L&D Trend Report_2023

LEARNING &
DEVELOPMENT
TREND REPORT
2023

Hi & welcome to the troodi L&D Trend Report 2023!
In the context of increasing digitalization, the upskilling and
reskilling of employees remains one of the most important
challenges for organizations, and the importance of tailored
learning and development offerings is growing. On the
following pages, you will get an overview of which contents
and formats are most important in the L&D area at the
moment.
We start with a look back at the year 2022: Which content
was used the most on the troodi grow learning platform?
Then we take a look into the future: Which trends will keep
us as HRD professionals most busy in 2023, and which smart
skills are particularly relevant?
If you have any questions or feedback on our trend report, I
look forward to hearing from you. But for now, enjoy reading!
Julian Wonner
Head of Content
For this report,
we asked more
than 100 L&D
professionals for
their feedback

Content
Review: Top Topics 2022
L&D Trends 2023
The Biggest L&D Challenges
Top L&D Topics 2023
The Most Frequently Used Training Formats
Summary
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About troodi 31

Communication
and leadership
were the top
topics in 2022
Troodi conducted over 50 learning projects together with
different organizations in 2022, using over 100 digital
learning programs on a variety of topics. Below you will
find an overview of the most frequently used learning
programs.
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10
Effective Communication
Giving & Receiving Feedback Successfully
Motivation – Motivating Myself & Others
Developing Winning Teams
Leadership Conversations
Resilience – Cultivating Your Inner Strengths
Entrepreneurial Thinking
Caring & Daring Leadership
The Power of Storytelling
Good Boss – Confident & Successful People Leadership

There is a clear pattern: Communication was the most
requested topic among our client organizations. No less
than four learning programs on communication made it
into our top 10 of the most used learning programs. And
for good reason: communication skills are among the
most important Future Skills.1
While more and more tasks can be automated by AI-
supported applications, communication as a meta-skill is
gaining importance in planning, executing, and evaluating
work processes. In all troodi learning programs, the
focus lays on reflecting on one‘s own communication
style and developing empathetic, clear, and transparent
communication at eye level.
COMMUNICATION

Effective
Communication
Giving & Receiving
Feedback Successfully
The Power of
Storytelling
Content: Reflection on one‘s own
communication behavior, functional
model of transactional analysis,
strategies for increasing the quality of
conversations
Four learning
programs from
the topic area of
communication
are represented
in the top 10
Content: Feedback rules, structuring
feedback conversations, helpful
strategies for difficult conversations
Content: Storytelling methods,
dramaturgy, and structuring of messages
that stick, activation and motivation of
listeners
4,56 stars
4,37 stars
4,06 stars
Leadership
Conversations
Content: Techniques for empathic
conversations, structuring conver-
sations, dealing with challenging
conversation situations
4,49 stars

With also four learning programs in the top 10, a
second focus was on the development of leadership
competencies. Both learning programs for leading
individuals and for leading and developing teams were
frequently requested. The troodi learning programs
focus on the development of an empowering leadership
style as well as on practical leadership tools. We use
proven models such as Situational Leadership as well as
new concepts such as Psychological Safety or Inclusive
Leadership.
LEADERSHIP

Developing
Winning Teams
Good Boss – Confident
and Successful People
Leadership
Caring and Daring
Leadership
Content: Stages of team
development, systemic team
analysis, practical interventions
Content: Leadership styles and their
advantages and disadvantages,
analysis of own leadership behavior,
practical leadership toolset
Content: Secure Base Leadership,
strengthening trust and
psychological security, developing
leadership skills
4,31 stars
4,42 stars
4,52 stars
Motivation – Motivating
Myself and Others
Content: Definition of motivation
and psychological needs, sources of
motivation, strategies for fostering
motivation in others
4,42 stars
Four learning
programs from
the topic area of
leadership are
represented in
the top 10

Health and the sustainable use of one‘s own resources
are also very important Future Skills in a world that is
spinning faster and faster and in which the demands on
employees and managers are constantly growing.
Developing an entrepreneurial mindset is closely linked
to taking responsibility and striving for continuous
improvement and innovation.
Learning
programs on
resilience and
entrepreneurial
thinking complete
our top 10
Resilience –
Cultivating Your Inner
Strengths
Entrepreneurial
Thinking
Content: Seven pillars of resilience,
optimism and solution-oriented thin-
king, strengthening self-efficacy
Content: Characteristics of
an entrepreneurial mindset,
intrapreneurship in one‘s own
organization, toolset for practical
implementation
4,43 stars
4,38 stars

Of the more than 100 learning programs used in 2022,
the Unconscious Bias learning program was given the
best ratings by users. Raising awareness of one‘s own
and often unconscious bias is an important element in
developing an inclusive organizational culture. A high
level of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leads to more
productivity and higher employee satisfaction.2 Unconscious
Bias is the troodi
learning program
with the best
rating in 2022
Unconscious Bias –
Raising Awareness and
Reducing Harm
Content: creating awareness of
unconscious biases, methods for
reducing one‘s own biases, redu-
cing structural discrimination in the
workplace
4,68 stars
“On average, diverse teams perform better and have
more creative ideas.“
Rea Eldem, Founder IN-VISIBLE Berlin

