Independent Professionals

With the help of the whole team, anything is possible. Shot of a group of businesspeople sitting together in a meeting.

Better dialogue leads to better decisions  

Sarah Rozenthuler

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…

Transform and success or changing to succeed concept and leadership in business through innovation and evolution of ability as a crumpled paper transforming into a boat then a swan and a flying bird

The seven stages of transcendent awakening: A roadmap for evolving as a leader  

Dr Lisa Turner

Discover transcendent leadership: embodying a vision that uplifts, transforms and drives innovation for lasting success, writes Dr Lisa Turner  In the modern workplace, where change is constant and challenges are increasingly complex, leadership requires more than managing teams or optimising processes. True leadership calls for deep personal evolution – a journey of transcendent awakening that equips leaders to drive both organisational success and meaningful societal change.  It’s my prediction that those organisations who can foster the transcendent leader will be the…

Happy middle aged business woman hr talking to recruit at job interview meeting. Smiling mature female financial advisor, professional bank manager consulting client working in corporate office.

From cringe to constructive: A guide to giving feedback that sticks

Julia Milner

Discover the top feedback mistakes managers make – and how to fix them for better results. Julia Milner reveals the four-step feedback framework you need  Can I give you some feedback? Employees often cringe when they hear these words. Want to avoid the cringe? Here are some tips on how to set employees at ease and ensure your pearls of wisdom, or just simple advice, stick.   Maybe it’s time you reflected on the four pillars of feedback and how often…

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Can training prevent staff from hiding their disability?  

Chris Jay

Many employees choose not to reveal their disability in the workplace. Chris Jay explores why, and explains how the right training programmes can improve disability disclosure  It’s virtually impossible to tackle a problem that you don’t know exists, which is the position many organisations are in when it comes to addressing hidden disability disclosure in the workplace.   Around 12.8 million people in the UK have a disability you can’t see  Take for example, a member of staff who has a…

Businesswoman using mobile phone near window in office

The new workforce challenge: Blending digital skills with human expertise 

Pete Humphreys

Bridge the Gen Z skills gap with early-career development focused on tech and human skills, writes Pete Humphreys In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organisations face a critical challenge: developing talent that can thrive in the digital age while maintaining essential human skills. This challenge is particularly acute when it comes to integrating Generation Z, those born during the mid-1990s and early 2010s, into the workplace as the skills gap between education and employment continues to widen.  Prioritising early-career development can yield…

The Art of Graphic Design Therapy

The impactful learning experiences of both reality and unreality 

Steve Macaulay

Want to create standout training programmes? Mixing realistic and unrealistic experiences could be the answer, as Steve Macaulay and David Buchanan explain  Many L&D professionals already recognise the value of using realistic experiences to enhance training programmes. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, these experiences can significantly improve learning outcomes. This is almost second nature for many L&D professionals. However, there are times when introducing elements of unreality can encourage new thinking, spark creativity, and develop essential new skills.   Incorporating…

Laura Maffucci headshot - woman smiling with long dark hair.

TJ interviews: Head of HR Laura Maffucci

Jo gets the lowdown from Laura Maffucci on AI’s game-changing impact on talent management strategies Training Journal: You are Head of HR at G-P. What does your role entail and what strategic tips can you share for L&D professionals? Laura: I am responsible for the company’s global workforce, talent and employee experience. I firmly believe that diversity of thought is paramount for a healthy workspace, and aim to foster a culture where people have equal voice and opportunity to contribute…

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The 1% advantage: How small improvements can revolutionise your L&D strategy  

Houra Amin

Using the marginal gains approach, small tweaks in L&D can add up to big results. Houra Amin shows you how to make it happen The business landscape today is choppy and fast, so organisations are constantly seeking ways to enhance their competitive advantage. While everyone is trying hard to stay ahead of the curve, it’s tempting to follow the big and shiny solutions – thinking the bigger and more expensive they are, the greater impact they will have. This is…

Authors Camilleri, Rockey and Dunbar who wrote The Social Brain. Two females and a male standing in a library, smartly dressed, black and white photo.

TJ interviews: Authors Tracey Camilleri, Samantha Rockey and Robin Dunbar

Jo speaks with authors of The Social Brain about group dynamics, human connection and thriving together Training Journal to all: Why come together to write a book about the social brain, and what does that mean? All: We come from different disciplines (evolutionary psychology, corporate leadership and learning design). Throughout our careers the three of us have been interested in the same question: Why is it that some groups function as more than the sum of their parts – and other groups, however talented,…

Three interlocking gears, symbolizing the three branches of government and their complex system of checks and balances

The third wheel: the complex relationship between organisations, vendors and consultants 

Andrew Jacobs

Struggling with vendor issues? A consultant’s sharp insight and unbiased advice can turn things around, as Andrew Jacobs explains You know that awkward moment when you’re in a restaurant and you see a couple at another table having a difficult conversation? You can tell by their body language; they’re detached and not really listening to each other. You’ll see one of them (usually a man) trying to impress the other with grandiose statements about the future. All the while, the…