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The Learning + Performance Podcast
Patrick Healy
25 episodes
4 days ago
The show that explores key ideas, strategies, tools, and techniques for enhancing human learning and performance.
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Self-Improvement
Education
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The show that explores key ideas, strategies, tools, and techniques for enhancing human learning and performance.
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Education
Episodes (20/25)
The Learning + Performance Podcast
24 - Jim Young on Beating Burnout and Achieving Sustainable Performance

Episode Overview

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a chronic condition that can drain energy, cloud purpose, and leave us feeling isolated or ashamed. In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with Jim Young, Director of Organizational Development at Keiter Corporation and author of Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout.

After hitting burnout himself in 2018 and stepping away from corporate life, Jim went on a journey of recovery, reinvention, and reconnection. Today, he helps individuals and organizations pursue sustainable performance — balancing short-term demands with long-term health and purpose. Together, we explore what burnout really is, why it happens, and what it takes to recover and thrive.


About The Guest

Jim Young is the Director of Organizational Development at Keiter Corporation in Western Massachusetts. He previously built a career in IT leadership and project management before experiencing burnout in 2018, which led him into coaching, writing, speaking, and teaching others about sustainable performance. Jim is also the author of Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout and a trained improv comedian.

Connect with Jim:

  • Website: ⁠thecenteredcoach.com⁠

  • LinkedIn: ⁠Jim Young⁠

  • Book: Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout (⁠Amazon⁠)


Key Topics & Insights

  • Performance, Learning, and Purpose — Jim’s view of high performance as doing work you love, that you’re good at, and that serves something larger than yourself.

  • What burnout really is — not momentary tiredness, but a chronic condition involving loss of purpose, confusion, isolation, comparison, and shame.

  • Common myths about burnout — why throwing the term around too loosely can downplay its seriousness.

  • Root causes — including isolation, unrealistic social ideals, and cultural pressure to always achieve more.

  • Identity and masculinity — how socialized expectations of men as “providers” and “tough guys” contribute to burnout.

  • Pillars of recovery — therapy, recovery programs, intimacy, support groups, community, and service.

  • Balancing resources and demands — the shift from reactive to creative modes when we’re resourced enough to meet life’s challenges.

  • Boundaries and balance in practice — Jim’s decision to step back from a stressful executive role into organizational development work that better aligns with his strengths.

  • Leadership lessons — how distributed leadership and autonomy help organizations sustain high performance.

    • Improv wisdom — why acceptance, presence, and partnership on stage — and in life — can lead to better outcomes.


    Resources Mentioned:

    • Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout by Jim Young (Amazon)

    • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (Amazon)

    • 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman (Amazon)

    • Fried: The Burnout Podcast with Kate Donovan (Podcast)

    • Research on burnout: Christina Maslach & Michael Leiter’s work on the Maslach Burnout Inventory

    • Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg (CNVC)


  • Transcript & Show Notes

    • Transcript
    • Show Notes


    Connect with Pat

    Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design. Connect with me here and let's start making a difference in your learning and performance today:

    • Website: patrickjhealy.com
    • Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com
    • LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/
  • Show more...
    1 month ago
    1 hour 20 minutes 22 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    23 - Tom Brush on Needs Assessment for Learning and Performance Improvement

    We all want to believe we’re tackling the right problems in our work — but too often, we skip straight to solutions without understanding what’s really going on. In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Tom Brush, Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University Bloomington, to explore why needs assessment is the overlooked key to effective performance improvement.

    With decades of experience teaching and conducting needs assessments across K–12, higher education, the military, and grant-funded projects, Tom blends academic expertise with real-world know-how. Together, we unpack the difference between needs assessment and needs analysis, why training isn’t always the answer, and how to approach performance problems with an open, systematic, and evidence-based mindset.

    You’ll hear practical steps for conducting an assessment (even on a tight budget), stories that illustrate why rushing to solutions can backfire, and advice for making the case for analysis to leaders who just want to “get on with it.” Whether you’re a designer, educator, leader, or consultant, this episode will help you stop wasting time on the wrong fixes and start solving the problems that really matter.


    About the Guest

    Dr. Tom Brush is a Professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University Bloomington. Over the past two decades, he has trained hundreds of master’s and doctoral students in instructional design, needs assessment, and program evaluation, while leading research on inquiry-based learning, collaboration, and real-world problem solving.

    Tom has authored more than 70 publications and served as PI, co-PI, or evaluator on numerous projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the Google Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His work spans K–12, higher education, the military, and large-scale educational initiatives.

    • Faculty Profile: education.indiana.edu/about/directory/faculty/brush-thomas.html
    • Email: tbrush@iu.edu

    Key Topics Covered

    • What a “need” really is

    • The difference between needs assessment and needs analysis.

