Professional Development

White porcelain bowl with kintsugi method in Female hands. Antique pottery restored with gold cracks. Traditional Japanese gold fixing method. Wabi sabi concept. Sunlights. Generative AI

The power of imperfection: Transforming challenges into opportunities for growth 

Steve Macaulay

Steve Macaulay and Sarah Cook explore resilience through Kintsugi – and finding gold after a setback In everyday work situations, it is unrealistic to expect that everything goes to plan. More and more managers acknowledge the need to build the capability of resilience to better manage stress and pressure and bounce back after setbacks.  Setbacks are growth opportunities. By learning from mistakes, we become more resilient and adaptable  The Japanese art of Kintsugi, which involves repairing broken pottery with gold…

Capability complex like a puzzle - pictured as word Capability on a puzzle pieces to show that Capability can be difficult and needs cooperating pieces that fit together, 3d illustration

The future of work: Why capabilities are the link between learning and performance

Ben Satchwell

Got goals but no learning? Learning but no application? Ben Satchwell brings it all together An integrated approach to business is nothing new and it could be argued that the approach offers superior performance than when business units, systems and processes operate in isolation. In our world though, what often goes unnoticed is that learning initiatives and performance objectives commonly operate in silos, limiting their effectiveness. Capabilities provide the connective tissue between learning and performance From my experience as the…

Dalle image prompted by Jo Cook Training Journal podcast episode 326

TJ podcast: Notebook LM, Neuroscience and magazine flashback – episode 326

Insights from neuroscience, personalised learning and growth mindset are explored via a Notebook LM podcast Get involved in discussing this episode, especially it’s AI creation, on LinkedIn. We want to know what you think, good and bad! Key takeaways Created by ChatpGPT Podcast summary: Created by ChatpGPT This podcast episode explores innovative approaches to learning and development (L&D), blending insights from training practices, neuroscience, and emerging technologies. The host begins by introducing Notebook LM, a tool that uses AI to…

Blurred relaxed young woman in casual wear sitting on workplace with modern laptop and meditating with closed eyes during recording video blog. Focus on modern smartphone fixed on tripod.

From BBC News to events: Mastering professional video with just an iPhone

Kevin Davids

Convenience meets quality with fast, discreet, powerful video on smartphones for your next learning intervention – Kevin Davids shares his approach and why he filmed World of Learning 2024 with a mobile device “The best camera is the one you have with you” is often attributed to Chase Jarvis from his 2009 book, where he included photos captured with an early iPhone. Since then, technology has evolved in leaps and bounds, making this quote truer today than ever before. That’s…

Do not be busy, but productive.

Beyond busy work – building a culture of continuous learning and empowerment for true productivity

Paula Fryer

‘Productivity theatre’ is the illusion of work, without the impact. Overcome this with skills development – Paula Fryer introduces some ideas to start you off A culture of continuous learning, fuelled by empowerment, is far more beneficial than one focused on tedious tasks and appearances, which can be achieved through upskilling. The traditional workday has evolved—from a strict 9-to-5 in the office, to fully virtual during the pandemic, and now a hybrid mix. Along the way, our views of productivity…

Woman smiling with a wall of post-it notes behind her

Flipping the script: Collaborative innovation and problem solving for HR Leaders

Ben Waldman

What is the unconference advantage? It’s action-based learning and designing your own active event experience – Ben Waldman tells us more Imagine you could flip the traditional conference format on its head: Rather than having to sit through various predefined sessions which may – or may not – be useful for you, you have the power to design your own learning experience based on the most pressing challenges you face, tapping into the collective wisdom of experts in the field…

Zoomed-in view of a social media manager responding to comments and queries on a brands post, fostering community engagement

A week in the life of: A Learning Community Manager

Sheridan Webb

Being a Community Manager is a full-time role, with technical and topic talent needed – as Sheridan Webb explains Learning socially, as part of a community is not only an enjoyable way to learn, it’s also pretty effective! But unless it’s very small, every community needs managing. Many people totally underestimate what goes into running a learning community; it’s not really something that can be done as a side hustle. Many people tried that during the pandemic and soon had…

Seedling are growing from the rich soil. Concept of business growth, profit, development and success.

A week in the life of: A Leadership Development Manager

Andy McConville

What’s involved in contemporary leadership development? Andy McConville shares about training, support and other responsibilities I’m one of the lucky ones, I really love my job. It’s fair to say that Leadership Capability isn’t often recognised, let alone invested in, when it comes to outsourcers, so I am privileged to be trusted with the opportunity to develop leaders. And, as readers of TJ know, it’s absolutely the right thing to do. Admittedly, growing up, I didn’t necessarily dream that one…

Trust your gut word abstract

Learning from life: Trusting my gut

Michelle Parry-Slater

Trusting your gut can be your greatest asset in the freelance world, guiding critical decisions. Michelle Parry-Slater explores the importance of intuition in decision-making Freelance life offers many benefits, not least the ability to set your own agenda and work with people and on projects you enjoy and learn from. The freedom to pick and choose which events you attend without seeking permission from a boss. The sense of achievement when you bid for, and win, new client work. And who doesn’t…

Businesswoman building a growing financial chart

The future of work: From skills-based to capability-driven

Ben Satchwell

Discover how shifting the emphasis from skills to capabilities fosters growth, innovation and mental wellness with Ben Satchwell Skills, skills, skills. We’re hearing a lot about the skills revolution. Should we become a skills-based organisation or a skills-driven organisation? Are we going to do away with traditional job roles and descriptions, segment everyone by their technical skills and simply deliver our performance outcomes based on fluid and dynamic projects?  I’m not so sure.  From the conversations I have, organisations are realising…