The Mindtools L&D Podcast

Most organizations offer some kind of content library to help their people develop. But how much content is too much? How do you give your people choice, without overloading them? In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross G and Ross D are joined by Rosemary Hoskins (formerly of AstraZeneca), to discuss: Why are extensive content libraries a problem (as well as a solution) for organizations? What mechanisms help people find the right content, at the right time? Does it matter if people like the content we provide? The article Rosemary wrote with Marc Zao-Sanders was 'A framework for discoverability'. In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D recommended the Supercommunicators podcast, from Slate. G discussed the rise of 'zero-click search'. For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our Manager Skill Builder, and our custom work.  Connect with our speakers  If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: Ross Garner Ross Dickie Rosemary Hoskins

In this insightful discussion, Donald Taylor, who spearheads the Global Sentiment Survey, unpacks the rising influence of artificial intelligence in workplace learning and development. He reveals AI's dominance in recent survey results while delving into the revived 'value trio' concept that stresses consulting, demonstrating value, and performance support. Taylor also critiques the impact of generative AI on critical thinking abilities, sharing thoughts on navigating productivity and the ethical use of technology in training. Prepare for a look at the future of L&D!

It’s ‘Bring Your Paper to Work’ day at Mindtools Towers, as Ross G, Ross D and Dr Anna each take turns to share an academic study that they think has key insights for L&D professionals. We discuss: The impact of AI on critical thinking, as investigated in: Lee, H. P. H., Sarkar, A., Tankelevitch, L., Drosos, I., Rintel, S., Banks, R., & Wilson, N. (2025). The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers. How consultants who use AI act either as ‘cyborgs’ or ‘centaurs’ in: Dell'Acqua, F., McFowland III, E., Mollick, E. R., Lifshitz-Assaf, H., Kellogg, K., Rajendran, S., ... & Lakhani, K. R. (2023). Navigating the jagged technological frontier: Field experimental evidence of the effects of AI on knowledge worker productivity and quality. Harvard Business School Technology & Operations Mgt. Unit Working Paper, (24-013). Why we should go beyond 'choice architecture' to look at 'choice infrastructure' in: Schmidt, R. (2024). A model for choice infrastructure: Looking beyond choice architecture in Behavioral Public Policy. Behavioural Public Policy, 8(3), 415-440. During the discussion, Anna referenced our previous podcast with Erica Werneman Root, What does ‘AI literacy’ look like in organizations? She also mentioned a blog from Ralph Losey on centaurs and cyborgs. And we discussed Ross G's newsletter on augmentation vs upskilling. In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D discussed Chesteron's fence. Anna discussed whether women can run faster than men over ultralong distances, via More or Less. As a brief aside, apologies for the slightly worse audio on Ross G's track this episode. After 430+ episodes, he's still making mistakes. For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.   Or email custom@mindtools.com. Connect with our speakers     If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn:  Ross Dickie  Anna Barnett  Ross Garner

In this engaging discussion, Erica Werneman Root, a legal consultant and co-founder of Knowledge Bridge, delves into the critical concept of AI literacy in organizations. She highlights the compliance implications of AI as technologies evolve, emphasizing the urgent need for employee upskilling. The conversation also explores the intriguing balance between AI and human skills, addressing risks associated with 'shadow AI.' Root shares insights on how L&D can effectively integrate AI literacy into training, ensuring a compliant and innovative workplace.

In last week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, we explored sales enablement from the perspective of sales and marketing teams. But where do product teams fit in? Beyond building products, what role do these teams play in generating revenue?  For the second instalment in our two-part series on sales enablement, Ross D and Lara are once again joined by Darren Bezani, Chief Salecologist at Salecology, to discuss:  why it’s important to involve product teams in sales enablement;  the behaviors we want product teams to demonstrate;  how L&D can support this, beyond simply providing training.  To learn more about Darren’s work, head to salecology.com.  In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Lara mentioned A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass.  Ross D recommended Warren Zanes’ book Deliver Me from Nowhere, exploring the making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.  For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.    Connect with our speakers     If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn:  Ross Dickie  Lara Kidd  Darren Bezani 

