Independent Professionals
Scaling skill adoption with AI and a human-centric approach
Take a phased approach and keep people at the heart of strategy, advises James Swift Leyton, like many businesses, prioritises client retention as a crucial driver of sustainable growth. Recognising that their consultants’ skills directly impacted client relationships and retention rates, Leyton’s talent development team sought innovative solutions to improve skill adoption and consistency across their workforce. The business challenge was to boost client retention. AI provided unprecedented visibility into employee skill usage… replacing subjective observations with objective data …
Behind the scenes of planning a new learning event: Exploring ticket sales tactics
Kirsty Lewis on the ups, downs and wild ideas behind getting people to SOFest 2025 How are you? If you are new to this blog it is all about my crazy idea to put on a festival for 100-plus facilitators, trainers, coaches and consultants from 10 to 12 June 2025, in Essex, UK. I mean how hard can it be to create a large-scale event, in a field, for people who love to learn, connect into the community and have experiences? …
Organizational Learning Communities – book review
Practical, insightful and inspiring, this go-to guide is packed with fresh ideas and real-world strategies – Peter Plumlee reviews essential reading for L&D professionals, team leaders and anyone seeking smarter collaboration Book: Organizational Learning Communities – Empowering social learning and collaboration to improve performanceAuthor: Andy Lancaster When I first picked up Organizational Learning Communities – Empowering social learning and collaboration to improve performance, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. A 400- page book about learning communities? It sounded…
TJ Columnist Peter Honey, dies aged 87
Former TJ Editor Debbie Carter reflects on Peter Honey’s life and his contribution to learning Peter Honey was a columnist for TJ for many years and he was an Editor’s dream. His 700 words of wisdom dropped into my inbox once a month without need for reminder or revision. Peter’s material was well written, pertinent with very little repetition of content. Surveys of the readership consistently put his column at the top of our polls for style, content and entertainment!…
From code to culture: How AI can embed company culture
Artificial intelligence can help turn company culture from words on a wall into something real – Elie Rashbass explains how Strong and healthy cultures help businesses and employees thrive. Weak or toxic cultures, on the other hand, harm both the workforce and the business’s bottom line. Companies know culture matters and recognise exactly what values they want. However, listing and wanting certain values, even if you mean it (which most companies do!), doesn’t make them a reality. The missing link…
From tap to hip hop: How dance inspires workplace excellence
Success at work requires precision, energy, expression and adaptability – just like mastering different dance styles. Karl Green shares lessons from the stage to help you perform at your best Some of our most powerful lessons about workplace success come from unexpected places. As someone from a performance background of over a decade, who pivoted career from dance and musical theatre to coaching and development, one of my favourite analogies is how different dances mirror various approaches to work and…
L&D professionals question if AI really is a hot topic for 2025
Donald H Taylor launches his L&D Global Sentiment Survey and TJ digs into the results At the launch event for the of the L&D Global Sentiment Survey 2025, the 12th annual check of the pulse of L&D worldwide, Donald H Taylor has analysed answers from 3,339 people covering 93 countries. Don asks “What will be hot in workplace L&D?” for the coming year and people make a selection from 16 options, including AI, reskilling, learning analytics and others. Don highlights…
From influence to action: key lessons from the World of Learning Summit 2025
How can L&D leaders drive real impact, influence strategy, and transform learning in the workplace? Be inspired by the industry’s leading thinkers and practitioners in this conference summary What does it truly mean for L&D to have “a seat at the table”? It’s a phrase that sparks debate—some see it as the pinnacle of influence, while others dismiss it as an outdated ambition. It’s not just about being in the executive room; it’s about using the right data, influencing the…
Getting to grips with extended reality and immersive learning
The benefits include enhanced engagement and better knowledge retention, but how do you get started? Philip Moore has your step-by-step guide to introducing XR learning to your organisation Learning technology as we know it is evolving. Today, extended reality (XR) is offering immersive learning experiences that allow employees to upskill in a uniquely personalised and engaging way. While XR, an all-encompassing term for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), was once only associated with gaming, organisations are…
Networks, mindset and the ‘genius of audacity’: A coach’s recipe for job search success
Job hunting? Executive coach Beverlie Wilkinson shares her Gold, Silver, Bronze strategy for career success The job search landscape has changed dramatically – we’re navigating AI-led processes and numerous digital tools, making it more important than ever to stay positive and resilient. As an executive coach, I’ve noticed something crucial: finding a job today is all about mindset. It’s about knowing yourself, maintaining a positive mindset and building meaningful connections First, let’s talk about why you might be looking to…
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