L&D Professionals
Stuck in the middle and never trained for it – the recognition challenge facing today’s managers
Joanne Werker discusses how the manager’s job keeps expanding, and why businesses need to stop treating recognition as something people either have a knack for or don’t. It’s beyond time to start treating it as a core management competency that can, and should be learned, not just left to chance. There are 8.4 million managers in the UK, roughly one in four of everyone in work, each holding the day-to-day experience of virtually every employee in Britain in their hands…
Mirror mindset meets the overthinking brain: Turning self-awareness into mental clarity
Referencing two Make Your Brain Work podcast episodes, Amy Brann explores why overthinking thrives when self-reflection becomes judgement. Learn how to spot rumination loops, use body-based awareness, ask grounding questions, and journal with purpose. With self-compassion and psychologically safe feedback, learners can turn noisy minds into useful insight and learning. Overthinking is one of the most common challenges raised in coaching sessions, classrooms and workplaces alike. People describe busy minds that replay conversations, second-guess decisions and spiral late at night.…
Why instructional design needs an open industry learning lab
L&D teams should look beyond their organisations and use open course contests to sharpen professional judgement, argues Tanya Galton. Comparing real instructional design work across industries can expose stronger practices, recurring weaknesses and fresh ideas, helping practitioners turn external feedback into concrete improvements in how learning is designed and reviewed. The iSpring Course Creation Contest, now a global annual event for instructional designers, started out with a traditional competition format: people submit their work, experts judge it, and the strongest…
The high-risk consequences of underprepared managers
Changing employment rules, rising workplace conflicts and easy access to AI-generated advice are putting managers under growing pressure. Nick McClelland argues that organisations must move beyond compliance-led training and give managers the confidence, judgement and practical conversation skills needed to resolve issues early, fairly and effectively before they escalate further. In 2026, my conversations have been dominated by one theme: manager and leader capability. Not as a general development aspiration, but as a pressing operational and people risk concern. The…
Why businesses need a joined-up approach to risk and compliance
A connected governance, risk and compliance platform can help organisations spot threats earlier, reduce silos and make audits less painful. Prem Chaurasiya explains how bringing risk data, workflows and reporting together can move teams from reactive firefighting towards more proactive, resilient and confident decision-making across the business as risks evolve. Every business, regardless of size or sector, is vulnerable to risk. It can be a vendor that doesn’t deliver, a data breach that surprises everyone or a compliance requirement that…
Stronger partnerships start with financial fluency
Financial fluency helps L&D professionals manage external partnerships with greater clarity and accountability. Jane Deeks explains how to spot compliance risks, strengthen contracts, and work effectively with finance and legal teams. All to build ethical, transparent relationships that protect budgets, reputations and long-term learning impact across their organisations and partners. In an increasingly interconnected learning and development landscape, trainers are no longer operating in isolation. Collaborations with external partners, whether with freelance specialists, technology vendors, or contracted content providers, have…
Beyond the prompt: What L&D teams should consider when implementing AI
L&D teams may be fluent in many AI tools, but true readiness requires more than adoption. Kristin Delgado explains why measuring human factors such as learning agility, critical thinking and reliance on AI can help learning leaders close confidence gaps, target support and guide organisations through digital transformation more effectively. When new challenges require an organisation to rethink existing ways of working, upskill staff, and redesign training, learning and development are promptly called to the rescue. As those responsible for…
Lead with why, not what: The communication mistake every rollout makes
Ben Satchwell argues most capability framework rollouts fail in the first email by leading with what: structures, levels and process. People engage only once they understand why and what it changes for them. Translate organisational rationale into individual relevance, sequence communications purpose first, then mechanics, address appeal and threat honestly. The first communication about a new capability framework almost always leads with the what. Here is the structure. Here are the five capability domains. Here are the four proficiency levels…
Workers need to learn how to question AI, not just how to use it
As AI becomes commonplace at work, employees need more than technical know-how. Gray Mytton explains why workers must question outputs, spot errors and apply human judgement, while developing critical thinking, adaptability and curiosity to navigate changing tasks, emerging roles and increasingly AI-shaped workplaces with confidence and care in future work. Workers need to learn how to question and check AI-generated information rather than simply how to use AI tools, as new figures show AI use is becoming increasingly common across…
The authenticity revolution: Why showing the real you is now a superpower at work
Authentic leadership starts when people stop performing and begin leading as themselves. Claire Brumby argues that L&D must rethink how it develops leaders, creating safer spaces for real questions, unconventional thinking and human insight, while challenging the polished behaviours and careful positioning that can suppress trust, creativity and organisational impact. Think about the leaders who have made the biggest impact on you throughout your career. I’d be willing to bet they weren’t the ones who said and did what was…
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.
