Category Psychology

TJ interviews: Mark Agnew on the four questions that turn uncertainty into a shared challenge

Mark Agnew

Resilience is easier to sustain when people find meaning in the challenge itself. Mark Agnew talks about reframing setbacks, strengthening camaraderie, developing mental fitness gradually, all based on adventuring experience. This helps teams focus on shared purpose, intrinsic motivation and…

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The L&D playbook for building psychological safety into teams

Psychological safety text handwritten on yellow adhesive note over blue background. Perfect for business management, positive workplace culture, mental health, teamwork, and employee well-being

Teams do not become safe to fail through slogans or good intentions alone. Dr Melisa Buie explains why leaders must model openness first, before teams can build stronger norms around challenge, experimentation and reflection. Melisa offers a practical two-stage approach…

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Mindset under pressure: Making better decisions in a noisy world

Mindset for Success written on a note

Information overload, AI and relentless workplace change are putting decision-making under pressure. Martin Fairn argues that mindset development can help people pause, regain perspective and think more clearly, strengthening resilience, improving judgement and supporting better decisions when demands mount, uncertainty…

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The real challenge of AI adoption: JPMorgan’s culture and confidence during change

Businessman touches AI transformation on a smartphone screen, perfect for illustrating the future of digital technology

JPMorgan’s AI rollout shows that successful adoption depends less on the technology itself and more on trust, transparency and ownership. Nick Petschek argues that L&D leaders must treat AI implementation as a cultural change effort, helping people feel safe to…

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Can you teach self-belief?

Notebook with text  I'M A FAILURE crossed off to  LEARNING, replace negative self-talk with positive thoughts, learn to build self-acceptance and embrace failure as part of growth and learning

Confidence is not fixed: it rises and falls with meetings, roles and the way feedback lands. Penny Haslam shares research with Northumbria University showing measurable gains from confidence training, plus three memorable tools to challenge self-talk. Lasting change needs commitment,…

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Trust is biased, and your team is proving it

Broken Trust Illustrated with Cracked Concrete

Trust breakdowns rarely start with incompetence. Maryam Rezaei argues they begin with bias, familiarity and the meanings we attach to tone, silence and directness. She explores psychological safety, real listening and what repairs trust: new experiences, not explanations. For L&D…

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Conference overload? Why L&D events need creative reflection

TJ 60 conference creative session (C) AMC Newton

Conference days can feel like a firehose: keynotes, chats, slides, then a tired journey home and a notebook nobody opens. AMC Newton and Amelia Wakeford show how intentional reflection breaks overload, helping brains consolidate learning. Their Creative Download approach uses…

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Your learning strategy makes too much sense 

Two sticky notes with handwritten Expectation and Reality. Business results, comparison, performance evaluation, and strategic planning concept.

The New Coke fiasco in the ‘80s shows why L&D keeps repeating the same mistakes. When we design learning for the ‘logical human’, engagement, behaviour change and budgets suffer. Design instead for real people, who are time-poor, emotional and context-driven,…

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Psychological safety is your secret weapon when training gets awkward

The Four Stages of Psychological Safety - Psych Safety are Inclusion, Learner, Contributor, Challenger

Disengaged training rooms are often a symptom of low psychological safety, rather than poor facilitation. Donald Thompson outlines practical ways to build trust before and during sessions. He explores strategies such as clear expectations, thoughtful responses and calm, civil discussion,…

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DEI in 2026: From ambition to action and compliance to competitive advantage

Bright screen showing "Trends 2026" on a desk. Represents upcoming forecast, business strategy, and corporate planning for future growth and innovation

DEI in the UK is shifting from policy to practice. Sandi Wassmer argues that in 2026 inclusion will be built into organisational infrastructure. Leaders will be held accountable and employee experience prioritised over optics. Psychological safety and robust data will…

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