James Root of Bain & Company unpacks "The Archetype Effect"—six distinct motivations that show up across roles, industries, and countries—and why a one-path ladder misses most of the value. We explore how to design work around what people actually care about, not what old systems assume.
We get practical: keep the ladder for Strivers while building credible paths for Artisans, Explorers, Givers, and Pioneers. We also push back on generational clichés and discuss how country context and career era shape what matters.
Finally, we look at older-worker design, the rise of interesting work and autonomy, and the importance of intentional knowledge capture so wisdom keeps moving. James points to Bain’s quick worker-archetype quiz as a low-stakes way for teams to compare notes and improve collaboration.
More information about James Root: https://www.bain.com/insights/books/the-archetype-effect/
More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/
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James Root of Bain & Company unpacks "The Archetype Effect"—six distinct motivations that show up across roles, industries, and countries—and why a one-path ladder misses most of the value. We explore how to design work around what people actually care about, not what old systems assume.
We get practical: keep the ladder for Strivers while building credible paths for Artisans, Explorers, Givers, and Pioneers. We also push back on generational clichés and discuss how country context and career era shape what matters.
Finally, we look at older-worker design, the rise of interesting work and autonomy, and the importance of intentional knowledge capture so wisdom keeps moving. James points to Bain’s quick worker-archetype quiz as a low-stakes way for teams to compare notes and improve collaboration.
More information about James Root: https://www.bain.com/insights/books/the-archetype-effect/
More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/
Dr. Keith Keating on Why L&D Is Failing and How to Fix It
Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract
46 minutes 3 seconds
8 months ago
Dr. Keith Keating on Why L&D Is Failing and How to Fix It
Learning and Development (L&D) teams are at a crossroads. Too many still operate as order takers, delivering training on request without questioning whether it’s the right solution. Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning and Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of "The Trusted Learning Advisor," believes this outdated mindset limits impact and credibility.
In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Keating explains how L&D must evolve from transactional function to strategic business partner. He shares:
1) Why L&D professionals must stop taking orders and start diagnosing real business challenges
2) How the IDAD Model—Intake, Discovery, Analysis, and Decision—helps reframe training requests
3) Why empathy, active listening, and design thinking are the missing pieces in L&D’s strategy
Keating outlines practical steps to move beyond outdated approaches and drive real business value.
Watch now to learn how L&D professionals can build credibility, drive impact, and become true trusted learning advisors.
More about Keith Keating: https://www.thetrustedlearningadvisor.com/
More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/
Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract
James Root of Bain & Company unpacks "The Archetype Effect"—six distinct motivations that show up across roles, industries, and countries—and why a one-path ladder misses most of the value. We explore how to design work around what people actually care about, not what old systems assume.
We get practical: keep the ladder for Strivers while building credible paths for Artisans, Explorers, Givers, and Pioneers. We also push back on generational clichés and discuss how country context and career era shape what matters.
Finally, we look at older-worker design, the rise of interesting work and autonomy, and the importance of intentional knowledge capture so wisdom keeps moving. James points to Bain’s quick worker-archetype quiz as a low-stakes way for teams to compare notes and improve collaboration.
More information about James Root: https://www.bain.com/insights/books/the-archetype-effect/
More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/
