483 — The insider secrets L&D pros want you to know
Release Date: 02/17/2026
490 — Creating the environment for self-directed learning
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Last year, we recorded an episode on whether "self-directed learning" is a myth. In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, we ask how we can create an environment where this behavior thrives. Ross G and Cammy are joined by Stella Collins to discuss: What needs to be in place for self-directed learning to flourish? How can L&D pros create this ecosystem? What are the biggest barriers to self-directed learning? During the discussion, we mentioned . We also referenced our '' report, Amy Edmondson's book The Kind of Wrong, and the C Stella's books are: Stella also...
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489 — Are you levelling up your managers?
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Managers are inundated with potential development areas, from technical skills to complex behaviors. But are you focusing on the right ones? In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, our in-house Insights experts Dr. Anna Barnett and Dr. Nina Harrison speak to Claire about: how recent research reveals some unexpected co-benefits to managerial skill building how these insights can help us to look at organisational problem areas differently. You can download the infographic at...
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488 — L&D is a bit more complicated than that
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Completion stats are a vanity metric. Happy sheets are pointless. Revenue impact will get you a seat at the table. We've all heard these statements from conference stages. Some of us, your hosts included, might even have said them. But in this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, we wanted to dig a little deeper. We invited Evolve L&D's Tom McDowall to join Ross G and Claire, to discuss: why the context behind completion metrics is crucial to understanding them how to design effective learner surveys how 'metric chains' help broaden our understanding of learning impact. ...
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487 — The future of e-learning interfaces (Rebroadcast)
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Hello listeners! No new episode this week, but we wanted to take the opportunity to dig into the vault and revisit an old favorite from 2024 with Ben Betts. At the time we recorded this one, Ben had receently published a blog post, in which he wrote that ‘the LMS is the first point of entry to learning; the front-of-house of our industry.’ While that front-of-house may look a little different now than it did twenty years ago, and despite the oft-repeated claim that the LMS is dying, it remains the default gateway to digital learning in organizations. But are things changing? To answer that...
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486 — How to escape the 'hero trap'
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Often, leaders are promoted into their roles because of their ability to solve problems. But that strength can become a weakness when it leads to dependency, creating an environment where the leader is always swooping in to save the day. In this week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross D and Cammy are joined by Bill Flynn, CEO of Catalyst Growth Advisors and author of The Hero Trap, to discuss: what the 'hero trap' is and why leaders fall into it; why the behaviors that bring early success often limit growth later on; how leadership development programs need to change...
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485 — What will be hot in workplace L&D in 2026?
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
In the introduction to the latest Global Sentiment Survey report, Donald Taylor describes this year's results as 'the most significant' in the survey's history. In this week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Don joins Ross D and Ross G to discuss: whether interest in AI has peaked; why Don believes the results reflect a breaking of old norms; the steady climb of 'showing value' and the relative decline of 'learning analytics'; the key challenges L&D professionals are facing; the things these professionals are doing now that they weren't doing a year...
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484 — Level-up your LMS: How points and rewards drive behavior
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
Cafes, restaurants and car washes all use points and rewards to drive behaviors. Can we do the same with our Learning Management Systems? In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Incentli's Jeff Campbell speaks to Ross G and Ross D about: how digital currencies give LMS administrators levers they can pull to drive behavior the role of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on learning the impact of branded swag on learner advocacy In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D discussed (super fun to bet on!) For more from Incentli, visit . Incentli are a Mindtools Kineo partner, so if...
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483 — The insider secrets L&D pros want you to know
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
If you're going in for surgery, make sure to get scheduled first thing. When you buy new clothes, wash them before you wear them. Never use a ceramic cup in a coffee shop. These are the kind of insider secrets that get shared on Reddit, and we thought it would be fun to ask the L&D community on LinkedIn to share a few of their own. And boy, did they have secrets to share! In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross G and Cammy review the top responses, including: we can't achieve much if we don't change the environment we all know that 'one and done' doesn't work we...
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482 — Are organizations getting AI upskilling wrong?
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
To help organizations reap the benefits of AI while meeting regulatory requirements, many L&D teams are rolling out AI skills programs. But how do we design these programs in a way that shapes consistent, compliant behaviors, while helping colleagues develop the judgment they need to navigate messy, real-world situations? In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross D and Cammy are joined by Alyn Kinney, Senior Learning and Development Manager at T-Mobile, to discuss: how organizations are supporting AI skills development; the potential drawbacks of a top-down,...
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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, ''...
info_outlineIf you're going in for surgery, make sure to get scheduled first thing. When you buy new clothes, wash them before you wear them. Never use a ceramic cup in a coffee shop.
These are the kind of insider secrets that get shared on Reddit, and we thought it would be fun to ask the L&D community on LinkedIn to share a few of their own.
And boy, did they have secrets to share!
In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross G and Cammy review the top responses, including:
- we can't achieve much if we don't change the environment
- we all know that 'one and done' doesn't work
- we don't design for how people learn
To view all of the 'secrets', check out our newsletter 'The insider secrets that L&D pros want you to know'.
In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross G defended Runna.
For more from Mindtools Kineo, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, and our off-the-shelf courses.
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