These turbulent times in organizations along with rapid changes in L&D expectations and practices call for a new way of leading in the learning and development space. Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers offer valuable, well-considered advice in their new book, The L&D Leader, which publishes this month. Their deep L&D experience and refreshing point of [...]
In L&D, the flood of new ideas constantly rushes over us, sometimes making it hard to grip what really works. It can be stabilizing, therefore, to identify and hold on to core ideas that have stood the test of time, and to use those as rocks on which we can stand. The notion that learning [...]
Our work in the L&D field has been regularly reinvigorated and revised by borrowing concepts and practices from other disciplines. We borrowed the Agile Project methodology from our IT colleagues; we conceptualized multi-faceted, multi-channel learning and development by adopting ideas from biological ecosystems; we expanded our understanding of curation by exploring the curator role in [...]
When you have been in the L&D field as long as I have (over 4 decades!), you have seen a thing or two. I’ve lived through more hype and adoption curves (and hype and crash fads) than I care to name. Trends come and go and come back again with a new name. Regardless, these [...]
Reading Chris Hayes’ The Sirens’ Call is a bit like going to a therapy session. This analysis of the nature of attention prompts you to reflect on your day-to-day technology use and your choices. It helps you to see more clearly the primacy of attention and the ways attention and distraction shape your life. It [...]
Even if you haven’t seen Wicked in its musical or movie form, you have likely come across the iconic image of Elphaba taking her stand, complete with hat, cape, and broom – defying gravity. She’s planning to change her world, and we all look up and root for her – with tears and cheers and [...]
When I consider what is needed from leaders in organizations, an old Bonnie Tyler song about holding out for a hero comes to mind: somebody strong, and sure, and larger than life. Managers at all levels these days have a really tough assignment trying to create an environment that both achieves challenging goals and allows [...]
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 In his latest book, Cal Newport advises us to embrace seasonality – to work at a more natural pace. He points out that humans evolved with an innate understanding of seasons – a lived experience of seasons [...]
The ability to learn is clearly a superpower in our modern times – everyone must become voracious learners to keep up with workplace changes, prepare for job opportunities, pursue hobbies, satisfy curiosity, and generally engage in modern life. So it’s easy to see that honing our capacity, effectiveness, and efficiency for learning is important. But [...]
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn the more I realize the less I know." Those words come from the movie, Yentl - a tribute to the joy of learning if there ever was one. Those words are the answer to the question (if ever asked): Why should we think [...]