As this year comes to an end and business leaders prepare for 2019, it’s time to start thinking about 
the trends and issues impacting the world of talent development. The world of talent and development ranges from the C-Suite setting and executing strategy to the Talent Development departments creating and executing the talent strategy... to the new manager who needs new skills to manage a team of people who don’t report to her. It has never been more exciting to be in this space and I believe we are on the cusp of several major breakthroughs that will arm organizations with the talent they need to effectively compete in disrupted global marketplaces.
I had my most productive year ever in 2018 and worked with more than a dozen large global companies delivering business simulation-centric learning experiences in the areas of Business Acumen, Business Leadership, and Strategic Business Selling. Based on my observations, conversations, and one-on-one coaching sessions with leaders in Health Care, Technology, Retail, Professional Services, and Process Manufacturing, I am pleased to share my 5 big predictions for Talent Development in the corporate world for 2019.
Companies will invest in more live training time (at least for high potentials)
The trend of “what can you do for me in terms of training in an hour” has finally peaked and hopefully passed. In 2019, Talent Development professionals will target more live training time and will especially increase live training time for high potential leaders. Everyone realizes there is no such thing as magic training fairy dust that you sprinkle on people to give them enhanced skills. It takes work, time and money and the smart companies finally get it. Welcome back four-day workshops that give learners the opportunity to absorb, explore, and most importantly learn from others in a live network that forms long-term relationships.
Artificial Intelligence will become mainstream for reinforcement of new skills
The holy grail of corporate training is proving new skills stick and there is a return on investment. Emerging AI technologies like SimBots™, who engage with participants to practice new skills, will become mainstream and can reinforce skills such as coaching, having hard conversations, and negotiating skills by providing learners with the opportunity to practice over and over again while getting immediate feedback from machine learning enabled tools that get better and smarter in the way they provide the feedback to the learners.
Companies will allocate bigger budgets to corporate training
There are two things driving bigger budgets for corporate training in 2019. First, CEOs realize enhanced skills are a competitive advantage. As markets and industries become disrupted, smart, and well-trained employees are the only way to survive. CEOs are also realizing that investing in people now, more than ever, is one of the most important talent retention strategies you can have. I have already seen and experienced healthy increases in budgets and based on my current assessment, talent development budgets will be up at least 5%-10% over 2018.
Business acumen is becoming business intelligence
The competency of Business Acumen has never been more needed and more confused than it is now. “Oh, we need more business acumen.” The problem is that most people confuse the term with “business intelligence” as in they understand how a company makes money and they understand which levers in the system of business drive key metrics such as revenue, margin, profit, and cash flow. Too many employees in large companies are great at functional expertise but they lack the business intelligence to understand the big picture and make the best decisions in their functions to drive optimal business results. Smart organizations will invest more in training programs that build foundational and advanced business intelligence skills.
Leadership skills morph into collaboration skills
Traditional, hierarchical leadership skills are going to become antiquated in 2019. As more organizations become flatter and focused on single and clear value propositions to their customers, the focus of work is going to change from being a “boss” to getting things done. Leaders will be leading teams and processes that require a different set of skills. More collaborative skills, including how to organize, how to give feedback, and how to have hard conversations with people who don’t report to you, or who you may only see face-to-face once or twice in a year.
