How to cultivate learning agility in your team

 The rapid emergence of technologies like AI and machine learning is driving a constant evolution of in-demand skills. The key to adapting to this dynamic landscape is learning agility, enabling organisations to swiftly acquire and apply new knowledge to maintain a competitive edge.

According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report, skill sets needed for average professions have changed by 25% since 2025.  This is expected to double by 2027, prompting learning and development professionals to agree about how crucial proactive skill building is to navigate these changes.

“Being agile in whatever space we’re in is going to be a necessary skill,” Annette Caneda, an L&D consultant and designer, told LinkedIn. But what does it take for organisations to have the agility to learn and adapt new skills as technology evolves rapidly? Is there a way to become agile without disrupting existing workflows and processes?

Read More: When hiring, shift from job descriptions to skill inventories

Fostering a growth mindset

Learning agility is the ability and willingness to learn from experience and then apply that learning to perform successfully in new situations. It's about being open to new ideas, embracing challenges, and constantly seeking to improve.

A key step in cultivating learning agility is fostering a growth mindset within your team. This means shifting perspectives from a fixed mindset, where abilities are seen as static, to a growth mindset, where abilities are believed to be developed through dedication and hard work. Here's how to encourage this shift:  

Embrace challenges. Encourage team members to view challenges not as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth and learning. Provide support and resources to help them overcome challenges and celebrate their efforts, regardless of the outcome.

Value effort and learning. Recognize and reward the process of learning, not just the end results. Acknowledge and appreciate the effort individuals put into acquiring new skills and knowledge, even if they make mistakes along the way.

Provide psychological safety. Create a safe space for team members to experiment, take risks, and even fail without fear of judgement or negative consequences. This encourages them to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new learning experiences.

Read More: How employers and higher ed collaborate on L&D

Promote experiential learning

While formal training has its place, experiential learning is crucial for developing true learning agility. This hands-on approach allows individuals to acquire knowledge and skills through direct experience, fostering deeper understanding and faster application. Here are some ways to promote experiential learning within your team:

Encourage knowledge sharing. Create a culture where knowledge is freely shared amongst team members. Implement platforms or practices for sharing lessons learned, best practices, and insights gained from experience. This can be achieved through mentoring programs, peer-to-peer coaching, or internal knowledge bases.

Provide diverse experiences. Offer opportunities for employees to gain diverse experiences through job rotations, cross-functional projects, stretch assignments, and secondments. Exposure to different roles, departments, and even industries, broadens their perspectives and accelerates their learning.

Facilitate reflection. Encourage regular reflection on experiences. This can be done through journaling, group discussions, or one-on-one coaching sessions. By taking time to analyse their experiences, individuals can identify key takeaways, internalise lessons learned, and apply them to future situations.

Minimise disruptions while staying agile

One of the biggest concerns when shifting towards agile learning is the potential for disruption to existing workflows and processes. However, with careful planning and execution, you can minimise these disruptions and ensure a smooth transition.

Instead of trying to overhaul your entire learning and development program overnight, start with a pilot program in a specific department or team. This allows you to gather feedback and gradually scale up your efforts, identifying and addressing any challenges before implementing changes across the entire organisation. 

Another key strategy is to integrate learning into daily work activities, rather than relying solely on formal training sessions. This can include incorporating microlearning modules, on-the-job coaching, or peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. This approach minimises disruptions to productivity while promoting continuous learning.

Technology can also play a crucial role in facilitating agile learning without causing significant disruptions. Online learning platforms, collaboration tools, and knowledge management systems can provide access to learning resources and support knowledge sharing anytime, anywhere.

Finally, it's essential to provide clear communication and support throughout the process. Clearly communicate the benefits of agile learning and the reasons for the changes being implemented.

Always offer adequate support and resources to help employees adapt to the new learning approach, such as training on new tools, access to mentors, or dedicated time for learning and development.

Future-proof your team with learning agility

The cultivation of learning agility within teams is not merely a trend, but a fundamental shift in how organisations approach learning and development. It's about equipping individuals with the ability to not only survive but thrive in the face of constant change and disruption.

To foster truly agile learning, organisations must adopt a holistic and people-centric approach. LinkedIn reported that 83% of organisations are actively working towards building a more people-centric culture, recognizing that organisational success is intrinsically linked to the success of its employees.

This underscores the importance of creating a learning environment where employees feel supported, empowered, and motivated to embrace continuous learning. Keep in mind that more than just individual growth, it’s about creating an agile and adaptable organisation that can readily respond to new challenges and opportunities.

As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, learning agility will be the key to maintaining a competitive edge and driving organisational success.  Embrace the challenge, invest in your team's development, and reap the rewards of a truly agile and adaptable workforce.