Opinion
Will closing the skills gap make us happier?
Skills gaps are making us unhappy at work. Can learning and development initiatives fix them? They’re a good place to start, writes Emma O’Dell The UK is at risk of becoming a ‘burnt-out nation’, with a poll revealing that 20% of workers needed to take time off due to poor mental health caused by high levels of stress at work. For many, most waking hours are spent at work, making job satisfaction a key factor in overall life satisfaction. In addition,…
Perfectionism over a promotion? The obsession with perfection is harming leadership development
The modern workplace culture of perfectionism is actually destroying development, says executive coach Beth Hope In today’s work environment, burnout is at an all-time high, and perfectionism is a major contributor, with many employees now turning down leadership roles because they fear the pressure to be constantly ‘on’ and perform without fault. A recent study shows that 42% of employees reject promotions because they fear burnout or want to seem “perfect.” Psychologist Marisa Franco explains that perfectionism often stems from…
How coaching and mentoring can drive talent mobility and workforce development
Want to keep your top talent? Follow these six steps to boost mobility and growth – Diane Newell explains Research from Indeed Flex highlights that one in three employees are planning to make a career change during 2025. Only half are committed to their current role, with nearly a fifth still undecided, and employees aged 18 to 24 are more inclined to change jobs compared to just one in four aged 55 to 64. Given these trends, retention remains a critical…
How performance reviews can fuel curiosity and enable growth
Ditch the dull reviews: spark curiosity, lift spirits and help your team grow and thrive with these tips from Paul Heath Managing employee performance is an essential part of any leadership role. While many organisations consider an annual review an integral part of the performance management process, some firms are beginning to scrap them. But why are some businesses turning away from the practice of an annual performance review? Should they keep them? And how should training and learning and development executives…
Make learning count: How a clear aspiration drives business impact
Too often, L&D operates reactively, delivering training without clear business impact. You can change that when you anchor learning to strategic aspirations. Houra Amin explains how to drive measurable success Business leaders are increasingly recognising learning as a strategic driver of outcomes like retention, internal mobility and leadership development. Yet, many L&D teams struggle to translate this recognition into aligned, impactful initiatives. This article explores how anchoring your strategy to a clear aspiration can turn L&D into a powerful engine…
Say it better, hear it smarter – the new rules of workplace feedback
Feedback without the freakout: smarter ways to share and receive input, and overcome feedback anxiety by Becky Westwood Feedback has become an essential part of the training and development process in organisations. Not only is it seen as crucial to the business for maximising workforce skills and contribution, it is also often seen as a valuable contribution for personal and career growth by individuals. However, because work is deeply intertwined with people’s sense of identity, purpose and social connection it is…
Quiet quitting or quiet learning? How to reignite employee motivation through development
If employees are checking out, it’s time to spark their ambition with new growth opportunities – Jessica Kriegel explains In a bustling midsize marketing firm in London, Alex, a high-performing project manager, began declining new assignments. Colleagues whispered about “quiet quitting,” but Alex had a different story. “I’m not disengaged,” Alex shared in a candid chat with HR. “I feel stuck. I want to grow, but there’s no path forward here.” 76% of Gen Z employees believe learning is the…
Struggling with trust at work? Blame ‘attachment theory’
Anxious, avoidant or secure? Our early attachments shape how we connect and communicate at work – but coaching helps rebuild trust and foster healthier workplace relationships, writes John Perry Attachment theory, a concept introduced by British psychologist John Bowlby, provides profound insights into how early-life relationships shape our ways of connecting with others. Originally centred on caregiver-child bonds, it has far-reaching implications in the workplace. It reveals how our ability – or struggle – to trust, connect and communicate is…
Everyone wins if we employ more trained former prisoners
Hiring ex-offenders helps to fill skills gaps, strengthen businesses and create wider benefits for society – Sid Madge explains Too many former prisoners reoffend after release – a problem the UK urgently needs to address. Reoffending rates vary based on factors like offence type, age and sentence length, but shockingly, up to 50% of ex-inmates will reoffend within a year. By employing ex-offenders, businesses aren’t just filling job vacancies – they’re contributing to a powerful ripple effect that can reshape lives, families…
Managers: Are you fuelling conflict in your team?
Calling all fixers, ostriches and bureaucrats, it’s time to try the owl approach to management – Anna Shields explains A recent CIPD study found that managers could inadvertently be fuelling tensions in their teams. L&D need to identify counterproductive approaches to conflict management and build the skills to overcome these. Owl managers see the world from a wider range of perspectives, identify issues with an open mind, and handle relationship breakdowns with empathy and care Do managers fuel conflict? The…
Want smart, useful L&D insight in your inbox (without the fluff)?
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for Editor-only commentary, and exclusive insight that isn’t published anywhere else online.
If you want a quick roundup of what matters, fresh ideas you can use, and the best new reads from Training Journal, this is where it lands
It’s free, only takes a minute, and you can unsubscribe any time.
