
The Mindtools L&D Podcast
The Mindtools L&D Podcast is a must-listen for anyone involved in Learning and Development or Human Resources. The weekly show features regular appearances from the Mind Tools team plus special guests to get right to the heart of issues affecting the L&D and HR communities. From learning needs analysis and evidence-based practice through to the impact of technology on work and hot topics at industry conferences, you'll get critical insights into the world of work, performance and learning.
Latest episodes

Jul 21, 2020 • 34min
204 — Democratising coaching
Coaching has historically only been available to senior leaders, but new digital platforms are creating opportunities to provide access for everyone. This week on The Good Practice Podcast, CoachHub's Svenja Haus joins Ross D and Owen to share her experiences. We discuss: how coaching can be delivered at scale the role of the manager when coaching is 'outsourced' the opportunities and drawbacks of 'digital' coaching. Show notes You can find out more about CoachHub at coachhub.io Tim Harford's new book, How to Make the World Add Up, is available this September: amazon.co.uk/How-Make-World-Add-Up/dp/1408712237 Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers (which was released over 10 years ago but is new to some podcast hosts), has been available for years: amazon.co.uk/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0141036257 Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Dickie @RossDickieEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Svenja Haus is on LinkedIn or @CoachHub_IO

Jul 14, 2020 • 43min
203 — Down the rabbit hole, on the web
Consulting duo Albina Shashyna and Chris Watt use the story of Alice in Wonderland to create disruptive learning experiences that break from the norm. But like many practitioners, they had to quickly pivot to online when lockdown was introduced in March 2020. This week on The Good Practice Podcast, Albina and Chris join Ross D and Owen to share their experiences. We discuss: How the story of Alice can be used to frame development conversations The challenges presented by the move online How constant reflection creates an opportunity to improve. Show notes You can find out more about Albina, Chris and Alice at: freeyourinneralice.com The email client that Owen recommended was hey.com Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Dickie @RossDickieEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Albina Shashyna @Albina_Shashyna Chris is on LinkedIn at: linkedin.com/in/chris-watt-7971b929/

Jul 7, 2020 • 37min
202 — Farewell to Peter
In this special episode of The Good Practice Podcast, we say farewell to retiring CEO Peter Casebow. Joined by Nicola, Owen, James and Ross G, Peter reflects on what's changed in workplace learning, and what hasn't. We discuss: the early days of digital learning how GoodPractice introduced 'performance support' before there was a term for it our memories of Peter as CEO. Show notes Ross shared news of the death of Professor K. Anders Ericsson. You can read about his career here: news.fsu.edu/news/2020/06/24/fsu-psychology-professor-anders-ericsson-the-worlds-top-expert-on-expertises-dies/ Nicola shared a story about the evolution of foxes: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-52892194 And for Peter's last 'What I Learned This Week', he discussed the book On The Trail of Wolves by Philippa Forrester, available from Amazon: amazon.co.uk/Trail-Wolves-British-Adventure-Wild/dp/147297204X Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Nicola Boyle @Nicola_BoyleEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson James McLuckie @JamesMcLuckie Ross Garner @RossGarnerEW and Peter Casebow @PeterCasebow Apologies for Ross' poor audio throughout.

Jun 30, 2020 • 35min
201 — COVID-19 and changing approach to L&D
In the past few months, many organisations have completely changed their approach to L&D because of the COVID-19 situation. But to what extent were these changes already in the pipeline? What has worked and what hasn't? And how long-lasting will these changes be? This week, Alan Brown, Learning and Development Consultant at Standard Life Aberdeen, joins Nicola Boyle and Owen Ferguson to share his team's experiences. We discuss: How Standard Life Aberdeen moved their global L&D offering to virtual How to combat the challenges and measure the success of switching to virtual How permanent this transition to virtual will be Show notes The podcast Nicola mentioned is How to Fail by Elizabeth Day - the Mo Gowdat episode on managing anxiety through the COVID-19 situation can be found here -https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-gmyyz-d6e065 The Twitter thread on 'meetings light fortnight' from Gem Dale (@HR_Gem) that Owen referred to can be found here https://twitter.com/HR_Gem/status/1275364636146257920 Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Nicola Boyle @Nicola_BoyleEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Alan Brown - alan.brown@aberdeenasset.com

