Features

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Regulation in the coaching industry: Navigating the path to professionalism

Andy Chandler

The rapid expansion of the UK coaching industry has raised questions about quality and oversight. Andy Chandler explores whether regulation is the solution to maintaining professionalism in this growing field The coaching industry in the UK has experienced remarkable growth over the past few decades, expanding into various niches, including executive coaching, life coaching, and wellness coaching. However, with this expansion comes a significant challenge: the lack of standardised regulation and oversight. Regulation could serve to elevate the credibility of…

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What is the Kirkpatrick model? A comprehensive guide for L&D professionals

Eleanor Hecks

The Kirkpatrick assessment model evaluates the effectiveness of training programmes. Learn how to use it with these tips from Eleanor Hecks   The Kirkpatrick model is an evaluation tool that has set many learning and development (L&D) professionals up for success. It is a proven method that training managers have used to increase skills and knowledge across various workplace topics. Whether new to the model or looking to refine evaluation practices, understanding this assessment model in-depth is the first step to maximising the success of…

Group of people thanking speaker for interesting presentation in professional business conference or seminar. Team of happy male and female company workers applauding colleague in corporate meeting

Unlocking hope and belonging: The hidden keys to employee wellbeing and retention  

Brad Smith

The impact of hope, belonging and manager support in transforming employee wellbeing and mental health. Insights from Brad Smith  Research has shown that resilience offers organisations many competitive advantages. Highly resilient staff are much less likely to mention burnout, compensation, work-life balance, or lack of purpose as motives for quit intentions compared to their less resilient colleagues. Other psychological resources that can help buffer against such strains, and facilitate employee thriving, resilience and performance, are hope and belonging. These crucial yet…

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How is AI affecting employee learning and development? 

Jo Cook

Is AI the silver bullet for L&D? How can we take advantage and remain human? In this feature, Jo Cook looks at the evidence and shares her perspective The use of generative AI holds so much for so many people – the promise of productivity gains, the overwhelm of selecting the right technologies, challenges of skilling people and the worry of future repercussions of an independent intelligence. Artificial intelligence is having a big impact on learning and development already, and…

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Maximise investment in your line managers with an enabling environment 

Steve Macaulay

Line managers are pivotal to business success – support them to boost performance and drive impact with these tips from Steve Macaulay and David Buchanan Why do line managers matter to L&D? Line managers create the environment – the resources and support that allow staff to perform their roles. But are we creating an enabling environment for line managers? Here is how L&D and HR can help.  Today’s line managers are your source of tomorrow’s top team   Your line…

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From chaos to clarity: Mastering documentation for work processes

Jo Cook

Discover key insights and techniques for effective, process documentation, with clear guidance from Jo Cook I saw a Facebook meme recently that went a bit like this: Me as a youth: Don’t tell me what to do! Me as an adult: Would someone please tell me, in intricate detail, with timings, exactly what I’m supposed to do. Good quality work often has a good quality process to guide it, so that there’s consistency, quality and clear outcomes. On a contract…

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Make learning count: Leveraging feedback loops for business success 

Houra Amin

Feedback loops help L&D leaders refine strategies, align learning with business goals and drive success, writes Houra Amin  In the rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to adapt and continuously improve is critical for success. Central to this adaptability are feedback loops – a concept that involves producing something, measuring the outcomes, and making improvements based on the data.   A strong partnership between L&D and business leadership is crucial for ensuring alignment between the people-capability agenda and the overall business…

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Slothing and surfing: The impact of sleep on employee training and learning new skills 

Ricci Masero

Discover how quality sleep can turbocharge your learning and transform training results for your team, by Ricci Masero  During a recent trip to Costa Rica, I did my fair share of slothing around in hammocks. I also set my mind (and somewhat out of shape body) to a lifelong ambition of learning to surf. After an initial 90-minute lesson full of frustration, consistently falling backwards into the foam and not catching a wave, I decided to call it a day. …

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From theory to practice: Boosting productivity with action learning 

Helen Routledge

Align L&D with action learning to tackle current demands and gear up for future challenges, writes Helen Routledge  Increasing productivity within organisations requires more than just theoretical knowledge; it demands actionable and effective learning strategies. Action learning, a method where employees engage actively with content and apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios, has emerged as a powerful tool in bridging the gap between theory and application.   Action learning helps learners develop critical thinking and practical skills, making it an invaluable…

An empathetic leader for whom the well-being of employees is crucial, promoting a friendly and open work culture. His compassionate and respectful approach fosters trust and teamwork

Wake up and smell the silicon: How to be human in an AI workplace  

Laura Thomson-Staveley

Cultivate your human skills and embrace the four Cs to thrive in an AI-driven world, writes Laura Thomson-Staveley   Back in 2016, I had a moment where I realised how significant artificial intelligence (AI) could become in our daily lives. I was listening to a neuroscientist talk from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) in the US which has a $3bn a year annual budget for research activities which invariably focuses on AI, and it struck me that we were on…