“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies Why HR Should Never Lead Training: The Case for Leader-to-Leader Learning with Fidelma Butler, Couchbase
May 22, 2025
In this discussion, Fidelma Butler, the Chief People Officer at Couchbase, shares her expertise on crafting effective learning and development programs. She argues that L&D should align with actual business needs and emphasize agile, leader-to-leader learning over traditional methods. Fidelma highlights the importance of storytelling in driving organizational growth and the need for tailored coaching to enhance leadership. She also critiques the effectiveness of employee engagement surveys, advocating for actionable insights to foster a dynamic workplace culture.
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Tailored & Agile L&D Is Critical
- L&D success depends on tailoring to an organization's size, scale, and current challenges.
- Agility and continuous evolution make L&D effective to meet real business problems.
Define Clear Leadership Standards
- Define clear leadership standards based on how leaders lead themselves, their teams, and the organization.
- Use these leading behaviors to guide talent reviews and to build targeted learning programs.
Meet Learners Where They Are
- L&D must meet people where they are, using engaging formats like short videos or podcasts.
- Big, costly training sessions often fail because they compete poorly for people's attention amid distractions.