Jun 23, 2020 • 1h 6min
200 — The future of work
Covid-19 has had a huge impact on organisations. We're constantly told that things won't go back to the way they were, rather that there will be a 'new normal'. So, what will that ‘new normal’ look like for L&D? This week on the 200th episode of the Good Practice Podcast, the team are joined by Andy Lancaster, Hannah Gore, Kenny Temowo and a live Zoom audience to discuss the future of: working life learning and development workplace culture Show notes Andy's book Driving Performance through Learning can be found here - https://www.koganpage.com/product/driving-performance-through-learning-9780749497439 To find out more about Hannah, visit her website https://drhannahgore.com/ To find out more about Edgar Schein's Humble Inquiry - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humble-Inquiry-Instead-Telling-Leadership/dp/1609949811 Nicola recommended Educated by Tara Westover https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35133922-educated To find out more about the Learning Health Check visit - https://bit.ly/GPPod-LHC To find out more about Emerald Works, visit our website - https://emeraldworks.com/ Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Nicola Boyle @Nicola_BoyleEW Ross Dickie @RossDickieEW Ross Garner @RossGarnerEW Owen Ferguson @owenferguson Hannah Gore @HRGore Andy Lancaster @AndyLancasterUK Kenny Temowo @K_temowo

Jun 16, 2020 • 40min
199 — Becoming a change superhero
In the past few months, we've all become fast friends with the concept of 'change'. But do you resist change when it occurs, or do you ask probing questions to shape your understanding - then act as a change superhero? In this episode of The Good Practice Podcast, author Lucinda Carney joins Ross G and Owen to discuss her new book: How to be a Change Superhero. We discuss: superpowers that can help us become change agents our reactions to change the use of models for managing change. Show notes How to be a Change Superhero is available now from Amazon: amazon.co.uk/How-Change-Superhero-business-toolkit-ebook/dp/B0869LV2NP Lucinda also hosts The HR Uprising Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. You can find out more about Lucinda's company, Actus, at: actus.co.uk In 'What I Learned This Week', Owen shared the video of 'The Miracle Sudoku': youtu.be/yKf9aUIxdb4 Ross discussed the many uses of astronaut urine: wired.com/story/on-the-moon-astronaut-pee-will-be-a-hot-commodity/ Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Garner @RossGarnerEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Lucinda Carney @LucindaCarney

Jun 9, 2020 • 40min
198 — Storytelling in the workplace
We've talked on this podcast about how L&D professionals can use storytelling techniques to create more engaging, memorable learning experiences. But what about the stories we tell ourselves every day? How do these stories shape our identity at work? This week on the Good Practice Podcast, Ross D and Owen are joined by Simon Arrowsmith, founder of Grow the People, to discuss: the relationship between storytelling and wellbeing the role that stories can play in helping us adapt to life under lockdown the ways L&D can incorporate storytelling into their working practices Show notes If you'd like to join us for our live show, you can find all the details here: https://emeraldworks.com/resources/events-webinars/webinars/podcast-200-episode To find out more about Simon's work, head over to the Grow the People website: https://growthepeople.co/ For a summary of the history behind 'Juneteenth', go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth The podcast Ross mentioned was Articles of Interest: https://99percentinvisible.org/aoi/ Tired of Fortnite and Call of Duty? Then why not check out the game everyone's talking about (mainly just Owen) and 'Guess the Correlation'? - http://guessthecorrelation.com/ Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Dickie @RossDickieEW Owen Ferguson @owenferguson Simon Arrowsmith @thesoundstories

