Foreword

The talent development field has undergone monumental changes in recent years. Massive upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, shortages in available labor, changes in technology, and the COVID-19 pandemic have demanded that TD professionals juggle the development priorities of learners, clients, organizations, and themselves; it has been an incredible feat.

Elaine Biech notes in the introduction that “the timing couldn’t be better” for this new edition of the ATD Handbook. She’s right. More than 100 authors—deep subject matter experts in the profession with many decades of experience—offer their practical insights to help all of us understand industry trends, how to focus on our own development, the best ways to move teams forward, and opportunities to contribute to the success of individuals and organizations.

This handbook is an ideal resource for your own growth and development—one to add to your professional library to refer to again and again. Whether you’re faced with a new challenge or confirming your own knowledge, you will find it in a chapter here—there are 57 in all—that will have the answer you’re seeking.

Karl Kapp, a contributing author of this handbook, champions the need to focus on our own growth. In an ATD blog post reflecting on the events of the previous years and considering 2022 trends, he writes that “it’s more important than ever to spend some time focusing on our own personal growth and development. It’s time to reflect on what is important, strengthen the areas that need improvement, and get out of our comfort zone and move forward. We aren’t going to be able to accomplish this without some effort.”

This handbook also features ATD’s Talent Development Capability Model, which provides the foundation for the knowledge and skills needed for success in our field. Chapter 5 provides deep background about how the Capability Model sets standards for the field, helping to prepare talent development professionals for the future of work by broadening the scope of knowledge and skills that will make them effective. If you’re not familiar with this model, I encourage you to invest time to learn how it can help you develop a lifelong learning mindset and help your organizations navigate the future of learning.

ATD’s Handbook for Training and Talent Development came to life because of Elaine’s countless hours of hard work during many months. ATD is grateful for the energy and dedication she brought to this edition and those that have come before it.

ATD is honored to bring the work of so many talented authors and experts to you in this powerful resource. I know your work will benefit from the time you invest with the content and expertise included here.

Thank you for partnering with ATD to create a world that works better.

Tony Bingham

President and CEO

ATD