L&D developers can take a page from YouTubers…
There was an engaging conversation a couple of months ago on LinkedIn about why content creators, like YouTubers, are dropping high-quality videos weekly (or even daily) while it takes L&D weeks to produce a 30- or 60-minute module.
Setting aside, for a minute, my rejection of the premise that L&D is in the "content creation business..."
...my take?
It’s like comparing apples and oranges.
Content creators don’t start by saying, “I’m creating content to improve performance and business outcomes...”
They’re focused on engagement, pushing out micro-content fast, adjusting based on audience reactions, and driving CTAs.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐋&𝐃 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.
My opinion: There’s an ingrained perfectionism culture in L&D. A fear of launching something that’s “not perfect.”
Instead of getting something functional, usable, and valuable out the door now (and improving in iterations), we default to structured, drawn-out "waterfall" development cycles like ADDIE.
I'll go out on a limb and say that I think that mindset holds us back.
Meanwhile, software developers and, yes, YouTubers, have embraced something akin to the MVP (minimum viable product) approach: Get the product out now, learn, and improve as you go.
That’s not to say waterfall/ADDIE is bad. Fact is, some L&D content does need more polish. (Training someone to fly a plane? Yeah, let's not screw that up.)
Some skills require 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 upfront, while others, like performing in a call center, say can probably go with a degree of 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 where mastery can come later, on the job.
It's for that latter category is where I think L&D can and should take a page from the MVP playbook.
Partner closely with SMEs and stakeholders.
Launch a minimum viable learning product (MV-L-P?) in weeks, not months.
Iterate and refine in future phases based on feedback.