Our survey of more than 100 HRD practitioners
clearly shows that individualized, skill-based, and self-
directed learning offers is the top trend in learning
and development in 2023. Digital and blended learning
formats are enabling greater individualization of
organizational learning. In contrast to group-based
traditional learning, learners can identify their specific
learning needs and engage with the topics relevant to
them in personalized learning paths.
However, it has been shown that the success of self-
directed learning is highly dependent on individual
learning competencies and the learning culture in the
organization. The lower these are, the more important
it is to support learners on their learning journey.
Particularly effective measures for increasing learner
commitment include the use of social learning (learning
groups and learning tandems), working with a clear
structure (kick-off and deadlines), and continuous
motivation (e-mail reminders or push notifications).
L&D Trend 2023:
Personalized,
skill-based, and
self-directed
learning
L&D Trends 2023

Social learning 8,33 %
Micro learning 8,73 %
Artificial Intelligence (AI) 6,75 %
Learning analytics 5,56 %
Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality 4,76 %
Learning ecosystems 4,76 %
Gamification 3,94 %
L&D Trends 2023
Self-directed learning 15,48 %
Skill-based learning 16,67 %
Individualized learning paths 15,08 %
Chatbots 2,78 %
The metaverse 2,78 %
User generated content 2,38 %
What are the key
trends in L&D in
2023?

Self-directed yes – but appropriate to the specific
target group. The more self-directed, the better.
But not every learner already holds the necessary
learning competencies in terms of motivation,
volition, and self-management. In learning projects
it is important to adjust the degree of self-
responsibility to the maturity level of the learners.
According to the rule: as much self-direction
as possible, as much external structure and
orientation as necessary.
SELF-DIRECTED VS. CURATED
L&D Trends 2023
According to the study‘s findings, different forms
of learning (micro learning, social learning,
gamification) are relevant but not decisive when
it comes to the further development of L&D
offerings. Despite the current hype around chat
GPT, learning chatbots do not play a relevant role
in the considerations of learning and development
professionals. The importance of the metaverse in
the year 2023 is also assessed as quite low by the
sample.

THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES FOR HRD
PROFESSIONALS 2023

The greatest challenge for HRD professionals in 2023
is convincing their stakeholders of the importance
of L&D measures. Closely linked to this is the lack of
resources, which are highly dependent on stakeholders
that believe in L&D measures. From our point of
view, the collection and interpretation of learning-
related data is an important element in being able
to prove the effectiveness and significance of people
development measures.
The biggest challenges for HRD professionals 2023
Employee retention, satisfaction with managers,
average number of days of sick leave – the significance
of L&D measures is best demonstrated by their impact
on business-critical results.
MAKING L&D SUCCESS MEASURABLE

What is the
biggest L&D
challenge in
2023?
Ensure sustainability of
L&D measures
24,44 %
Convincing stakeholders of the
importance of L&D 27,78 %
Quantify positive effects of
L&D measures
8,89 %
Establishment of a learning
culture
11,11 %
Motivate learners 12,22 %
Dealing with too few resources 15,56 %
Convincing stakeholders of the importance of
L&D measures is the biggest challenge for HRD
professionals.

The HRD department should not see itself merely as
an internal service provider serving the orders of the
business („3x feedback training, 2 days in presence,
please“). Instead, L&D professionals should see their
role as a partner at eye level who, by asking smart
questions, identifies the true needs of the business
and based on this, develops sustainable and effective
solutions together with the business.
L&D AS A PARTNER AT EYE LEVEL
Uncertainty about the sustainability of the
implemented L&D measures is another challenge.
A possible solution can be the use of flexible, multi-
module learning journeys that can be optimally
integrated into the learners‘ daily work routine
and, through a high number of touchpoints, foster
the transfer into practice. In addition, the use of
experience-based and application-related learning
content is an important factor for the sustainable
effectiveness of the measures.

