Seven Emerging L&D Trends and How DiSC® Provides an Edge
Introduction: The Future of L&D is Here
The world of work is changing faster than ever before, with organizations facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Emerging technologies, globalization, and shifting workforce demographics are redefining how teams interact, learn, and grow. As we enter 2025, learning and development (L&D) professionals are tasked with navigating these shifts while ensuring their organizations remain competitive, innovative, and adaptable.
The growing prevalence of hybrid work models, the increasing importance of emotional intelligence, and the demand for leadership agility are reshaping the priorities of L&D teams. Employees now expect personalized and engaging learning experiences that address not only technical skills but also interpersonal dynamics, adaptability, and alignment with organizational values. Leaders, in turn, must be equipped to guide diverse teams through ambiguity, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in increasingly complex environments.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable. Organizations that invest in forward-thinking L&D strategies and tools are well-positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape. Everything DiSC®, a behavioral assessment and development tool grounded in decades of research, has emerged as a cornerstone of such strategies. Its ability to enhance self-awareness, improve communication, and foster collaboration makes it a powerful ally for organizations seeking to build resilient, high-performing teams.
This article examines the key trends shaping the future of L&D and highlights how Everything DiSC® offers actionable solutions to meet these challenges. By integrating tools like Everything DiSC into your learning strategy, you can empower your workforce, improve organizational agility, and set your business on a path to sustained success in 2025 and beyond.
Trend #1: The Rise of Hybrid Workplaces
Hybrid work, a blend of remote and in-office work, is becoming a standard model for many organizations. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 45% of the global workforce will operate in hybrid setups. While this model offers flexibility and cost-saving benefits, it introduces significant challenges.
Hybrid teams often struggle to maintain strong communication channels and build trust across distributed environments. Differences in access to information, misaligned workflows, and a lack of informal interactions can create silos, leading to decreased productivity and engagement. Furthermore, managers may find it difficult to balance the needs of in-office and remote employees, inadvertently creating feelings of inequity.
Supporting Research
Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2024 reported that 58% of hybrid employees struggle with collaboration and communication, leading to project delays and disengagement.
A study by Owl Labs revealed that hybrid workers are 29% less likely to feel connected to their colleagues, underscoring the need for relationship-building tools.
How Everything DiSC Addresses Hybrid Challenges
Everything DiSC equips hybrid teams with insights into individual communication styles, enabling them to overcome barriers caused by physical distance and asynchronous work. The Everything DiSC on Catalyst platform offers on-demand, personalized learning experiences that help teams address communication breakdowns, navigate conflict, and strengthen trust across locations.
Example Application: A multinational IT company implemented Everything DiSC on Catalyst to streamline collaboration among global teams. By identifying communication preferences, the company reduced misunderstandings and improved meeting efficiency, cutting project delays by 20%.
Trend #2: Leadership Development for Agility
Leadership in 2025 will demand more than traditional management skills. As organizations face rapid market changes, technological advancements (e.g. AI), and a diverse workforce, leaders must be agile, empathetic, and capable of making data-driven decisions.
A 2024 Global Leadership Forecast found that only 11% of organizations feel their leadership pipelines are prepared for future challenges. Many current leaders struggle with adapting to ambiguity, leading cross-functional teams, and fostering innovation. Additionally, younger employees increasingly prioritize leaders who demonstrate inclusivity, transparency, and emotional intelligence.
Supporting Research
McKinsey’s report on Leadership in the Age of Change notes that agile leaders are 4.2 times more likely to drive successful transformations.
Organizations with highly adaptable leaders experience 25% higher profit margins, according to a Bersin by Deloitte study.
How Everything DiSC Develops Agile Leaders
Everything DiSC’s Work of Leaders® framework equips leaders with practical tools to enhance their ability to create a vision, align their teams, and execute plans effectively. The program emphasizes flexibility and self-awareness, enabling leaders to adapt to diverse team needs.
Case Study: A manufacturing company implemented Work of Leaders to train middle managers on how to align cross-functional teams. Post-training surveys indicated a 32% improvement in team alignment and a 20% reduction in time-to-market for new products.
Trend #3: Emotional Intelligence as a Core Competency
As workplaces become increasingly complex, emotional intelligence (EI) is emerging as a critical skill. EI enables individuals to manage interpersonal relationships, navigate conflict, and lead with empathy—skills that are especially vital in diverse, high-pressure environments.
Research by TalentSmart highlights that 90% of high-performing employees exhibit strong emotional intelligence. Yet, despite its importance, EI training remains underutilized in many organizations. Without a focus on EI, teams are more likely to experience unresolved conflicts, high turnover, and low morale.
The rise of automation further underscores the importance of EI. As routine tasks become automated, uniquely human skills such as empathy, adaptability, and effective communication will set top performers apart.
Supporting Research
A World Economic Forum report lists EI as one of the top 10 skills for 2025.
Harvard Business Review found that organizations investing in EI training experience 15% higher employee retention rates and 10% greater productivity.
How Everything DiSC Builds Emotional Intelligence
Everything DiSC’s Agile EQ™ program helps individuals identify their natural mindsets and develop the ability to adapt to different social and emotional situations. By fostering self-awareness and interpersonal flexibility, Agile EQ empowers employees to navigate workplace dynamics with greater confidence and empathy.
