Communication
Psychological safety for neurodiversity: One size does not fit all
Psychological safety is the secret sauce of brilliant teams, but how does it actually play out, especially when neurodivergent minds are in the mix? We explore what it means to feel safe, seen and supported at work, and why listening better might just be the leadership superpower we all need Psychological safety has become a cornerstone for effective, innovative, high-performing teams. But what is it actually like in practice? And how can we recognise its presence, particularly in environments where…
Clear, kind and real: How to make communication count
Your communication skills can go from clunky to clear with just a few tweaks. From knowing what kind of chat you’re really having to handling tricky moments with empathy, it’s all about keeping it real and human. Jo Henwood explains how to keep your cool and make your message land Recently, I delivered back-to-back sessions on wellbeing, communication, coaching and feedback. While these were separate sessions, there are themes across all the topics that can make our communication more impactful. …
How to turn conversations about stress into meaningful interventions in the workplace
Stress is everywhere, particularly in today’s working environment. And when someone finally speaks up, what a manager says next can change everything. Joseph Conway explains why giving managers the tools and confidence to handle tough conversations isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a business-critical skill that can protect employees’ wellbeing and performance Stress has been widely described as a modern-day epidemic – and the research is stacking up to prove just how true this is. According to Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report…
Proving learning’s worth in volatile tech environments
Catherine Dock explores how L&D can demonstrate its value and measure impact in fast-moving, complex technology environments. From stakeholder engagement to meaningful metrics, she outlines practical strategies for aligning L&D with business outcomes—and why communities, clarity, and curiosity are key to making an impact that stakeholders notice and trust. One of the hardest things in Learning and Development is to justify the real impact of learning on organisations and strategies to stakeholders. We know how powerful showing the return on…
Spotting the risk from within: why training matters when tackling the insider threat
Employees can be your strongest defence… or your greatest vulnerability. As insider threats rise, cybersecurity issues grow and bottom lines are hit, L&D leaders have a crucial role in shifting culture and building resilience within. Rachael Tiffen explores how strategic training can turn awareness into action – before risks become headlines. In today’s fast-paced, digitally interconnected business landscape, fraudulent threats are no longer limited to external hackers or sophisticated criminal networks. Increasingly, danger lies within an organisation’s own walls. Insider…
Behind the scenes of planning a new learning event: Last update before the fun!
With just a couple of weeks to go, Kirsty Lewis shares the emotional highs, financial lows and last-minute wins as SOFest edges closer. From surprise sponsors to sparkly outfit dilemmas, here’s a raw and real behind-the-scenes glimpse at the planning, panicking and reality of building a learning festival from scratch When I started writing these blogs for TJ they were a retro of the month before, the activities, the highlights and lows of SOFest. As we are drawing closer to…
Attention is earned, not given – what L&D needs to learn from marketing
Marketers know how to grab attention and inspire action in people — so why isn’t L&D learning from their approaches and methods? In this smart crossover, Ricci Masero shares how marketing’s best strategies, approaches tactics can supercharge learning engagement, from storytelling and UX to journey mapping and business metrics inspired design. As a marketing professional working in the EdTech space, I see a closely shared common goal with learning and development: capturing attention and driving behaviour change. While marketers have…
How to handle difficult conversations without losing learner trust
Training and coaching can surface emotions, resistance, and of course, personal baggage. But with curiosity, empathy, and assertiveness, learning professionals can turn tension into transformation—and build deeper trust with their clients. Cliff Lansley explores three types of empathy and advises on how the learning professional can implement this approach. Training and coaching individuals and teams in organisations isn’t easy – whether as a learning and development professional working within an organisation, or as someone serving external clients. The learning and…
Influence or manipulation? Why mindful manoeuvring is a leadership skill no one’s teaching
Influence happens—intentionally or not and it’s the engine of modern leadership. Caitlin Collins unpacks the line between guiding and manipulating at work, revealing why leaders need more than authority to truly move people. This is the leadership skill hiding in plain sight—and it’s time we made it teachable. When a former tech executive recently shared that she had used “manipulation” to pivot her career, the reaction online was swift—equal parts shock and curiosity. The word “manipulation” triggered something. And rightly…
How to stretch your budget to achieve high-impact L&D
Tight budgets don’t have to mean low impact. Steve Macaulay shares smart, strategic ways to do more with less in your L&D department, so you can look at boosting learning, increasing performance, and sparking innovation – without breaking the bank. From internal expertise to open-source tools, it’s all about working smarter! Many L&D professionals struggle to stretch their budgets to meet growing organisational demands. Surveys consistently highlight budget constraints as a top concern for HR and L&D professionals worldwide. Underfunded…
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