"You can tell when you're reading from the notes." In this 5-minute mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan chat about office skills, and plunge straight into two examples: how to facilitate meetings, and how to deliver presentations. How did they actually get better over time? (assuming they did) The episode covers: - the role of observation, copying an…

A new study shows the difference that managers can make in encouraging their staff to pick up training opportunities. 'High-training managers' see up to 50% more participation - with benefits for performance and productivity. In this mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan discuss: - the link to leadership potential: are 'high-training managers' the lead…

We're all tempted to rush into a new job or project, to show that we can 'hit the ground running'.. but in this mini-podcast Thembi and Jonathan say: Please don't. Much better approach: - take your time, you have to crawl before you can walk (let alone run) - be kind to yourself, it's ok not to know things - don't abandon your induction halfway - k…

We have a disagreement in this podcast: when you see a colleague demonstrate a real skill, is it intimidating ("oh wow, I don't know how to do that") or is it inspiring ("oh wow, show me how")? Either way, we think we should definitely learn more from others in the workplace. The discussion also covers: - are we losing random workplace learning? - …

Thinking about your workplace: do team members feel able to admit mistakes? Do you feel comfortable asking questions, and expressing incomplete ideas? Or do you find yourself avoiding situations, questioning your own capability, and feeling demotivated or stressed? How you feel in the workplace is a major factor in how (and whether) you learn and d…

Don't bother blocking out time for learning.. just find a learning buddy instead! In this episode, Thembi and Jonathan talk about how they used the learning buddy system to finally get round to reading a book (Julie Dirksen's Design for How People Learn). In the end, we feel more accountable to other people than to our Outlook or Google Calendars. …

The medieval apprenticeship model was a superb piece of learning design. Unfortunately a seven year skills programme is a hard sell in the modern workplace :) But you can still use the apprenticeship model for your own benefit, even if you're not technically an apprentice, and even if you don't aspire to become a master violin-maker in Bavaria. In …

Networking is an important part of learning - and even introverts can be brilliant at it! In this two-minute special from the floor of a buzzing exhibition centre, Thembi and Jonathan share some quick networking tips: - how to set yourself an achievable target - how to use social media - how to act like a pro and collect the contacts. Plus - after …

The human brain is wired for distraction. We're always scanning, processing and deciding on trivial things.. from noises outside the window, to WhatsApp notifications, to random thoughts about shopping. But can you really define the human (or goldfish) attention span? In this mini-podcast, Jonathan gets grumpy about fake precision and Thembi asks, …

Part of learning is putting ourselves forward for new things: for new projects, for interesting experiments, for more responsibility, for stuff that looks a bit scary but will develop our confidence and skills. We need the confidence to say yes to good opportunities. So why do we hold ourselves back? This episode looks at 10 common psychological ba…

In this four-minute mini-podcast Thembi and Jonathan decide to pass some new legislation, and to enforce it immediately. So please get ready to comply with: 🎇 the new National Labelling Scheme for Training, based on the traffic light model for sugar, salt and fat in foods. "Short, one-off things" are now labelled Red. Consumer choice and employer i…

How can we use small fluffy animals to get valuable feedback? In this 5-minute mini-podcast we look at two tricky issues: how can you persuade people to give you feedback? and how can you offer it yourself - tactfully - in a way that lands? From hypothetical guinea pig hostage situations, to coaching techniques, here's five minutes of practical adv…

In this mini-podcast, Thembi and Jonathan talk about learning through imitation: - why copying people at work is a good thing - why we should worry about unconsciously absorbing toxic cultures - what we can learn from the story of the Japanese monkey and the sweet potatoes.By jonathannmarshall

How do we actually learn? Thembi and Jonathan abandon the theory and talk about how they actually learn, in real life: through 'snacking' on learning content, and through observing others; through saying yes, but also through saying no; and through getting into situations where practice is unavoidable. The good news: "There are no calories in learn…

Why do we insist on using 60 minutes as a standard unit of learning? Jonathan has looked into Babylonian astronomy and decided that basically hours are too long. A mini-podcast which is part rant, part discussion of how to maintain our attention spans.. and which finishes bang on five minutes.By jonathannmarshall

In this mini-podcast, Thembi talks about being a panellist at a big event - and how you can use the 'discomfort zone' to learn new skills and push yourself. What's the worst that could happen? It's fine to feel nervous, just do it anyway!By jonathannmarshall

In "The Book at the Bottom of the Bag", Thembi and Jonathan discuss: 🎇 the classic problem of not quite getting round to reading that improving book (or pile of improving books) 🎇 some techniques for dealing with it It's a Procrastination Special and only four minutes long 😄By jonathannmarshall

Do you hate getting feedback? Do you love it? Do you see it as a useful developmental tool? Possibly all of the above? This episode looks at.. The Mixed Gift of Feedback 🎁By jonathannmarshall

Fact #1: one of the best ways to consolidate the learning you've gained at a course, conference or event is to come back and share it with your team. If you want to learn it, teach it! Fact #2: it's a pain. This episode looks at Cascading the Learning - even when you don't feel like it.By jonathannmarshall

In Red Flags, Thembi and Jonathan take five minutes to discuss.. 🎆 when you should be wary of learning - what are the tell-tale signs that something isn't for you? 🎆awkward silences and Q&As 🎆over-selling All based on science, and in no way on personal prejudice 😉By jonathannmarshall

Does shadowing actually work? In this podcast: 🎆 Jonathan is a bit down on the traditional 'sit quietly and watch' model of shadowing 🎆 Thembi points out that well-designed internships and shadowing experiences can be fantastically developmental 🎆 a discussion of the benefits of "smart shadowing" (as tested in diplomatic negotiations): maybe follow…

Does "finding a mentor" sound a bit intimidating? In this podcast, Thembi and Jonathan talk about different types of mentoring - and how you can benefit from all sorts of arrangements, from formal to informal. Your mentors don't even have to know they're mentoring you!By jonathannmarshall

Can we download a new skill in ten seconds? If not, why are we pretending that we can? Too much learning seems to be based on how Trinity learns to fly a helicopter in The Matrix..By jonathannmarshall