Jun 2, 2020 • 42min
197 — Shaking up the conference format
Learning and development conferences tend to follow a predictable format: an exhibition hall full of vendors, hour-long sessions from experts, and fringe events where people can socialise. The introduction of social distancing has disrupted that format, but might it also create an opportunity to try something different? This week on The Good Practice Podcast, Dr. Will Thalheimer and Matthew Richter, president of The Thiagi Group, join Ross G and Owen to share details of the online-only 'L&D Conference'. We discuss: Some of the challenges associated with traditional conferences The format and line-up of The L&D Conference The benefits of this approach for speakers and attendees. Show notes Details of The L&D Conference are online at: learningdevelopmentconference.com During the conversation, we discussed both evidence-informed practice and learning styles. For more on these topics, see our episodes: The No.1 L&D Detective Agency, with Rob Briner at: podcast.goodpractice.com/163-evidence-the-no-1-ld-detective-agency Evidence-informed learning design with Mirjam Neelen at: podcast.goodpractice.com/177-evidence-informed-learning-design Does the language of L&D matter? With David Kelly, at: podcast.goodpractice.com/135-does-the-language-of-ld-matter In What I Learned This Week, Owen discussed the opportunities that Transistor FM offers for private podcasts. Find out more at: transistor.fm Will shared a quote from journalist Jack Newfield, who did indeed die in 2004. You can find out more about Newfield, and the quote, at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Newfield Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Garner @RossGarnerEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Dr Will Thalheimer @WillWorkLearn For more on Matt see thiagi.com or linkedin.com/in/matthew-richter-0738b84 For more from Will, see worklearning.com or presentationscience.net Will and Matt podcast at truthinlearning.com. You can follow Emerald Works on Twitter @Emerald_Works and LinkedIn.

May 26, 2020 • 43min
196 — Having savvy conversations
Conversations are at the heart of everything we do: whether it's dealing with customers, managing team members or influencing our leaders. This week on The Good Practice Podcast, Sarah Harvey - author of Savvy Conversations - joins Ross G and Owen to discuss how thinking purposefully about our approach to conversations can lead to better outcomes. We discuss: Sarah's tools for approaching a conversation The difference between 'manipulation' and 'influence' The impact that an increase in digital communication has had on our relationships. Show notes Find out more about Sarah, and the book, at: savvyconversations.co.uk In What I Learned This Week, Ross recommended the Alt+D shortcut to quickly navigate to your browser window. Subscribe to the Podcast There are so many ways to subscribe to The Good Practice Podcast. Click your preference below and subscribe. Google Play Music iTunes Overcast Pocket Casts Podbean Spotify Stitcher TuneIn Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Garner @RossGarnerEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Sarah Harvey @SavvySarahSPM You can follow Emerald Works on Twitter @Emerald_Works and LinkedIn.

May 19, 2020 • 37min
195 — Crafting online learning
The design of workplace learning typically requires input from a wide range of stakeholders, including HR, Legal and IT. But this week on The Good Practice Podcast, we hear from two people who decided to go it alone. Bushcraft instructor Paul Kirtley and YouTuber Craig Taylor share their experiences of designing online learning content, with Ross G and Owen. We discuss: The use of 'content splintering' to repurpose material on different platforms The use of links to drive traffic from one platform to another The importance of developing a relationship with your audience. Show notes You can find out more about Craig at: about.me/craigtaylor For more from Paul, see: His website: frontierbushcraft.com His online courses: onlinebushcraftcourses.com/online-elementary His podcast: paulkirtley.co.uk/Topics/pkpodcast/ His YouTube channel: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZd0Jw9pFXqWC0M1g73AGS49i7KtCK_v4 His Instagram: instagram.com/paulkirtley His Wikipedia page: wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kirtley One of his online courses: identificationmasterclass.com For more from Emerald Works, see: https://emeraldworks.com/ Owen recommended The Last Dance on Netflix. Subscribe to the Podcast There are so many ways to subscribe to The Good Practice Podcast. Click your preference below and subscribe. Google Play Music iTunes Overcast Pocket Casts Podbean Spotify Stitcher TuneIn Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with our speakers on Twitter: Ross Garner @RossGarnerEW Owen Ferguson @OwenFerguson Paul Kirtley @PKirt Craig Taylor @CraigTaylor74 You can follow Emerald Works on Twitter @Emerald_Works and LinkedIn.