Biggest Challenges Faced By A Learning Manager At Salesforce
Halimah's biggest challenge as a Learning Manager is uncovering the root cause of learning needs, as "the idea of what people think they want is not actually what they want." This involves differentiating between surface-level issues and deeper systemic problems, ensuring that learning solutions are sustainable and empower individuals rather than creating dependence on the learning team.
Problem-Solving, Communication, Teamwork, Leadership, Adult Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Halimah Jones
Learning Manager, Slack Global Onboarding
Salesforce
Northwestern University, 2016
N/A
Psychology
Technology
Human Resources (HR)
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Helping employees identify the root cause of performance issues, rather than just addressing surface-level symptoms.
2. The challenge of aligning learning solutions with actual business needs and not just perceived needs.
3. Developing sustainable learning solutions that empower employees to solve problems independently, reducing reliance on the Learning Manager for ongoing support.
Transcript
What's your biggest challenge in your current role?
One of the challenges with onboarding or learning in general is that people's perceived needs aren't always their actual needs. The biggest challenge is figuring out what someone truly requires.
For example, if someone says they have an issue with team performance, is it really about performance? Or is it a communication problem with the team, or a lack of strong relationships for clear feedback?
It could also be that expectations for performance haven't been clearly set. This means people don't know the standard they're being held to. Many underlying issues can exist, both on an individual and business level.
Businesses often want to be effective and efficient. But what does that actually look like? While I can help in certain ways, I can't solve everything for them.
Some leaders believe that learning alone can fix issues, assuming that if the problem is identified, it can be solved. This isn't always the case because we aren't present all the time to remind them of previous advice.
The biggest challenge is determining what someone actually needs and what I can realistically do to help them achieve it. It's also about providing tools for them to sustain their progress independently, so they don't always need my direct intervention.