How I Saved $$$K by Actually Measuring Training ROI 📊

The framework that transformed our L&D strategy (and can transform yours too)

Author

Adil Mahmoud
January 23, 2025

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Caffeinated Wisdom

Rise and shine, future leaders!

Remember throwing darts blindfolded? That's exactly what running training programs without measuring ROI feels like. Today, we're taking off the blindfold and diving into how smart measurement can transform your L&D strategy (and save you serious cash).

Grab Your ☕️, and Let's dive in! 😉 

The $$$K Question: Are Your Training Programs Working?

Last week, I had coffee with Sarah, a VP of Learning & Development at one of the largest companies in Dubai. She confessed something close to home: "I've spent years running training programs, but I couldn't tell you their actual impact."

Sound familiar? You're not alone.

The Real Talk: My $$$K Wake-Up Call

When I was 28, I spent thousands on flashy training programs that looked great on paper but delivered... well, who knows? It wasn't until I developed a concrete measurement framework that I discovered we were spending money on ineffective training.

Here's the framework that turned things around and saved my company $$$K annually:

The Training Impact Pyramid™:

  • Level 1: Immediate Metrics

    • Knowledge transfer scores (pre/post assessments)

    • Participant engagement rates

    • Initial implementation success

  • Level 2: Performance Indicators

    • Productivity changes

    • Error rate reduction

    • Time to proficiency

  • Level 3: Business Impact

    • Revenue impact

    • Cost reduction

    • Customer satisfaction scores

🔥 Quick Hits

📊 Stat of the Week

Only 12% of employees apply new skills learned in training to their jobs. (McKinsey) Our take: This isn't just a stat—it's a wake-up call for modern leaders.

💭 Leadership Quote

"What gets measured gets managed." - Peter Drucker Never has this been more relevant than today's L&D landscape.

🎯 Your Action Items This Week:

  1. Audit your current training measurement methods

  2. Identify your top 3 ROI indicators

  3. Set up one concrete measurement system for your next training initiative

💡 Before You Go

What's your biggest challenge in measuring training effectiveness? Hit reply and let me know—I read every response.

Please Share it with a fellow leader who needs to upgrade their training ROI game.

Serving up fresh leadership insights every Week, Adil Mahmoud

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