The Learning & Development Podcast David James

Good or bad? Positive or toxic? Powerful or incongruent? Culture plays a huge part in our working lives. In L&D we ignore culture at our peril. But what does it mean to understand and change organisational culture? In this episode, former Deloitte Management Consultant, Lily Woi, unpacks this for us and provides insight and guidance on how we can change culture in our organisations.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Culture is about more than behaviour and working practices. Structure and governance both have a significant impact. Don´t overcomplicate things, a simpler approach is easier to follow and iterate. Keep improving. Change should be ongoing and happen quickly. Understanding your culture is the key to shaping it. Instead of assuming you understand the culture, observe how people actually behave. What is your data telling you about your culture? Using consultants helps to overcome not being able to see the wood for the trees and can cut through a lot of internal politics. Collective decision-making works best. Involve employees in the design phase. Using the 4 pillars - mindset, abilities, process, and structure leads to sustainable change. Measure the change. What has worked in one project is not necessarily going to work for another project. You have to tailor your approach. BEST MOMENTS
'In my experience, the simplest approaches are more often the most effective.'
'Removing culture from an aspect of L&D is like trying to remove the egg from a cake.'
'I tend to ask a lot of annoying questions… to understand why, what´s really going on.'
'The approach that I use for one company would not work for my next company or client.'
Lily Woi Bio
Lily is a former Deloitte Management Consultant, focused on Organisation Transformation and Culture, Leadership & OD Lead at Next Pensions. On both sides of the table (in-company and consultancy), Lily has built deep and rich experience of organisation culture change.
As a Culture Change Catalyst, Lily now helps leaders and teams drive transformative change, unlock their full potential, and ignite a high-performance, collaborative culture. Over the past eight years, she has worked with global leaders and businesses to shift behaviours, unlock potential, transform careers, and develop courageous cultures. She has coached and trained clients working in multinationals such as Hello Fresh, Nike, Pureaffinity, and the British Film Institute. 
You can connect with Lily and follow her work via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilywoi/
Website: https://lilywoicoaching.com/
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/
ABOUT THE HOST
David James 
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 
CONTACT METHOD 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

Learning communities transform organisations through sharing knowledge, spearheading practice, solving problems, seeding innovation, and supercharging development. So how can you develop a culture of learning in your organisation? In this episode, Andy Lancaster addresses this question - and many more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
From the very start of humankind people have learned from each other, often in groups. Animals do it too. Learning from friends and colleagues is seen by practically everyone as being the most effective way to learn. People like human connection and want to feel they belong, so peer connection is powerful. The best learning takes place in context. Learning communities can be just a few people.  We need to empower different types of learning communities. Learning communities share knowledge, spearhead practice, solve problems, seed innovation, and supercharge development. What the group does needs to be structured to a degree. Encourage people to work aloud to ensure everyone is actively involved. Reward the subject experts. BEST MOMENTS
'The social context in which we learn is really important.'
'I think reflective practice ought to be embedded in all learning and development.'
'Subject experts play a vital role in communities in terms of coaching, mentoring and supporting.'
'Communities are a way of validating skills, which maybe organizations overlook. '
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/
Andy Lancaster Bio
Andy Lancaster is the Chief Learning Officer at Reimagine People Development consultancy, specializing in supporting, coaching and mentoring learning leaders and teams to create impactful development strategies and solutions, transform learning cultures and empower socialized learning communities. The former Head of Learning at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Andy is a trusted thinker, commentator and inspiring speaker, renowned for his insights that have helped reshape the organizational learning landscape globally. His book Driving Performance Through Learning gained a Business Book Award.
You can follow and connect with Andy via:
Twitter: @AndyLancasterUK
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-lancaster-ab995418/
Book: https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/organizational-learning-communities-9781398615496
ABOUT THE HOST
David James 
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 
CONTACT METHOD 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

A new report, published by 360Learning, illustrates how far online has come in recent years: from poor relation to classroom training to expected and respected and recognised for helping learners bridge their skills gaps. But is that enough? In this episode, Alice and Ross join David to explore the findings and what this tells us about our ability to scale L&D today.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Both employers and employees have finally become more comfortable with digital learning. Employees now honestly believe that online learning is going to help them to do a better job while upskilling. Online learning works well in both big and small organizations. But it is smaller firms that are more receptive and are adopting AI and digital learning faster. For large organizations scalability is still a big challenge. Learning from their peers and colleagues, followed by their line managers is still preferred by most employees. A combination of face-to-face and digital learning works well. Tech is making it easier for people to share their knowledge, L&D can better tap into and benefit from this. Demonstrating to employees how the training can benefit them greatly improves the level of engagement. Clearly identify the skills people need to progress and share that knowledge with them. BEST MOMENTS
'People now expect some respect, online learning,'
'In a smaller company, it is just a bit more dynamic.'
'You can capture SME knowledge that's valuable to the entire organization.'
'Capitalize on people's primary reasons for wanting to engage and develop their skills.'
EPISODE RESOURCES
Link to 2024 State of Online Learning Report: https://360learning.com/guide/2024-state-of-online-learning-report/2024-report-introduction/
Alice Thompson Bio
Alice is a Development Partner for Marks & Spencer and is passionate about designing performance training, data-driven decision-making, measuring impact and creating a continuous learning culture. Prior to M&S, Alice played key roles in the L&D teams at ASOS, Monzo and Butternut Box.
You can follow and connect with Alice via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-thompson-849154b8/
Ross Stevenson Bio
Ross is Chief Learning Strategist and founder of Steal These Thoughts, an independent L&D think tank. He’s spent 16 years leading L&D teams, strategies, and tools within global organisations. Ross is also at the forefront of exploring the potential of generative AI in L&D.
You can follow and connect with Ross via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rstevensonuk/
Twitter: @_Rsvenson
Website: www.stealthesethoughts.com
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/
ABOUT THE HOST
David James 
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 
CONTACT METHOD 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

