Professional Development
When AI does the first draft, who learns what good looks like?
AI is erasing the practice layer of everyday work, and L&D must rebuild it. Dmitry Zaytsev says draft writing, rough analysis and early recommendations were safe spaces for learning judgement. As machines take those tasks, organisations need structured practice, decision reviews and feedback in the flow of work again, deliberately. Artificial intelligence is changing the way people work, but it is also changing the way people learn at work. For learning and development teams, the next challenge may not be…
Compliance theatre is over: Accredited online learning is the grown-up option
With budgets squeezed and the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 raising the stakes, distance learning is no longer second best. Nathan Tod argues accredited online qualifications can satisfy compliance, boost retention and cut costs, if L&D stop treating learning as an event and start building continuous development into work culture. The pressure on learning and development (L&D) professionals has rarely felt greater. Budgets are tighter, expectations are higher, and the Employment Rights Act 2025 has introduced a new layer of…
TJ podcast: The rise of the supermanager: Why AI transformation still needs human leadership – episode 330
Julia Bersin joins Jo Cook to explore the rise of the supermanager and why AI transformation still depends on human leadership. As organisations rethink management layers, managers remain critical to trust, experimentation and adoption, helping teams turn AI investment into meaningful change rather than another tool-led initiative with limited impact. Key takeaways: Created by ChatpGPT Podcast summary: Created by ChatpGPT Jo Cook speaks with Julia Bersin, Director of Research at The Josh Bersin Company, about the changing role of managers…
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,…
The Uncertainty Toolkit – book review
Cathy Hoy investigates why competency-based L&D falls short when uncertainty, not skill, blocks performance. Drawing on Sam Conniff and Katherine Templar Lewis’s new book The Uncertainty Toolkit, she highlights evidence from UCL research, practical exercises and new metrics for tolerance. The aim is to shift teams from threat to challenge. Book: The Uncertainty ToolkitAuthors: Sam Conniff and Katherine Templar Lewis For years, learning and development has been built on competency; we spot a gap, design a course, and measure if…
My book ‘AI for People Professionals’ was a human-first experiment
Behind the pages of a book shaped by humans and machines, Erica Farmer shares the creative highs, challenges and lessons from writing ‘AI for People Professionals’. From neurodivergent-friendly workflows to AI-supported thinking, it’s a candid look at what it means to write about the future of work in real time. When I started writing my book AI for People Professionals, I had no idea how much of a creative, emotional and intellectual rollercoaster it would be. This wasn’t just a…
From vendor to value partner: Turning learning conversations into real impact
External training providers face cultural barriers, politics and self-doubt when pushing for real impact. This conversation uncovers how to secure supervisor buy in, differentiate your offer, harness digital nudges, and use AI as a practice partner so that learning translates into behaviour change and business value inside modern organisations today. This discussion explores how external training providers move from delivering isolated events to shaping real organisational impact. It tackles the fear of challenging clients, the politics around “admitting we missed…
TJ podcast: Beyond courses: How AI transforms L&D into a strategic business partnership – episode 328
In this episode, Josh Bersin, Erica Farmer and Laura Overton join Jo Cook to unpack how AI is shifting L&D from static courses to adaptive support. They explore dynamic content, practice with AI coaching, and why learning teams must redefine impact in terms of performance, relevance, and real business value. Key takeaways: Created by CleanVoice Podcast summary: Created by CleanVoice and edited by ChatGPT Jo Cook, Erica Farmer, and Josh Bersin explore how AI is reshaping learning and development from…
Finally, a conference for self-employed folk in L&D!
The inaugural Free Spirits LIVE! virtual event next month is designed for L&D independent L&D professionals who crave connection, clarity and practical support. With a lively online community, real-time sessions and a laser focus on freelance life, it promises something different – and genuinely useful – for those building a solo business. If you’ve ever been to a conference and thought, “well what about the freelancers?”, we’ve got you covered. Free Spirits LIVE! is the very first conference from Kim…
Build a future-ready leadership pipeline with targeted development
Steve George argues that developing senior leaders takes strategic, tailored support. Drawing on CIPD insights, he outlines how coaching, real-world stretch assignments, and structured feedback build resilience, agility and judgement. He shows why needs-led design, multi-tier pathways and succession planning help L&D create engaged workforces and future-ready leadership pipelines today. Change is a constant in today’s working world and during uncertain times, employees look to senior leaders for direction, clarity and confidence. But leading through complexity takes more than experience…
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