Do You Want to Build a Snowman (of L&D Success)? Lessons from a Classic Winter Activity

It’s a blustery winter day, and suddenly it hits you – that nostalgic feeling of building a snowman. But what if, instead of creating a cheerful snow companion, we look to this classic winter activity as a metaphor for your Learning & Development (L&D) initiatives? The art of building a snowman can teach us valuable lessons that directly apply to developing highly skilled, engaged, and motivated employees in today’s Fortune 500 companies. This post will explore three key areas where the snowman-building process can inspire L&D strategies, with insights from L&D professionals who’ve successfully turned their own ‘snowball’ initiatives into robust, thriving programs.

1. Start with a Solid Foundation

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Just as a snowman needs a sturdy base to stand on, your L&D initiative requires a strong foundation. This means taking the time to assess your organization’s needs, resources, and goals before diving into program development. One L&D professional shared the importance of laying a solid foundation: ‘When we started our digital transformation initiative, we first needed to ensure we had the right skills and resources in place. It took a thorough analysis of our existing talent pool and identifying gaps that needed to be filled.’

2. Build Up Skills Layer by Layer

As you roll the snowball to create a snowman, it gradually grows larger and stronger. Similarly, developing your employees’ skills should be a gradual, tiered process. This not only enables employees to build on their existing expertise but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and confidence in their abilities. An L&D expert emphasizes this point: ‘We found that breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable goals helped our team members feel more engaged and motivated to learn. It’s important to celebrate the small victories along the way.’

3. Customize the Final Touches

When it comes to adding the final details to your snowman – the carrot nose, hat, and scarf – there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. In the same vein, tailoring your L&D approach to meet individual learning styles, interests, and career objectives is crucial for employee engagement and skill development. As one L&D professional explains, ‘We soon realized that a cookie-cutter approach to learning wasn’t resonating with our team. By offering a variety of learning tools and opportunities, we were able to cater to different learning styles and preferences.’

4. Leverage Learnexus for Your L&D Initiatives

Just as a well-built snowman relies on the right resources and conditions, your L&D programs can benefit from the right partners. Learnexus provides an easy, efficient way for managers at Fortune 500 companies to find and hire L&D freelancers with highly specific skills and experience. Offering a 47% cost saving and saving managers time and eliminating procurement issues with a single master services agreement, Learnexus is a valuable resource for optimizing your L&D initiatives.