All the talk is of AI but what about the action? Is it too soon to act or are we at risk of missing the bus? In this episode, seasoned CLO, Christopher Lind, explores how he has led his team and organisation in the age of AI towards expecting and achieving more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
L&D teams need to adapt fast to both technological and economic disruptors and learn to use a new bag of tricks. You have to understand what is needed before you can deliver, so you have to push back a bit on the pressure to do everything in a rush. When you change the way L&D works you are going to get pushback. You will have to stand your ground but pick your battles. Be very patient with your stakeholders when you change things. It will take many months for them to see the improvement and fully understand the change. To help the stakeholder recognise whether this thing is really that important, ask what things will look like once we have fixed this, Get to know people on a personal level. Building strong relationships opens up communication and makes things far easier down the line. Use AI to work faster, but also think creatively and ask how you can use it to do things differently. AI makes true real-time active learning possible. Use AI to improve your skills and help you to do your job better and faster. AI creates time for you to do things you simply didn´t have enough capacity for before. BEST MOMENTS
'I can get an algorithm to create more creative content than a person now.'
'You actually can use this (AI) for yourself as well.'
'People aren't transactions, they are relationships… focus on relationships.'
'Technology is radically opening new pathways to do stuff like we've never been able to do before.'
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/
Christopher Lind Bio
Christopher Lind is VP and Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed, leading enterprise learning strategy. He’s also the host of Future Focused, a podcast and newsletter that explores the landscape of learning leadership and strategy (and much more), an advisory board member of the CLO Exchange, and the founder of Learning Sharks, which offers comprehensive advisory on all things learning innovation and technology. Previously, he was Head of Global Digital Learning at GE Healthcare.
You can follow and connect with Christopher via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherlind/
Future Focused: https://christopherlind.substack.com/
ABOUT THE HOST
David James 
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 
CONTACT METHOD 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

With a low barrier to entry, everyone fancies themselves a learning designer. How hard can it be? In this episode, Greg Arthur shares his approach to creating engaging and impactful learning experiences, honed over his years of working in L&D teams at highly successful, world-renowned companies.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Because you are dealing with people, every business is different, even those operating in the same industry. Ask the 2 basic questions to cut through the noise – What is happening right now? How do you want to change it? Understand who you are talking to and why they will care and listen to you. Ask yourself if I were to put this out a real-life product, would I buy it? The medium you use to provide the learning must be right for the person. Make sure you do the work upfront and solve the problem, even if it takes a little longer. Try different things while the problem is small. BEST MOMENTS
'Some teams, learning teams, regardless of industry are just better than others.'
'You don´t move ahead until you are ready to move ahead. You don´t bring in the wrong people at the wrong time.'
'Basically, it´s like Lego for learning design.'
'This is changing a whole department's attitude to learning design.'
 
Greg Arthur Bio
Greg Arthur is a learning professional with experience of designing learning and leading teams at blue-chip brands such as BP, ASOS, HSBC and Philip Morris. Greg has devised the Learning Experience Design Log Book, and his own design studio (Two Circles) that catalogues his approach and guides followers to develop impactful and engaging learning experiences themselves.
You can follow and contact Greg via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-arthur-flpi-736b288/
Website: https://www.twocirclesstudio.com/
 
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/
ABOUT THE HOST
David James 
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 
CONTACT METHOD 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/

When pressed to run a Learning & Development team that reliably, efficiently, and predictably impacts performance, time and time again professionals turn to Agile. As an approach, it has long been employed in HR and L&D teams but like most trends, when the hype dies down many move their attention to elsewhere. However, why move on from something that works? In this episode, Natal Dank returns to the podcast to bring us up to date with how Agile is continuing to make impact to L&D teams.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Building business agility is about creating a toolkit tailored to how the business operates. Increasingly businesses are building the customer experience around the product. You often need to move and make decisions without knowing everything. Things move too quickly for this not to be the case, which is why Agility is so important. Mapping the skills is the key to being able to move fast and be adaptable. See the whole employee experience as the L&D product and keep that understanding up to date. Human-centred design sprints help you to identify which problems to solve first. Understand how you sit in the business stream. To get started with Agile use it to solve a single problem. Natal explains how in the podcast. Establish some core principles from you hypotheses and start to design around that. BEST MOMENTS
'You´ve got to deliver now, and not tomorrow.'
'You can´t solve complex problems in silos.'
'Agile is about being laser focused.'
 
Natal Dank Bio
Following over a decade working in senior HR, Talent and Organisational Development roles, Natal is now a leading figure in Agile HR and People Experience.
Natal heads-up learning, coaching, and community at PXO Culture and is seen as a pioneer in the Agile HR movement. In 2016 Natal hosted the first Agile HR Meetup in London with the aim of building a community of like-minded disrupters, which has since grown into a regular event held across the world from Sydney to Paris and online. A year later she co-founded the Agile HR Community and has recently published the book, Agile HR. Now, through PXO Culture, Natal is focused on defining modern HR for the 21st Century. 
You can follow and connect with Natal via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataldank/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NatalDank
Events & Meetups: https://www.pxoculture.com/events
Agile L&D Book: https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/agile-l-d-9781398613256
VALUABLE RESOURCES
The Learning And Development Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/
ABOUT THE HOST
David James 
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D. 
CONTACT METHOD 
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/  L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective/ Blog: https://360learning.com/blog/ L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home/