    • The two types of needs assessments: general vs. training.

    • Why training is not always the right solution to a performance problem.

    • How to approach assessments with an open, unbiased mind.

    • A systematic process for identifying problems, collecting data, and prioritizing causes.

    • The role of both people-related and environment-related factors in performance.

    • How to present findings when they’re politically sensitive or unpopular.

    • Common mistakes to avoid (bias, rushing, skipping the process entirely).

    • How to start small with minimum viable data collection.


    Tools and Practices Mentioned

    • Analyzing Performance Problems — Robert Mager & Peter Pipe (Amazon)

    • A Practical Guide to Needs Assessment — Sleezer, Russ-Eft, Gupta (Amazon)

    • Cathy Moore’s Action Mapping (Blog)

    • David Wile (1996), “Why Doers Do” (PDF)

    • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

    • Inquiry-based learning approaches

    Detailed Show Notes and Transcript

    • Full Show Notes

    • Transcript

    🎧 Related Episodes

    • Alaina Szlachta on Harnessing Data Learning and Performance Improvement (Episode 17)

    • Heidi Kirby on Making L&D More Strategic (Episode 11)


    Connect with Pat

    Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design.

    • Website: patrickjhealy.com
    • Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com
    • LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-healy-95924543/
  • Show more...
    2 months ago
    1 hour 24 minutes 26 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    22 - Charles "Evan" Smith on Self-Awareness for Learning, Performance, and Change

    🌟 Episode Synopsis

    We all like to believe we’re self-aware—but what if we’re not as clear-eyed as we think? In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I sit down with Charles Evan Smith (known to most as Evan), a seasoned coach, consultant, and change architect, to explore why self-awareness is the hidden foundation for personal and organizational transformation.

    With more than 25 years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations, Evan brings a rare blend of systems thinking, neuroscience, and deep empathy to his work. Together, we discuss why self-awareness is so rare (spoiler: 90% of people think they have it, but only 10% actually do), how blind spots can derail performance, and what leaders can do to foster change from the inside out.

    You’ll hear stories of organizational turnarounds, powerful coaching questions like "And what else?", and research that shows how behavior monitoring can spark real growth. Whether you’re a leader, coach, or simply someone striving to grow, this episode is packed with insights and practical tools to help you raise your own self-awareness and make meaningful change.


    👤 About the Guest

    Charles Evan Smith is a coach, consultant, and facilitator with more than two decades of experience helping individuals, teams, and organizations navigate meaningful change. As the founder of Metamorphosis Management Group, Evan partners with leaders to translate self-awareness into measurable business results and lasting personal growth.

    He also works with Box of Crayons to deliver curiosity-led leadership programs and with Empactful Advisors to align leadership, culture, and performance. Certified in tools like the Leadership Circle Profile and ICF Team Coaching, Evan brings a unique combination of systems thinking, behavior change theory, and deep empathy for the human side of work.

    • Website: metaMG.com

    • LinkedIn: Charles Evan Smith


    🧠 Key Topics Covered

    • What self-awareness is and why it’s the foundation for personal and organizational change

    • The surprising gap between perceived and actual self-awareness

    • How leaders can model “learning out loud” to energize change

    • The neuroscience of habits and why patterns are hard to change

    • Tools and practices for cultivating self-awareness, from feedback loops to habit trackers

    • Common barriers to self-awareness and why it’s often dismissed as a soft skill

    • Practical ways to deepen your own self-awareness and apply it to learning and performance

    🛠️ Tools and Practices Mentioned

    • The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

    • Leadership Circle 360 

    • RallyBright Team Assessment

    • Habit tracking and journaling

    • Morning intention-setting practices


  • 📝 Detailed Show Notes and Transcript

    • Check out the full recap with show notes here
    • Read the full transcript here


    📚 Learn More – Further Resources

    • Insight by Tasha Eurich

    • Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

    • The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

    • What You Don’t Know About Making Decisions (HBR) by David Garvin

    • Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety

    • Hawthorne Effect

    🎧 Related Episodes

    • Jon Walker on Self-Compassion for Learning, Performance, and Joy (#21)

    • Nicole L’Etoile on Accessibility and Inclusive Design (#20)

    • Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety in Teams (#9)

    📬 Connect with Pat

    Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I (Pat Healy) help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design.

    • Website: patrickjhealy.com

    • Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com

    • LinkedIn: Patrick Healy

    Connect with me and let’s explore how we can improve your learning and performance today!

    Show more...
    3 months ago
    1 hour 31 minutes 9 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    21 - Jon Walker on Self-Compassion for Learning, Performance, and Joy

    What if your inner critic is the biggest thing holding back your learning and performance? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Jon Walker—retired physician, self-compassion teacher, and founder of Modestly Mindful—about why self-compassion isn't just self-care, but a powerful tool for improving our ability to learn and perform at our best. Jon and I discuss what compassion is, why it's important, and how to bring it into your work and life. Whether you’re a teacher, manager, student, or anyone navigating pressure, struggles, or setbacks, Jon makes the case for being kinder to yourself—and shows you how.


