The Learning + Performance Podcast

Amy Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management at Harvard Business School, explores groundbreaking topics around psychological safety in teams. She dispels myths about safety, emphasizing its crucial role in fostering innovation and accountability. Discover how to embrace failures as learning opportunities, the four elements of 'intelligent' failures, and the importance of supportive environments for open communication. Edmondson shares insights on leadership's role in creating psychological safety, driving engagement, and adapting in complex organizational landscapes.

Todd Gerspach, a former C-level executive and founder of Fortitude Executive Coaching, delves into how leaders can elevate their performance while balancing personal well-being. He shares insights on defining success and the differences between leadership and management. The conversation covers embracing change, the importance of mentorship, and the development of personal mission statements. Todd highlights the impact of mental models on effective leadership and the significance of continuous learning in navigating professional challenges.

Dr. Jenny Woo is a Harvard-trained educator and cognitive scientist specializing in social-emotional learning. In this conversation, she talks about the crucial role of emotional intelligence in an AI-driven world, emphasizing that these skills can be developed. Jenny shares insights on the importance of relationships for human development and discusses innovative games designed to enhance life skills. The episode also highlights the relevance of emotional agility and psychological safety at home and in the workplace.

Curt Bonk, a Professor at Indiana University's School of Education, dives into the transformative power of self-directed online learning. He discusses engaging methods to enhance student involvement and the significance of MOOCs in today's education landscape. The conversation highlights practical tools like Miro and Trello for non-traditional learners, and Bonk shares insights on technology adoption among educators. He also reflects on innovative educational experiences and the influence of personal principles on learning outcomes.

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Michael Sweeney, Chief Strategy Officer at RallyBright and founder of SaberCoaching, about his career enhancing the capacity and performance of individuals, teams, and organizations. Formerly VP of Digital Learning at Bain & Company, Mike has over two decades of experience in operations management, L&D, learning design, leadership development, coaching, and technology training. A lifelong learner himself, Mike enjoys finding ways to help others perform better and master their crafts. Mike holds a Masters in Organizational Psychology from William James College and is a Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) coach. Outside of work, Mike enjoys reading, running marathons, coaching athletes, playing with his dog, and being the best dad he can be for his three teenage daughters. Mike currently lives and works in Boston, Massachusetts. In our conversation, we hit on a wide range of topics, including: The critical role of culture, values, and behaviors in organizational effectiveness The difference between peak performance and high performance The neuroscience of learning and skill development After-action reviews (AARs) Leadership and leadership development Coaching and feedback Motivation vs. inspiration Recruiting sponsors to drive organizational change And a whole lot more! Mentioned in the conversation: 6:28 - Values-Based Leadership 7:28 - Deliberate vs. Evolutionary/Emergent Strategy 8:18 - Values: Espoused vs. Enacted/In-Use 8:30 - Bain Values and Operating Principles 8:52 - Definition of culture 13:00 - Operationalizing values 14:02 - Edgar Schein on culture 14:59 - Humble Inquiry 17:42 - Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People 20:11 - Peak vs. High Performance 21:05 - Learning in the brain 23:11 - Unlearning 23:52 - The P/PC Balance 24:58 - Atomic Habits 24:59 - The Power of Habit 25:56 - After-Action Review 26:36 - Teams that Work 28:30 - Agile retrospective 28:45 - Lean manufacturing 30:06 - John Maxwell's Leadership Law #2 - Leadership as influence 31:07 - Maxwell's Leadership Law #1 - Law of the Lid 32:12 - Feedback Model - Situation, Behavior, Impact 34:13 - Tim Ferriss on Learning to Learn 42:39 - Tim Gallwey's The Inner Game of Tennis 44:12 - Building High-Performing Teams course 48:29 - The Losada Ratio 48:55 - Designing the Coach-Client Alliance 50:25 - Alfie Kohn on the Downsides of Punishment 51:22 - Positive Intelligence 53:58 - Radical Candor 1:05:00 - The Sponsorship Spine 1:07:15 - John Kotter's Leading Change 1:07:45 - John Kotter's The Heart of Change 1:09:45 - Spaced repetition 1:11:30 - Learning moments of truth 1:16:23 - Outlive by Peter Attia 1:20:06 - CTI Fundamentals Connect with Mike: Michael Sweeney Saber Coaching Rally Bright

