This is why most workplace training programs fail

A client once confessed, “At least half of every training dollar we spend is wasted—we just don’t know which half.”

This is a sobering reality. In 2024, research from the Association of Talent Development found that the average organization spent $1,283 per employee on workplace learning. From university programs to leadership courses, and customized programs to team retreats, it seems we’ve tried it all. Unfortunately, much of that investment fails to deliver, or worse, backfires.

We’ve seen how this plays out. Whether that be mandatory DEI initiatives that trigger more backlash than inclusion, to mindfulness programs that only frustrate already chronically overworked employees, learning and development (L&D) programs can be a double-edged sword.

In a reality where companies have const