Digital mindset and competencies 14,1 %
Leadership 18,4 %
Communication 11,1 %
Top L&D Topics 2023
Leadership and communication skills are also
named as most relevant topics for the year 2023.
This also aligns with other studies.3
The less
hierarchies exist, the more significant the abilities of
managers to motivate, empower, and accompany
their employees in their development become.
For both managers and employees, transparent,
clear, and empathetic communication is a core
competence for professional success.
Leadership and
communication
remain top topics
in 2023

Top L&D Topics 2023
The development of a digital mindset and skillset
is also seen as an important task of L&D. By
2025, about 50% of all job profiles will change
significantly.4
Mastering digital tools and a “digital
first“ mentality are important cornerstones to
prepare employees for these changes.
Information and
data literacy
Digital
Competencies5
Problemsolving
Communication and
collaboration
Digital content
creation
Safety

Digital competences A to Z: From Artificial-Intelligence
to Zoom-Call-Tutorial, the definition of digital
competence can be incredibly broad. From our point
of view, the fundament of digital competence is
the development of an attitude towards technical
developments that is characterized by curiosity,
openness, and critical reflection. In our trainings and
workshops, we often start with a simple question:
What problem are you currently facing, and is there
a technical solution that could help you solve it? In
this way, new experiences are gained in a playful
and practice-oriented manner and curiosity for new
technology is increased.
DEVELOPING A DIGITAL MINDSET
Top L&D Topics 2023

Other important
elements of a
holistic L&D
strategy are the
topics of mental
health, hybrid
collaboration, and
the development
of skills regarding
self-organization
and self-learning
Hybrid working 8,6 %
Self-organization 8,1 %
Learning competencies 6,4 %
Innovation and creativity 5,7 %
Management 5,1 %
Agility 4,9 %
Diversity and inclusion 4,8 %
Mental health 8,9 %
Top L&D Topics 2023

THE MOST
FREQUENTLY USED
TRAINING FORMATS

Traditional,
digital, and
blended learning
on an equal
footing
Traditional synchronous learning is most commonly
used by the organizations surveyed in 2023, but closely
followed by blended learning and digital learning
offerings. All three learning formats play an important
role in organizational learning and each format offer
specific advantages and disadvantages that must be
weighed against each other.
The most frequently used training formats
Synchronous
learning (on-
site/virtual) Blended
Learning
Digital
Learning
42,1 % 38,1 % 26,1 %

TRADITIONAL LEARNING
High control over learning process
Social contact fosters motivation and
commitment
Collaborative learning and co-creation
Widely accepted by learners
X Time consuming
X Hard to individualize
X High additional costs
X Not scalable
Traditional learning formats are particularly suitable
for objectives in which a co-creative process or
teambuilding elements are important.

DIGITAL LEARNING
Scalability
Flexibility
Individualization
Reliable data for evaluation and action
planning
X Need for higher learning maturity
X Risk of low commitment
X Choice overload
X Missing social exchange
Digital learning formats offer a lot of flexibility, but
need framing and must be adapted to the respective
target group.

BLENDED LEARNING
Combines self-learning with social learning
Flexibility and commitment
Individualization and creation
Scalable and cost-saving
X Curation by L&D needed
X Engagement in digital parts needs to be
incentivized
X Not as cost-efficient as purely digital solutions
X Learners might miss in-person events
Blended learning is ideal for building competencies
that require knowledge acquisition as well as
reflection and practical application.

Summary
More than 100 HRD took part in the L&D Trend Survey
2023. Four key findings can be summarized from their
responses.
The future of organisational learning is individually
tailored, skill-based, and self-directed. The possible
degree of self-direction depends largely on individual
learning competencies and the organisational learning
culture.
Communication, digital competencies, and leadership
skills are the most important smart skills. Proactively
promoting the development of these competencies is a
key task of L&D leaders.
Convincing business stakeholders is the greatest
challenge in the L&D field. The collection and evaluation
of business-relevant data serves as the basis for a
successful value argumentation.
A holistic L&D strategy offers a mix of face-to-face,
digital, and blended learning offerings. An important
responsibility of L&D is to support the business in the
selection and design of appropriate learning formats.
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ABOUT TROODI
Troodi is a start-up founded in early
2020 with the mission to use the
opportunities of digitalization to build
digital and blended learning solutions
that help people and organizations
to grow and develop to their full
potential.
With a cross-functional team of
trainers, consultants, developers,
creative writers, and user experience
experts, we strive to create digital
learning experiences which make a
difference – to our users and our
customer organizations.
90 % 4,2 95 %
Learning program
completion rate
4,2/5 stars
User ratings
for learning
programs
Recommendation
rate for blended
learning paths

SOURCES
1
McKinsey & Comany (2021). Defining the skills citizens will need
in the future world of work.
4
World Economic Forum (2020). The future of jobs report 2020.
World Economic Forum.
3
Dewar, J. (2023). The Most In-Demand Skills for 2023. LinkedIn
Learning.
2
International Labour Organization (2022). Transforming
enterprises through diversity and inclusion. International Labour
Office.
5
Vuorikari, R., Kluzer, S. and Punie, Y. (2022). DigComp 2.2: The
Digital Competence Framework for Citizens – With new examples
of knowledge, skills and attitudes. Publications Office of the
European Union.
Author: Julian Wonner, Design: Jacqueline Soldan, Photos: Timo Brings

CONTACT
Feel free to contact us for any
questions or further information!
Julian Wonner
Head of Content & Marketing
info@troodi.de
+49 221 56095669
Schedule a meeting
troodi GmbH
Lichtstr. 25
50825 Cologne

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