I’m a fact-finder, solving the mystery of where, when and how training, learning and development has made a difference….

— Kevin M Yates, Data Detective for Learning & Development

In this week’s episode, we’re talking to Kevin M Yates, a learning and development ‘detective’ who prides himself on his renowned and consistent ability to prove whether training interventions have had a measurably positive effect on an organization’s performance.

Where has this skill been developed? Kevin has extensive learning and development experience which has taught him how to use measurement, data and analytics to answer the question, “Did training work?”. He has served multiple industries in an international capacity by using analytics to inform organizations’ decisions about learning strategy.

Modestly, Kevin says that he simply follows the clues which show how learning and development can increase sales, improve quality, strengthen leadership, decrease cycle time, reduce errors, improve customer satisfaction, help achieve organization goals and elevate employee performance. Kevin’s expertise proves that it can be done.

So few trainers – in my experience – can satisfactorily prove that the programmes which they design, develop and deliver actually make a difference to clients, yet that is exactly what we as trainers need to do more of.  It is incredibly important to get this right at the very outset of your training career. Today, Kevin explains how you can start. So close the door, grab a pen and listen to what Kevin has to say!

By the way, if you would like a free copy of Kevin’s ebook: How to Forecast Training Results – 10 Questions that Predict Performance Impact, you can contact Kevin at kevin@kevinmyates.com for a free copy!

Biggest takeaways you don’t want to miss: 

  • How Kevin’s L&D career started in a Chicago public school teaching kids
  • What was the single biggest highlight in Kevin’s career and why
  • Which are the right kinds of data to collect when determining training effectiveness
  • The top three reasons why trainers don’t (or won’t) measure the impact of training
  • Why you as a trainer need to craft a ‘story’ to show that your training produces results
  • How simple training surveys can produce actionable data for your training business
  • Why trainers will benefit from reading Kevin’s guide to predicting training impact
  • Why we as training professionals should be excited about ‘learning ecosystems’

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Kirkpatrick Model – Internationally-recognized model for learning-evaluation
Phillips RoI Model – Jack Phillips explaining the measurement of training RoI [YouTube]
Center for Talent Reporting – Body promoting adoption of reporting standards for human capital
XAPI – Technology to enable collection of user-learning experiences online
Survey Monkey – Provider of online survey software and survey-hosting
Association for Talent Development – International professional body for training professionals (USA)
Learning & Performance Institute – Professional body for learning & performance (UK)
Kevin M Yates – on Twitter
Kevin M Yates – on Facebook
Kevin M Yates – Homepage

Episode Transcript 

Click here to read the transcript for this episode