your data that drive meaningful change. So the next time leadership asks, “How’s it going with your learning program?” you can answer confidently with an effective data story.
Here’s how to create one:
- Define the question: Start with the problem — e.g., “Why is engagement declining in Sales Team East?”
- Gather the metrics: Use data points like overdue assignments, satisfaction scores, and training hours to frame the story.
- Analyze trends: Identify patterns in behavior and performance.
- Take action: Define strategic steps to achieving measurable outcomes, such as increased engagement, retention, and win rates.
Remember to tailor the message as different audiences care about different metrics – e.g., sales leaders might prioritize speed-to-competency, while HR may focus on retention rates.
Dig deeper with Seismic Learning
When tying learning programs to measurable outcomes, organizations have historically relied on basic metrics like course completions, test scores, and participation rates. While these legacy insights are valuable, they only scratch the surface of what’s possible.
Expanding beyond general metrics, Seismic Learning, an all-in-one learning and coaching solution, provides actionable, real-time data to address specific challenges. With Seismic Learning, organizations become well-versed in how to measure training effectiveness, and can:
- Track learning engagement in real-time: Understand how employees interact with content as it happens, enabling rapid adjustments.
- Identify key metrics: Pinpoint which learning activities correlate most with business success.
- Compare individuals and teams: Easily compare metrics like completion rates, satisfaction scores, and training hours between teams.
As an example, here are two sales teams with starkly different outcomes:
- Sales Team East: High rates of overdue assignments and low engagement.
- Sales Team West: Consistent completion, higher training hours, and better satisfaction scores.
Leadership now has the data to understand why Sales Team East is lagging behind. By pinpointing performance gaps, leaders can take actionable steps like setting clearer expectations, offering timely feedback, and improving their training strategy.
But don’t take our word for it. Jennifer Sutherland, Global Leader of Culture, Learning & Development at Trustwave, says, “Seismic Learning empowered us to innovate training, automate onboarding, and foster a culture of learning pivotal for our global team’s growth.” Read their success story.
From metrics to meaningful change
When learning analytics are tied to a coherent story with tangible outcomes, they become more than just a collection of metrics; they drive better employee performance, enhance customer experiences, and ultimately fuel business success.
So, the next time leadership asks, “How’s it going with your learning program?” let your data do the talking — and let the story it tells inspire action.
Ready to dive deeper? Explore how Seismic Learning can help you unlock the full potential of your learning data and turn it into real, impactful results. Speak with our team today.
