Empowering Change, Diversity, and Excellence
One of the key themes that emerged from the discussion was the importance of taking risks and embracing experimentation
A panel of HR leaders at a recent BW festival of L&D discussed about the modern approaches to learning and development, advocating for bold steps to empower employees and drive organisational excellence.
The panel, comprising Suvro Raychaudhuri, Director, Corporate Services (HR) at CGI, Bindu Sanyasi, Head of Learning & Organization Development at Bangalore International Airport, Alka Rai, VP-Human Capital (L&D, TM and OD) at Arcesium, and Sanghamitra Boreddy, Head of Human Resources, India, at Amentum, shared their insights on how to foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
Embracing Risk and Experimentation
One of the key themes that emerged from the discussion was the importance of taking risks and embracing experimentation. Suvro Raychaudhuri highlighted the need to create an environment where employees feel empowered to learn from their mistakes. He suggested that organisations should encourage experimentation by providing employees with the resources and support they need to try new things.
“There is change that is happening, but nobody wants to drive it. I think we need to create a platform of change and enable that rather than anything else”, said Raychaudhuri.
Bindu Sanyasi echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of creating a culture of psychological safety where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and taking risks. She suggested that organisations can foster this culture by providing regular feedback, recognising and rewarding risk-taking behaviour, and celebrating failures as learning opportunities.
Putting the Learner at the Centre
The panellists also stressed the importance of putting the learner at the centre of the learning experience. “Any good change management approach ideally starts with empathy. It starts with understanding what is going to scare people about any change”, said Rai.
She advocated for a learner-centric approach that empowers employees to take ownership of their own learning and development. She suggested that organisations can achieve this by providing employees with access to a variety of learning resources, including online courses, workshops, and mentoring programmes.
Sanghamitra Boreddy added that organisations should focus on creating a personalised learning experience that meets the unique needs of each individual employee. She suggested that organisations can achieve this by using data analytics to identify individual learning needs and preferences.
The Power of Change Management
The panel also discussed the importance of effective change management. Vinay Trivedi, the moderator of the session, highlighted the importance of communicating the intent of the change and creating a conducive environment for change to take place. He also emphasised the importance of empathy and understanding the concerns of employees during the change process.
Suvro Raychaudhuri added that organisations should focus on creating a sense of urgency and excitement around the change. He suggested that organisations can achieve this by communicating the benefits of the change and involving employees in the change process.
Bindu Sanyasi emphasised the importance of providing employees with the support they need to adapt to change. She suggested that organisations can achieve this by providing training, coaching, and mentoring.
The panel discussion highlighted the importance of bold leadership, a culture of innovation, and a learner-centric approach to drive organisational excellence. By embracing risk, experimentation, and effective change management, organisations can empower their employees to reach their full potential and drive business success.
