The six biggest challenges keeping L&D professionals up at night

L&D teams are operating in a climate of constant change. Economic pressure, digital acceleration and shifting workforce expectations have placed capability development at the centre of organisational strategy. Yet teams responsible for delivering this capability often face shrinking budgets, rising expectations and increasing scrutiny. Totara share a resource to help.

A new eBook from Totara, The Six Biggest Challenges Keeping L&D Professionals Up at Night, examines the forces shaping the future of workplace learning. It highlights the tensions many HR and L&D leaders will recognise, the organisational implications of leaving these challenges unaddressed and how to support your organisation’s capability agenda.

These are the themes explored in the free eBook, all imperative for people professionals to weave into their strategy for success:

1. The ongoing struggle to demonstrate ROI

L&D continues to face pressure to prove financial value and return on investment (ROI). Traditional metrics rarely capture the full impact of learning, and many organisations lack the systems needed to measure outcomes effectively. The eBook explores why ROI remains elusive, and why a more strategic, business‑aligned approach is now essential.

2. Making learning visibly valuable to the business

Even when learning is effective, its contribution is not always recognised. Securing buy‑in from leaders and managers remains a significant barrier. The eBook looks at how L&D can build stronger relationships across the organisation and position itself as a driver of performance rather than a cost centre. Donald H Taylor contributes an important point, that we need to "prove the value of L&D [...] while being asked to do twice as much with half as much."

3. Encouraging employees to build learning into their working lives

Time pressure and competing priorities mean learning is often deprioritised. This eBook highlights the behavioural and cultural factors that influence learning habits, and why organisations need to think beyond content creation to create the conditions in which learning can thrive.

4. Creating a culture where learning is expected, not optional

A strong learning culture is frequently cited as a competitive advantage, yet few organisations achieve it. The eBook explores the role of leadership, communication and social learning in shaping attitudes towards development, and why culture change requires sustained, visible commitment.

5. Ensuring psychological safety in learning environments

Psychological safety is a critical but often overlooked component of effective learning. Without it, employees are less likely to ask questions, share ideas or admit gaps in knowledge. Examines how organisations can create environments where people feel safe to learn, experiment and contribute can aide organisations.

6. Navigating the opportunities and risks of AI in learning

AI is rapidly reshaping the L&D landscape. It offers new possibilities for efficiency and personalisation, but also raises questions about authenticity, data security and overreliance. You can read about providing a balanced view of where AI can genuinely enhance learning, and where caution is warranted.

A timely resource for HR and L&D leaders

These challenges reflect a broader shift: learning is no longer a standalone function but a core organisational capability. HR leaders have a pivotal role in shaping the systems, culture and leadership behaviours that determine whether learning succeeds.

The eBook offers deeper insight into each challenge, along with practical considerations for organisations looking to strengthen their learning strategy.

Download Totara’s The Six Biggest Challenges Keeping L&D Professionals Up at Night to explore the full findings and support your organisation’s capability agenda.

Continue the conversation at HETT Leaders’ Summit

If the challenges outlined here resonate with your organisation, you can explore them further with Totara at the HETT Leaders’ Summit. Purpose-built for the NHS, Totara will be on stand A87, sharing how their cost-effective learning and development platform helps reduce manual reporting, strengthen compliance, and support personalised learning at scale. Join the conversation in Leeds to see how NHS teams are tackling capability, culture and workforce readiness in practice.