When you first break into learning and development (L&D), your world is defined by tacticality. You’re focused mainly on output. You’re worried about the mechanics of your projects—learning the intricacies of Lectora, making sure you’re fully utilizing the asset library, and that all your buttons work. At this stage, success feels like a completed SCORM package that looks professional and functions properly. You’re taking orders and saying yes to just about everything, trying to be as helpful as humanly possible.
But to really advance and gain visibility in this industry, that mindset will have to shift drastically. The practitioners who rise above the fray aren’t just the ones who master instructional design; they are performance consultants who move past asking “What content do I need to include?” to “What business problem am I trying to solve?”
To help clarify this path forward, we recently sat down with a powerhouse panel of industry leaders: Mel Milloway, senior learning experience designer at Microsoft; Nyla Spooner, learning design leader at Inter IKEA Systems; Sarah Mercier, CEO of Build Capable; and Connie Malamed, founder of Mastering Instructional Design. In an engaging webinar session, Creating the Career You Want in Learning and Development, these experts dropped gems and fielded thoughtful questions from a live virtual audience.
From content creator to problem solver.
The hallmark of a seasoned L&D pro is the ability to diagnose rather than merely prescribe. In the early days, you might have been eager to use every feature in an authoring tool just because it was there. As you mature, you realize that the most effective solution isn’t always a 30-minute course. It might be a simple job aid, a process change, or an immersive 360-degree simulation designed to solve a specific, high-stakes safety issue.
Strategic leaders focus on the energy of the work. They identify the tasks that provide the highest ROI for the organization and align their skill sets accordingly. This shift requires moving away from the comfort of the development process toward the ambiguity of program management and organizational development.
How to break the order-taker cycle.
Self-doubt and imposter syndrome are two of the biggest barriers to career progression. When you’re new (or perhaps not so new), you might feel like you lack the authority to question stakeholders’ requests, especially if they think it’s “mandatory.” But advancing your career means developing the confidence to have difficult conversations. It means taking the time to ensure the solution will actually move the needle in your organization. You have to be willing to take on ambitious challenges before you feel ready.
The brilliance of specialized visibility.
In a saturated market, doing good work is expected. Visibility is the accelerator.
The managerial conundrum.
As you progress in your career, you’ll likely hit a critical junction: moving into people management or staying an individual contributor (IC). Many organizations mistakenly believe that the only way to advance is to manage a team. But being a great designer doesn’t automatically make you a great people leader.
Management requires a shift in focus from output to growth. It involves navigating corporate politics, interpersonal relationships, and organizational strategy. If your heart is married to the craft, it is perfectly acceptable—and often highly lucrative—to pursue a principal or lead IC role where you can stay connected to the work.
Upskilling is life.
For a newcomer, upskilling can feel like a chore. For a leader, it’s a survival mechanism. To stay ahead, you have to look beyond L&D. Study things like user experience (UX), design thinking, and data analytics. Don’t just read about these concepts leisurely, understand—and apply—them. Use the asset library to experiment with visual hierarchy. Build a small project to test a new theory. Stretch projects like these build the muscle memory you need to handle the next complex, strategic challenge that may define your career.
Whether you are mastering your first authoring tool or in the throes of a seasoned career, ELB Learning provides the technology and strategic partnership you need to lead. From comprehensive authoring tools like Lectora, CenarioVR, and MicroBuilder to our expert-led consulting services, we specialize in helping L&D professionals (like you) transition from making modules to driving performance. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, we can help.
Watch the full webinar below, and learn more about our solutions.
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Disclaimer: The ideas, perspectives, and strategies shared in this article reflect the expertise of our featured speakers, Mel Milloway, Nyla Spooner, Sarah Mercier, and Connie Malamed. Be sure to follow them on LinkedIn to explore more of their insights.