People Managers
Career literacy for young employees: Turning potential into progression
Audrey Hametner argues that supporting early career talent means moving beyond one-off training to guided pathways that build career literacy, mentoring and experiential learning. By treating young employees as partners, organisations can boost engagement, widen opportunity, and cut turnover, turning L&D into a deliberate ecosystem across the employee lifecycle today. As a business professional who has spent the last decade applying over 20 years of corporate knowledge to education and youth development, I want to share with you some deeply…
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…
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…
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 efficiency paradox: Why AI is speeding up work but slowing down leadership
Andrew Bryant argues that AI-driven efficiency is outpacing leadership capability, creating an “efficiency paradox” where organisations perform better on paper but grow strategically weaker. He explores Klarna’s AI lesson, the shift from performance management to potential development, and why L&D must build leaders who unleash human judgement, creativity, and meaning. Organisations are getting faster. But they are not getting better at leading people. That is the uncomfortable truth at the centre of the AI revolution. As companies race to automate,…
The five habits of world-class learners
Most people mistake activity for learning, yet those who do it well, treat it as daily discipline. Charlie Curson shares five habits that accelerate growth: curiosity, embracing productive discomfort, reflecting before reacting, learning from diverse voices, and acting fast to turn experimentation into insight and sharper strategic judgement over time. Most of us stopped learning the moment we left school – or so we think. We attend courses, read the odd book and sit through training sessions. But real learning,…
Workslop and the illusion of progress in the age of AI
Rushing AI into workflows can produce polished ‘workslop’ that masks shallow thinking, wastes time and erodes trust. Jenna Tiffany sets out a human-centred antidote: start with purpose, define boundaries, train people and tools, make human review non-negotiable, and reward outcomes over output so organisations keep judgment, culture and quality intact. In today’s workplace, many organisations are effectively handing their keys to a stranger by deploying artificial intelligence (AI) tools without a clear strategy. In doing so, they may believe they’re…
Winning buy-in: Why L&D leaders need sharper communication
L&D leaders face budgets, hybrid distraction and sceptical audiences, so influencing matters more than ever. Isobel Rimmer argues presentation and communication skills are a strategic capability for every leader, not just sales. She shares tools, from audience outcomes to an ABCD structure and storytelling, to build confidence and win buy-in. It’s tough being a leader in learning and development, and it’s getting tougher. How do you influence sponsors to fund development when budgets are squeezed? Persuade employees to embrace training,…
From vanity metrics to business impact: How L&D can prove its value
If you’re feeling the pressure to prove L&D’s value, you’re in good company. Synergy Learning shares a practical approach to proving impact in business terms. See just how to begin with organisational goals, baseline the right data, choose credible evaluation models, and decide when training isn’t the answer for everything. As we go into the new year, are you feeling mounting pressure to prove the value of learning and development in your organisation? While tracking course completions and training hours…
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