63. The Problem With Isolating L&D's Impact with Kevin M. Yates

What if trying to isolate L&D's impact is the wrong measurement goal? Kevin M. Yates, the L&D Detective, challenges the idea that training alone can explain changes in workplace performance. Jess and Kevin explore a performance-first approach that looks at L&D as one contributor within a larger performance ecosystem. They also discuss how to use business KPIs, navigate stakeholder resistance, and shift from proving training worked to investigating what actually influenced performance. **Jess and Kevin Discuss** - Why isolating L&D's impact can create unrealistic expectations about what training can achieve - How workplace performance is shaped by multiple factors, not L&D alone - What Kevin means by investigating L&D's affect within the performance ecosystem - Why L&D should focus on contribution rather than claiming sole credit for business outcomes - How a performance-first mindset changes the way L&D responds to training requests - Why learning analytics and business performance data tell very different stories - How to use existing business KPIs to understand whether performance is moving - Why relationships with KPI owners are essential for better measurement - How to ask performance-focused questions without becoming a roadblock for stakeholders - Why Kevin is moving away from the word "impact" - Two questions L&D can ask immediately to redirect the conversation toward performance **About Kevin M Yates** Kevin M. Yates is known in the global training, learning, and talent development community as the L&D Detective®. He investigates how L&D as a function and training and development as an experience contributes to organization goals within the workplace performance ecosystem. Kevin uses facts, clues, and evidence to uncover what is influencing human performance and organizational results, recognizing that meaningful performance is rarely driven by one solution or contributor alone. He has applied his measurement and performance expertise in roles with world-renowned brands including Grant Thornton, McDonald's, and Meta (Facebook). He is also president and founder of Meals in the Meantime, a nonprofit organization addressing food insecurity in the Chicagoland south suburbs with mobile pop-up food pantries. **Find and Connect with Kevin M Yates** - L&D Detective Kit: https://lddetective.com/ - Kevin's Website: https://kevinmyates.com/ - LinkedIn - Meals in the Meantime: https://mealsinthemeantime.org/ **Find and Connect with Jess Almlie** - LinkedIn - Website: www.jessalmlie.com - Book: L&D Order Taker No More! Become a Strategic Business Partner - L&D Strategic Business Partner Team Assessment and Team Development Roadmap - Contact Jess