In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with ⁠Rachel Koblic, former VP of Learning Experience at 2U and co-founder of StarlingLX, a professional development startup that offers mid-level leaders the learning experiences, real-world resources, and social support they need to thrive in their roles, nurture the people around them, and create better workplaces. A generalist at heart, Rachel has held a variety of roles designing learning experiences and leading learning teams across a range of industries. She has a Masters in instructional technology from Indiana University and is a true lifelong learner. Rachel lives and works in upstate New York with her partner on a farm with a whole mess of critters! In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics in online learning and professional development including: Rachel’s journey into edtech and learning design The 4 key elements of impactful online learning Rachel’s role in developing 2U’s Learning Experience Framework The evolution of online learning in higher education What “quality” online learning means to learners Rachel’s decision to start Starling and the need it serves Starling’s unique approach to professional development for mid-level professionals Much more! Learn More About Rachel: LinkedIn StarlingLX Mentioned in the Conversation 7:40 - Performance vs. Mastery Objectives 15:25 - Learning management systems (LMS) LinkedIn Learning Thinkific Kajabi 19:01 - Ideal Customer Personas (ICPs) 19:25 - Micro-lessons and micro-learning 21:02 - 2U’s Learning Experience Framework (LXF) 22:17 - Bruce Spatz 22:35 - Clark Quinn 25:00 - Intrinsic motivation 26:13 - Learning Design Hooks 28:32 - The Power of Questions 34:15 - StarlingLX 34:38 - Disco community learning platform 36:00 - Jeff Sirroni 38:30 - Human-centered leadership 39:45 - Capacity planning 40:12 - Power to the Middle (McKinsey) 44:58 - Chris Dede’s The 60-year curriculum 45:04 - Stanford’s Open Loop University 46:06 - MasterClass 53:38 - Professional user manuals 56:25 - Self-determination theory 1:00 - Ego-centrism 1:02 - Tasha Eurich’s Insight

In this conversation, John Larson, founder and CEO of CoachAccountable, shares his journey in the coaching world while blending technology with personal development. He discusses the crucial role of goals and metrics in coaching, the difference between coaching and mentoring, and the challenges of accountability. Larson also addresses the integration of AI in coaching, emphasizing the need for human connection. Personal anecdotes reflect on the power of structured support and intrinsic motivation in achieving transformative results.

Dr. Luke Hobson, an instructional designer dedicated to enhancing learning experiences in higher education, dives into the dynamic world of instructional design. He highlights the vital link between learning and performance, advocating for the integration of learner feedback and technology in course design. Luke shares insights on collaborating with subject matter experts and the evolution of AI tools like ChatGPT in education. He also reflects on personal inspirations, daily routines, and the importance of adaptability in teaching methodologies.

Dr. Althea Kaminske, a psychologist specializing in cognitive psychology in education, shares intriguing insights about effective learning. She discusses six evidence-based strategies like retrieval practice and spaced practice that enhance memory retention. Dr. Kaminske emphasizes the dangers of cell phone notifications on focus and how concrete examples aid understanding. Additionally, she debunks common myths surrounding learning styles, advocating for techniques that optimize learning while addressing the importance of adaptability and self-care in educational settings.

Are you a student, researcher, professional, leader, athlete, or simply someone looking to learn faster and perform better? Do you want to better understand the principles and practices behind effective learning and excel in every domain of your life? Then this is the show for you! Join me, your host Patrick Healy, as I embark on a journey of discovery, where I explore the fascinating world of learning and performance and dive deep into evidence-based ideas, strategies, tools, and tactics that can enhance the way you learn and perform. Every episode, I interview researchers, practitioners, experts, leaders, educators,  and other humans who have dedicated their lives to understanding and enhancing human learning and performance. In each conversation, guests will share relevant research, practices, stories, tips, and routines—all aimed at helping you learn faster and perform better. The first episode will drop on July 4th, 2023, and future episodes will appear in the feed every month. Subscribe now!