Training Needs Analysis – Stakeholder
Interview Template
1. Senior Leadership (CEO, COO, Business Heads)
Focus: Strategic priorities, industry trends, organizational
capabilities
Key Questions:
- What are the top 3 strategic goals for the company over the next 1–2 years?
- What capabilities do you believe the organization lacks to achieve these goals?
- Which functions or roles are underperforming from a business impact point of view?
- Are there any critical regulatory or market shifts we must prepare for?
- What expectations do you have from the L&D function?
2. Department Heads (Sales, Projects, Marketing, Legal, CRM, etc.)
Focus: Departmental performance, skill gaps, role-specific
development
Key Questions:
- What are the top performance issues your team is facing?
- Are there recurring competency gaps across your team (technical or soft)?
- How well do new hires adapt and perform within the first 3 months?
- What kind of training would directly impact your team’s productivity?
- Are there any regulatory or customer issues that training can resolve?
3. HR & Talent Development
Focus: Workforce planning, talent retention, learning ROI
Key Questions:
- What common gaps or needs are reflected in performance reviews?
- Which roles are hardest to retain or promote internally? Why?
- Do we have talent ready for succession in critical roles?
- What has been the impact of previous L&D initiatives?
- Are there compliance or policy-driven training requirements coming up?
4. Line Managers / Team Leaders
Key Questions:
- What are the recurring challenges faced by your team members?
- What technical or behavioral skills are lacking at the ground level?
- Are team members ready for higher responsibilities?
- What areas do you need support in as a manager?
- Have you observed any training programs that did/didn’t work well?
5. Employees / Individual Contributors
Focus: Role-specific challenges, motivation, learning preferences
Key Questions:
- What are the biggest challenges in your current role?
- Are there tools, platforms, or processes you're struggling with?
- What kind of training would help you perform better?
- Do you feel prepared for growth or promotion in your role?
- What is your preferred mode of learning (in-person, online, blended)?
6. Customer Relationship Feedback (Optional – via CRM or Marketing)
Focus: Identifying training needs based on customer experience
Key Questions:
- Are there frequent complaints tied to employee conduct or communication?
- Is there inconsistency in customer handling across locations or teams?
- Are post-sales service teams trained adequately in empathy and resolution?