Features
The strategic mind: elevating your leadership game in uncertain times
Michael Watkins, author of The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking, explores how to unlock your potential and develop your strategic thinking muscles Strategic thinking is a vital skill for leaders navigating their businesses through today’s turbulent waters. Your capacity to think strategically is shaped by your endowment – your innate cognitive abilities – and your experience in situations demanding strategic thought. You can enhance your strategic thinking abilities by playing specific games regularly By the time you reach adulthood, your…
Years older, or years better?
David Buchanan and Steve Macaulay explore the perceived challenges and the positive advantages to a workforce with a variety of age ranges The changing demographics of an ageing population and declining birth rates pose a pressing people management challenge. To address skill and labour shortages, employers must actively recruit, retain and develop older workers. Adaptation requires a targeted approach to HR policies and L&D agendas, recognising and leveraging the valuable experience older workers bring to the workforce. How old is…
Embracing your creative potential: a guide inspired by Cat Hase’s story
In this feature as part of International Women’s Day, Cat Hase explores what creativity can bring to your work and personal development Would you call yourself creative? It’s a question that, unfortunately, far too many people answer with a “no.” But let’s pause and ask ourselves: What is creativity? Creativity is the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc. It’s about seeing what’s inside us and harnessing it as it’s…
Brushing aside injustice – art, women and innovation: a call for creative empowerment in training
Rachel Bentley examines not only a gender pay gap, but how creativity can inspire development and change in challenging work climates In the world of art an insidious reality lurks beneath the canvas: a gender pay gap that painfully exposes the struggles faced by women artists. A recent article by The Guardian sheds light on the profound impact of this shocking difference citing evidence from a leading academic and activist. Creativity and innovation drive progress, allowing organisations to maintain a competitive…
Unlock the secrets of skilful public speaking: insights from the pros
On social media we asked about advice for presentations and boy did our community answer, read their strategies and tips here Public speaking is an art form that requires more than just the ability to speak loudly and clearly—it demands engagement, preparation, authenticity, and a deep connection with your audience. Drawing from a wealth of advice shared by professionals across various platforms, we delve into the nuances of effective public speaking, offering a detailed guide that encompasses the collective wisdom…
Unlocking the power of neurodiversity
In this feature, Steve Macaulay looks at the benefits and importance of neurodiverse employees Every manager aims to make the best use of all the resources available so that their employees feel fulfilled and satisfied that they are reaching their full potential and contributing fully to the success of the organisation. However, a potential performance gap that has not been fully explored is the wide variation in the way each person approaches work and relationships and how each learns. Fostering…
Navigating the evolving landscape of the L&D Job market: insights and trends for 2024
Exploring the job market for job seekers and those in hiring roles, four L&D experts share their experience and suggestions in this detailed feature As the year 2023 unfolded, the Learning and Development (L&D) job market underwent a profound transformation. The pandemic catalysed a shift in work environments and learning modalities, challenging the traditional in-person training model and giving rise to a more flexible, multi-faceted approach to professional development. L&D professionals need to acquire a deep understanding of business strategies…
Be colour wise – best practices for using colour psychology in e-learning design
In this feature, Ravinder Tulsiani explores many aspects of using colour in your learning interventions, from basic colour theory to use of palettes to create an emotional reaction As instructional designers, our goal is to create educational experiences that are not only informative but also engaging and emotionally resonant. One of the most effective but often overlooked tools at our disposal is the strategic use of colour. I explore the basics of colour psychology and its cultural implications, providing a…
L&D skills for the digital world
Is the current state of technology overwhelming you? Or is your organisation asking you to focus on something when your passion is elsewhere? And is technology the most important thing anyway? Harri Le Claire and Jo Cook share more in this full-on feature The recent journey most organisations and individuals have been on with the digital skills can be a challenging one for many. Covid accelerated digital skills adoption with users, learners, workers and of course within L&D and 2023…
Gen AI in L&D: don’t throw the bot out with the bath water!
Ricci Masero looks at the latest trends and best practices in marketing, strategy, and corporate training and in this feature focuses on not dismissing AI just because it isn’t good enough… yet I recently went to an HR business conference where integrating generative AI into corporate training programs sparked a heated debate. One keynote speaker boldly declared that generative models like ChatGPT produce only superficial content, riddled with inaccuracies. He warned the audience that relying on this technology would severely…
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