Over the course of 2012, we have focused on the business of learning in the training industry, taking into account trends of the past, present and future that help shape our industry. No matter what their particular area of responsibility, learning leaders consistently show a strong interest in best practices they can implement that will set up their organizations for success.

Improving performance and creating a culture of engagement has been a priority, while creativity and technology are fueling innovation and change that will take organizations to the next level. Ensuring that our workforces are aligned with organizational values also has remained at the heart of training objectives.

It’s been quite a year in the training industry. The trends that emerged were reflected in the top articles published on TrainingIndustry.com, with authors and business experts from around the globe sharing thoughts and ideas with TrainingIndustry.com readers. Let’s take a moment to pause and reflect on those insights and inspirations by reviewing some of the best of the best in 2012.

Here are the Top 10 articles of 2012 in terms of readership on TrainingIndustry.com:

1. Training Best Practices and Organizational Success
2. 4 Trends in Online Training & e-Learning in 2012
3. Everything You Think You Know about Learning Retention Rates is Wrong
4. Using Strategic Employee Recognition to Train Employees on Company Values and Objectives
5. The Paradox of ‘Women’s Leadership Training’
6. The Future for Trainers, Organizational Development and Human Resources Professionals
7. Hilton Worldwide: Partnering for a Competitive Advantage
8. Cause and Effect: Barriers to Creativity and Innovation
9. Seven Community Colleges that Offer Innovative, Modern, Job-Oriented Online Programs
10. Unbundling Leadership Training

Training Industry Quarterly, our peer reviewed magazine, publishes four times a year. In 2012, the themes of the magazine focused on informal learning, measuring outcomes, developing leaders and emerging learning technologies.

Here are the Top 10 articles of 2012 from Training Industry Quarterly:

1. The Science of Engagement  (Spring 2012)
2. Six Critical Measurement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them  (Spring 2012)
3. Engaging Senior Leaders in the Learning and Development Process  (Spring 2012)
4. 5 Gaming Elements for Effective e-Learning  (Fall 2012)
5. Increasing Leadership Performance with Emotional Intelligence  (Summer 2012)
6. How Simulations Develop Leaders  (Summer 2012)
7. Building Your Leadership Brand  (Summer 2012)
8. General Mills: Leaders Teaching Leaders  (Summer 2012)
9. Assessing Learning and Performance  (Spring 2012)
10. The Difference Makers: Identifying and Hiring the Right People  (Spring 2012)

Our annual key trends report continues to be a top article each year, showing that learning leaders have a vested interest in planning and analyzing the future of the marketplace. For a look ahead, please view the Key Trends for 2013 article.

TrainingIndustry.com will continue to publish timely articles on both the website and Training Industry Quarterly, so stay tuned for ongoing resources from industry thought leaders. And as always, we look forward to hearing from our audience on what’s most important to you.

Michelle Eggleston is associate editor at TrainingIndustry.com.