L&D Professionals
Why skills intelligence is the missing link in workforce planning for the talent crisis
Workforce planning is being rewritten by AI, and old build-or-buy thinking can’t keep up. Ciara Harrington sets out the Four Bs framework, Build, Buy, Borrow and Bot, powered by skills intelligence and skills gap analysis. It helps HR and L&D leaders make faster, evidence-based decisions and shape agile, future-ready workforces. Traditionally, organisations have tackled workplace planning and closing skill gaps through two main strategies: building on internal talent in the organisation through training and upskilling and recruiting external talent to…
What influence looks like for L&D in 2026
A new TJ video brings together expert contributor reflections on adaptability, business alignment and intentional boldness in L&D. Drawing on themes from the TJ Influence Report 2026, the discussion explores why learning leaders need to focus less on delivery detail and more on organisational priorities, capability and measurable business impact. Summary These conversations, inspired by the TJ L&D Influence Report 2026, brings together reflections from contributors on what L&D needs now: constant adaptability, stronger business alignment, and a more intentional…
Boundaries, not burnout: Building a culture of leadership kindness that lasts
In this candid piece, Maureen O’Callaghan shows why kindness at work starts with self-kindness. From silencing the inner critic that shouldn’t be your coach, to setting boundaries and building support, she argues sustainable leadership means staying present and protecting capacity. Kindness is not a performative tool, it is what endures. I used to stand at networking event doors, turn around three times, and leave. The voice in my head would say, ‘You’re boring. Nobody will be interested. Look how clever…
The TJ L&D Influence Report 2026
After months exploring why L&D’s best evidence and intentions still stall, Editor Jo Cook shares a new report shaped by Training Journal’s 60th Anniversary Conference. It introduces the Readiness Enablers Index and highlights practical conditions like stakeholder access, data, experimentation and support. Download it free and join the 2026 survey. What helps L&D move from good ideas and strong intentions to meaningful action? That question sits at the heart of this new report. At the centre of the report is…
Are we ready to prove L&D’s impact?
The TJ Readiness Index survey is a quick, practical way to see what’s helping, and what’s getting in the way, of evidence-led progress in L&D. If you want the background and detail, it’s all in the TJ L&D Influence Report 2026. For you personally, it’s a fast reflection tool. In a few minutes, you’ll sense-check your current reality across access to decision-makers, usable data, permission to run tests, and the support needed to implement and scale what works. It can…
Why SoFest 2026 is more than a conference
Kirsty Lewis outlines how SoFest is coming together, with its mix of workshops, shared experiences and outdoor setting. With thoughtful attention to accessibility, wellbeing and community, the event aims to create rich opportunities for learning, conversation and connection, while Impact Tickets help widen access and support new voices in facilitation. In summary SOFest 2026 puts connection, accessibility and community at the heart of learning For people who want something different from the usual conference format, SoFest 2026 is positioning itself…
Polycrisis mode: Why L&D needs an operating system, not a wish list
In time defined by AI, uncertainty and shifting norms, Phil Reddall argues L&D must stop reacting and start navigating. Using the Global Sentiment Survey and a Learning Operations mindset, he shows how data, business alignment and clear pillars help teams measure maturity, break silos and stay useful, today and beyond. “It’s time to draw our own map.” Don Taylor’s line from the Global Sentiment Survey (GSS 2026) has stayed with me because it captures something important about the moment we’re…
The AI upskilling mandate: An L&D strategy for the AI era
In the rush to govern AI and fear automation, organisations are ignoring the most urgent issue: capability. This article argues HR and L&D must distinguish autopilot risks from co-pilot opportunity, move beyond basic AI prompt training, and prioritise critical thinking, synthesis and change leadership. Lee Whitmore sets a four-point plan. For the people profession, the conversation around AI has been dominated by two themes: the anxiety of automation (which jobs will be lost?) and the ethics of governance (how do…
Women’s voices are being targeted online and event platforms must respond
Women-led online events linked to International Women’s Day were reported to have been disrupted with explicit content and coordinated interference. The abhorrent incidents have sparked calls for stronger platform safeguards and a renewed focus on practical event security, raising wider questions about safety, visibility and participation in professional digital spaces. Online events are now a normal part of working life, but recent attacks on women-led sessions are a reminder that digital participation is still not equally safe for everyone. A…
The trust gap between L&D and the business
When change feels stuck, the barrier is often low trust, not poor intent. Nathan Kracklauer shows how business acumen, understood as the logic behind strategy, helps managers align across functions. Position it in business language, resist the skills-only trap, and target confidence, courage and empathy that leaders can act on. At a recent training industry conference, I heard something along these lines from several learning leaders: ‘Our organisation needs to change. We’re not flexible enough; too siloed; too hierarchical.’ I’m sure…
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