Example Application: A customer service team used Agile EQ to improve conflict resolution skills, leading to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction scores and a more collaborative team culture.
Trend #4: Data-Driven Personalization in Learning
Personalization is becoming a non-negotiable aspect of L&D. Employees expect training programs that are tailored to their unique roles, career goals, and learning preferences. However, many organizations struggle to implement data-driven personalization at scale.
LinkedIn’s 2024 Workplace Learning Report found that 74% of employees want personalized learning experiences, yet only 27% of organizations feel equipped to deliver them effectively. Without personalization, employees are less engaged, and organizations miss out on the opportunity to maximize learning outcomes.
Furthermore, generic training programs fail to address the diverse needs of a multigenerational and multicultural workforce, leaving key skill gaps unaddressed.
Supporting Research
Companies with robust learning personalization strategies report 16% higher engagement scores and 30% better knowledge retention, according to a study by Fosway Group.
The Brandon Hall Group found that personalized learning increases training ROI by 20%-30%.
How Everything DiSC Delivers Personalized Learning
The Everything DiSC on Catalyst platform provides highly personalized insights into individual work and communication styles. By integrating these insights into broader learning initiatives, organizations can create tailored experiences that resonate with employees at all levels.
Key Statistic: Organizations that adopt personalized learning report a 16% higher engagement rate and a 12% improvement in performance metrics, according to Fosway Group.
Trend #5: Bridging Generational Gaps in Teams
With five generations coexisting in the workplace—ranging from Baby Boomers to Gen Z—teams often struggle to bridge differences in communication preferences, work styles, and values. Failure to address these differences can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities for collaboration.
Supporting Research
A study by Pew Research Center highlights that 68% of employees believe generational diversity improves organizational innovation, yet only 38% feel their workplace fosters intergenerational collaboration.
Gallup found that multigenerational teams with high mutual trust outperform others by 35%.
How Everything DiSC Bridges Generational Gaps
Everything DiSC fosters understanding and appreciation of diverse communication styles. By helping team members recognize their own tendencies and adapt to those of others, Everything DiSC creates an environment where generational differences are celebrated rather than divisive.
Case Study: A manufacturing firm implemented Everything DiSC training for multigenerational teams, leading to a 22% improvement in team cohesion and a more collaborative culture.
Trend #6: Team Effectiveness as a Business Driver
High-performing teams are essential for organizational success, yet many teams fail to achieve their potential due to trust issues, unresolved conflict, and misaligned goals. According to Patrick Lencioni’s research, teams lacking trust experience 30% lower productivity and 40% higher turnover rates.
Organizations increasingly rely on cross-functional and remote teams, making the ability to navigate team dynamics even more critical. Without tools to address dysfunctions, teams struggle to meet objectives and deliver results.
Supporting Research
The Harvard Business School found that high-performing teams contribute to 21% higher profitability for organizations.
Teams with structured conflict-resolution frameworks are 58% more likely to meet their objectives, according to a Korn Ferry report.
How Everything DiSC Builds Effective Teams
The Everything DiSC Five Behaviors® framework enhances team performance by addressing foundational dysfunctions: trust, conflict, commitment, accountability, and results. By creating a common language for collaboration, teams become more aligned and productive.
Practical Outcome: A sales team implemented the Five Behaviors model and saw a 27% increase in quarterly revenue due to improved collaboration and accountability.
Trend #7: Onboarding for Retention and Engagement
Onboarding is a critical driver of employee retention, yet many organizations focus solely on compliance and procedural training. According to SHRM, 69% of employees are more likely to stay with an organization for three years if they experience great onboarding.
Traditional onboarding programs often overlook the importance of relationship-building and cultural alignment. This can leave new hires feeling disconnected, reducing engagement and increasing turnover.
Supporting Research
Poor onboarding leads to turnover rates as high as 20% within the first 45 days, according to Glassdoor.
Employees onboarded with a focus on team integration report 50% higher satisfaction scores, per Gallup research.
How Everything DiSC Elevates Onboarding
By incorporating Everything DiSC on Catalyst into onboarding programs, organizations can accelerate relationship-building and foster early connections between new hires and their teams. This ensures that employees feel valued and aligned with company culture from day one.
Example Application: An insurance company integrated Everything DiSC into its onboarding process, resulting in a 20% reduction in first-year turnover and higher team engagement scores.
Conclusion: Preparing for 2025
The workplace of 2025 will demand adaptability, emotional intelligence, and collaboration across diverse teams and work environments. Everything DiSC provides the frameworks and tools necessary to meet these challenges head-on, enabling organizations to future-proof their workforce and achieve sustainable success.
By aligning your L&D strategy with these trends and leveraging Everything DiSC’s powerful solutions, you can empower your employees, build stronger teams, and position your organization as a leader in the future of work.
Ready to future-proof your organization? Explore Everything DiSC solutions with us today!
Hi! I’m Glen Waisner - Managing Partner here at DISC Training Zone. For more than twenty years, we have been helping our clients boost team performance, strengthen collaboration, and foster culture change.
The innovative suite of Everything DiSC® products has been at the heart of this success.
