Features
A week in the life of: A Leadership Development Manager
What’s involved in contemporary leadership development? Andy McConville shares about training, support and other responsibilities I’m one of the lucky ones, I really love my job. It’s fair to say that Leadership Capability isn’t often recognised, let alone invested in, when it comes to outsourcers, so I am privileged to be trusted with the opportunity to develop leaders. And, as readers of TJ know, it’s absolutely the right thing to do. Admittedly, growing up, I didn’t necessarily dream that one…
A week in the life of: The CEO of a learning business community and Learning Network board member
Kim Ellis shares about L&D Free Spirits that serves freelancers and small businesses in L&D Hi everyone, my name is Kim, and I have been in the amazing L&D world for nearly 20 years. For the past seven of those, I have been self-employed as the Chief Learning Architect of Go Ginger Learning Solutions. When the first Covid lockdowns happened in 2020, I suggested hosting coffee mornings for members of The Learning Network (LN). I then started editing their newsletter…
A week in the life of: The Editor of Training Journal
What does being the Editor of a learning content website involve? Jo Cook enlightens us I developed a desire to write when I was 12 years old and was always drawn to periodicals rather than newspapers or novels. I have no idea why; it just seemed to happen naturally. My role for Training Journal is part time (currently just one and a half days a week) and, being the creative person I am (my mum would say awkward), I’m flexible…
AI in coaching: A tool for the many, but not a replacement for the few
AI is reshaping coaching, making personalised development accessible. But will we lose the human touch? Markus Bernhardt and Teresa Rose take us on a journey to discover Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries globally, and coaching is no exception. Once a domain reserved for senior executives, coaching is now being democratised thanks to AI-driven tools that make personalised professional development more accessible to employees at all levels. AI’s capabilities extend beyond mere scalability, as recent studies suggest that large language…
Why your brainstorming sessions fail: How to unlock your team’s true creative potential
Discover how strategies like daydreaming breaks, eliminating groupthink, and BrainSprinting can boost your team’s creativity with Chris Griffiths and Caragh Medlicott In an ideal world, brainstorming sessions would always be fruitful. Everyone would come together, ideas would fly, and you’d leave with ideas aplenty and clear plans for implementation. Sadly, an ideal world isn’t quite where we live. Still, do not despair! As with anything in life, the strategy we bring to a task can have a huge impact on…
Bringing L&D to centre stage: How improv elevated the learning experience
Neil Mullarkey’s theatre improvisation techniques prepare leaders for the unpredictable nature of real-world business interactions – all while boosting the impact of the L&D function For learning and development professionals, standing out in a crowded field of conventional training programmes can be a significant challenge. One seasoned L&D director in the professional services sector discovered a ground-breaking approach that not only enhanced the skills of her leaders but also elevated the status and impact of the L&D function itself. “Improv training addresses a…
Adapting to Change: Leadership, Neuroscience, and AI in Workplace Learning
Explore key points from the World of Learning conference, including AI, neuroscience, leadership and inclusivity – all summarised by Editor Jo Cook At the World of Learning conference, industry leaders shared innovative ideas and practical approaches for transforming workplace learning. Below are the key takeaways from sessions that addressed managerial buy-in, leadership in changing environments, neuroscience in learning, AI-driven skill measurement, and workforce planning – all of which took place in Birmingham, UK, in October 2024. We don’t just train…
Harnessing behavioural science for impactful learning programmes
Want to supercharge your L&D programmes? Try these key behavioural science tricks for learner engagement, from Houra Amin In our ongoing series exploring ways to enhance the impact and effectiveness of L&D programmes, we have already explored feedback loops and marginal gains. This third article examines some insights from behavioural science to guide us in maintaining learners’ engagement. Learning is not about cramming information into people’s heads; it’s about equipping them to retrieve and apply that information/knowledge when it matters…
We spend billions on leadership development – so why are employees still stressed?
Changing how people are managed is critical for improving employee wellbeing and increasing workplace engagement. Dominic Ashley-Timms and Laura Ashley-Timms share the strategies that can make a real difference According to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace, 41% of employees report experiencing “a lot of stress” at work. What’s more, it identified that those who work in companies with bad management practices are nearly 60% more likely to be stressed than those working in environments with good management practices. Managers…
Better dialogue leads to better decisions
Start building effective dialogue skills today; tomorrow’s decisions rely on deeper conversations within your teams, writes Sarah Rozenthuler Imagine a team meeting where every voice is heard, diverse perspectives are valued, and decisions are made with full confidence. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? Yet, in many organisations, the reality falls short. The missing ingredient? Effective dialogue. When done right, it transforms team dynamics and leads to smarter, more inclusive decision-making. Effective dialogue is the catalyst that transforms a group of individuals…
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