454 — Designing learning experiences that feel authentic
Release Date: 07/22/2025
481 — Managers: The "squeezed" middle
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Pressure from above, pressure from below; little appreciation from either. That's the experience of work for many middle managers! This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, author Gary Cookson joins Ross G and Dr Anna to discuss his new book, The Squeezed Middle, with a focus on: why managers are so misunderstood and undervalued the skills middle managers require to succeed how we can all help build middle managers. During the discussion, Ross G referenced the World Economic Forum's '', Gallup's '' report, and McKinsey's Power to the Middle which . Anna referenced our own reports, ''...
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480 — Click 'Next' to acknowledge
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
For most of us, compliance training is a regular feature of our working lives. Instead of inducing a mexican wave of eye-rolls, what can we do to design compliance training that has impact? In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Gemma, Cammy and Layla discuss: Creating compliance-based learning experiences that change mindsets and behaviors; Meeting the needs of time-poor learners; How to measure the impact of compliance training. As mentioned, we do have plenty more thoughts on compliance training! Take a look through the resources on . Recent posts include a...
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479 — So, you're new here?
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Induction programmes play a crucial role in shaping the way a new starter thinks and feels about an organization. In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross D, Cammy and Claire discuss: what makes induction programmes different from other L&D initiatives; how an 'accomplishment framework' can help new starters (and learning designers!) break induction down into manageable chunks; how to measure the impact of induction programmes. Click to download a free accomplishment framework template. In 'What I Learned This Week', Claire mentioned the Culross . Cammy...
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478 — Navigating the fog of learning design
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Learning design work is often accompanied by various forms of uncertainty — ambiguous performance needs, vaguely defined scope, shifting stakeholder expectations... In his book The Instructional Designer's Guide to Project Management, Dr Guieswende Rouamba describes this condition as 'the fog of instructional design'. And he believes project management is the key to navigating it. In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Dr Rouamba joins Ross D and Adria Maston, Head of PMO at Mindtools Kineo, to discuss: why he wrote the book, and why project management is a critical...
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477 — A Manager's Guide to Self-Development
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Since its first release in 1978, A Manager's Guide to Self-Development has been one of the go-to texts for new and aspiring managers. Now in its seventh edition, authors Mike Pedler and Joan Keevil join Gemma and Ross G to discuss: why self-development is so key to a manager's capabilities what has changed since the first edition of the book as published (hat tip to Michelle Ockers for this question) some of our favorite exercises from the book, to help us develop as managers. A Manager's Guide to Self-Development by Mike Pedler, John Burgoyne, Tom Boydell, Joan Keevill, Kevin Roe, Jean-Anne...
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476 — Christmas Special: Die Hard on an LMS
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Yippee-ki-yay, Christmas Turkeys! In our final episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast for 2025, the gang are climbing to the top of Nakatomi Plaza: foiling a criminal plot and solving L&D challenges as we go. We answer: What rule exists at work that, if broken, would have the biggest impact on performance? (Tony) What should L&D pros be stealing to maximise their impact this Christmas? (Heinrich) What advice would you give an L&D professional as they plan for 2026? (Marco) What do we need to let go of in L&D? (Hans Gruber) During the discussion, Gemma referenced play at...
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475 — Is self-directed learning a myth?
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
The promise of self-directed learning is that employees will take charge of their own development, if we only create the environment for them to do so. But does this actually happen? In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Mindtools Kineo Head of Product Daniel Potter joins Ross G and Gemma to discuss self-directed learning, with a focus on: what self-directed learning journeys look like how motivation is different for mandatory vs self-directed learning how our approach to learning design needs to align with learner motivation. During the discussion, Gemma referenced . In...
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474 — So long 2025, what's hot for 2026?
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
What a year it was! In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, HowNow's Nelson Sivalingam joins Ross G and Ross D to reflect on 2025 and look to emerging trends in 2026. We discuss: AI (obviously) and how it's evolving the rise of instructor-led training how market consolidation is changing the choice of suppliers for L&D leaders. During the discussion, Ross G referenced a number of new stories: We also discussed Don Taylor's , Don's report written with Eglė Vinauskaitė, and Hemsley Fraser's . Finally, Ross G referenced the '' of AI products. In 'What I Learned This...
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473 — Learning at LV=
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
How do you run an organization-wide learning function with just two people? At LV=, that's the main focus for Talent, Learning and Development Partner Rob Foster. This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Rob joins Claire and Ross G to discuss: how building relationships throughout the organization helps support induction, mentoring and reverse mentoring programs how internal champions expand the impact of digital resources (like Mindtools!) advice for teams working on a similarly small scale. In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross discussed the structure of Taylor Swift's ''. For more from...
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472 — Delivering business value
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
The L&D industry has always talked about 'business value' as an elusive concept. Now, a new book from Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers, The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value, articulates what that looks like in practice. This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, they join Ross D and Dr Anna to discuss: how L&D teams can transition through different stages of maturity the role of data in shaping business value the role of community and where to find it in the post-Twitter world. The book, , is available now from Kogan Page. For more from...
info_outlineIf we want to motivate learners to engage with an experience, it stands to reason that we need to present that experience in a way feels authentic and relatable to them. But what are the limits to authenticity in the workplace? And are some of the conventions of learning design at odds with authentic communication?
This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Kineo's Matt Mella joins Ross D and Claire to discuss:
- What 'authenticity' looks like in the context of learning design
- Why it's important, and how to design with authenticity in mind
- How Mindtools and Kineo have achieved this in practice.
During the episode, Ross D referenced a LinkedIn post from Matt, exploring the growing association of the em dash with AI-generated content.
In 'What I Learned This Week', Claire talked about her enlightening visit to the Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft.
Matt explained the history of the telegraphic address.
And Ross D recommended the 'Food Deserts' episode of 99% Invisible.
For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning Content Hub, our Manager Skills Assessment, our Manager Skill Builder and our custom work.
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