Proving the value of employee training means knowing which signals to watch, how to connect them to business outcomes, and building a case that earns budget and backing. Here's how you can measure impact and build a clear return on learning:
1. Set outcomes first
Learning starts business need. Are you trying to reduce onboarding time? Improve manager readiness? Prepare for a tech rollout? Define two measurable outcomes with stakeholders before anything goes live, so it's easier to evaluate what worked and what needs adjustment.
2. Track any skill signals
Look for trending skills employees are spending time on to see what's resonating or where interest is growing. Tools like Go1’s Skills Insights can help track trending competencies across teams, regions, and roles so you can align learning efforts with your employees’ natural engagement.
3. Look at feedback early
Learner feedback is a crucial early signal. Track average course ratings and review open-ended comments. Compare the sentiment over time for any rising issues or concerns before your engagement drops.
The easiest way to get the data is relying on your content provider for analytics. If that’s not an option, qualitative feedback through surveys or focus groups can help. Ask managers to add a question to their next team call about how the training went.
4. Build a story around data
Data needs a narrative to resonate with executives. They’re not in the programs day to day like you are. You’ll need to connect the dots for them:
- Skill X is trending and here’s why that matters
- Learners rate Y program low, so we need something different
- Z behavior is improving, so we should double down on it
Don’t hand them data. Explain what it’s saying, why it’s important, and what they should do right now.
You’re proving more than you think
Measuring impact doesn’t always start with perfect data, and that’s okay. Execs have dashboards full of business performance metrics, but they don't have insight into how employees are learning, growing, and contributing to performance without you.
L&D brings together business alignment, learner sentiment, skill trends, and behavioral outcomes to tell a story that connects learning to results. That’s how you prove the return on learning and what it’ll take to scale success.
Turn learning signals into business proof with Go1 Insights
Review trending skills, track learner sentiment, and surface the highest-performing content—all in one place. Go1 Insights helps L&D leaders measure what matters to build confidence and back it with data.