All sales training is sales enablement, but not all sales enablement is sales training.  In this week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross Dickie and Lara are joined by Darren Bezani, Chief Salecologist at Salecology, to discuss:  what ‘sales enablement’ means, and why it’s intentionally broader in scope than sales training;   what sales enablement is designed to achieve, beyond increased sales;  the role of managers in sales enablement.  To learn more about Darren’s work, head to salecology.com.  In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Lara recommended the ‘How to Unlock the Power of Your Subconscious Mind’ episode of Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better Live More podcast.   Ross D discussed Ben Betts’ blog post ‘The fall of click-next e-learning: What Operator means for training’.  For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.    Connect with our speakers     If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn:  Ross Dickie  Lara Kidd  Darren Bezani 

Dr. Anna Barnett, a behavioral scientist specializing in behavior change methodologies, joins the discussion on understanding and measuring behavior in learning and development. The conversation dives into effective digital learning methods, emphasizing the COM-B model for behavioral change. The hosts also explore the Dunning-Kruger effect, the importance of diverse measurement approaches, and innovative strategies for nudging behavior change. Plus, there's a fun detour into the world of Lego recreations of iconic movie scenes!

The National Trust is Europe’s largest conservation charity, established 130 years ago to look after the UK’s nature, beauty and history. Its leaders have diverse areas of focus, from protecting woodland to managing properties – and even running a gold mine!  In this week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Ross G and Ross D find out just how the Trust develops these leaders, with Development Specialist Carole Thelwall-Jones.  We discuss:  how a leader needs to think ‘to be’ lists, rather than ‘to do’ lists;  how leadership development is structured at the National Trust;  how L&D professionals can help new leaders let go of what helped them succeed in the past.  During the discussion, Carole referenced Leadership: Plain and Simple, by Steve Radcliffe.  Ross G referenced our ‘Building Better Managers’ report.  Carole also discussed the 4D instructional design model, and Roffey Park’s report ‘The Expert as Leader’.   In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Ross D recommended The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%, by Conor Niland.  Carole discussed Roko’s basilisk and Stephen Fry’s lecture AI: A means to an end or a means to the end?  Ross G discussed ‘The Illusion of Explanatory Depth’.  For more on the National Trust, visit their website: nationaltrust.org.uk  For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There you’ll also find details of our Manager Skill Builder, our on-demand management development program that intelligently adapts to every user.   Connect with our speakers     If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn:  Ross Garner  Ross Dickie  Carole Thelwall-Jones 

Author, podcaster and award-winning filmmaker Topaz Adizes specializes in creating deeper human connections. So, in this week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, he joins Ross Garner and Owen for an in-depth chat about:  how to formulate questions to build understanding;  how better conversations help us partner with our clients and stakeholders;  the benefits of online and in-person conversations.  In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Ross discussed the growing capabilities of ‘Large Behavior Models’, via The Economist.  For more from Topaz, visit topazadizes.com  For more from us, visit mindtools.com. There you’ll also find details of our Manager Skill Builder, our on-demand management development program that intelligently adapts to every user.   Connect with our speakers    If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn:  Ross Garner  Owen Ferguson  Topaz Adizes 

At last year’s Learning Technologies Awards, Mindtools and South Western Railway won Gold in the ‘Best use of blended learning – commercial sector’ category.  In this week’s episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast for 2025, Ross D and Claire are joined by Becky Eason, Leadership Delivery Manager at South Western Railway, to discuss:  The context in which the program was developed, and the problems it was designed to solve;  How we used focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and a valid and reliable behavioral survey to test assumptions and prove impact;  The results of the program and the changes we've made to it in response to evaluation of the pilot.  In ‘What I Learned This Week’, Claire gave her seal of approval to Wicked, Becky recommended the Netflix series La Palma, and Ross D wondered why he doesn’t listen to the Song Exploder podcast more often.  For more from us, visit mindtools.com.   There, you'll also find details of our award-winning performance support toolkit, our off-the-shelf e-learning, and our custom work.    Connect with our speakers     If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn:  Ross Dickie  Claire Gibson  Becky Eason