    👤 About the Guest

    Dr. Jon Walker is a retired physician and certified mindful self-compassion teacher. He has completed training at UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center and holds credentials from the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. Through Modestly Mindful, Jon offers free courses and resources that make self-compassion accessible, practical, and powerful for everyday life. His past experience in high-stress clinical settings brings real credibility to his teaching.


    🧠 Key Topics Covered:

    In this episode, we explore:

    • What self-compassion really is (and isn’t)
    • The 3 core components of self-compassion: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness
    • The difference between “tender” and “fierce” self-compassion
    • Cultural myths around self-compassion—especially for men
    • Jon’s personal journey from burnout to renewal
    • Why high performers often resist self-compassion—and need it most
    • How trauma and childhood messages shape our self-talk
    • A guided self-compassion break practice (starting around 46:00)
    • Research on self-compassion and PTSD, healthcare, education, and more
    • Tips for applying self-compassion in daily life, even in 30-second bursts
    • The concept of “backdraft” and why things sometimes get harder before they get better

  • 🧰 Tools and Practices Mentioned
    • Self-Compassion Break (3-step real-time practice)
    • Supportive Touch (ways to activate your body’s calming system)
    • The Question: “What do I need right now?”
    • Reframing the inner critic as a caring coach
    • The importance of practicing at “turtle speed” and customizing practices


    📚 Further Resources

    • ⁠Center for Mindful Self-Compassion⁠ – Home of the model developed by Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Chris Germer
    • ⁠Kristin Neff, Ph.D.⁠ – Research, books, and talks
    • ⁠Paul Gilbert’s Compassion-Focused Therapy⁠ – Especially for those with a trauma background
    • ⁠Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education⁠


    🗣️ Transcript

    HERE

    Show more...
    4 months ago
    1 hour 14 minutes 5 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #20 – Nicole L’Etoile on Designing More Accessible and Inclusive Learning Experiences

    In this episode of the Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with Nicole L’Etoile—learning experience designer, accessibility advocate, and founder of L’Etoile Education—about how to design digital learning experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and equitable for all learners.

    Nicole brings deep experience as a former educator, LMS administrator, accessibility auditor, and course creator. In our conversation, she shares actionable strategies to help learning designers and organizations create accessible content that supports every learner—not just some.

    Whether you’re new to accessibility or a seasoned learning pro looking to go deeper, this episode is packed with practical advice, frameworks, and resources to support your work.


    Topics Covered:

    In our conversation, we cover a range of topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • What accessibility is and why it matters
    • The POUR framework: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust
    • Why accessibility is often overlooked or treated as an afterthought
    • Common accessibility barriers in online learning and how to avoid them
    • Myths about accessible learning being "less engaging"
    • Tools, techniques, and workflows for building accessible content
    • How to conduct an accessibility audit
    • Nicole’s own journey—from educator to accessibility advocate
    • How accessibility work shaped her as a learner, leader, and professional
    • Advice for learning designers and L&D teams
    • The future of accessibility and the role of AI
    • The value of safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments

  • Connect with Nicole

    • 🌐 Website: letoile-education.com
    • 📧 Newsletter + Cohorts: Making Online Content Accessible for All
    • 🔗 LinkedIn: Nicole L’Etoile


    People Mentioned

    • Crystal Scott – Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) and designer of Nicole’s website

      Taylor Arnt – Accessibility and assistive tech advocate who created WCAG and AT-focused ChatGPT bots

    • Luke Hobson – Instructional designer and founder of Instructional Design Institute; collaborator with Nicole

    • Molly Huddle – Former Olympian and coach of Nicole’s racing team


  • Tools and Tech Mentioned:

    • Storyline, iSpring – E-learning authoring tool
    • Amara – Open-source captioning and subtitling tool
    • Hemingway App – Writing tool for improving readability and plain language
    • Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test – Tool to assess reading level of content
    • ChatGPT / Claude / Google Gemini – Used to interpret WCAG guidelines and assist in accessibility practices
    • WCAG GPT Bot by Taylor Arnt – Available here
    • Assistive Tech GPT by Taylor Arnt – Chatbot to simulate screen reader experience

  • Frameworks and Guides:

    • WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) – Quick Reference Guide

    • POUR Framework – Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust

    • W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) – https://www.w3.org

    • WebAIM – https://webaim.org

    • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) – CAST Guidelines

    • Accessibility Shield – https://www.accessibilityshield.com

      Organizations and Platforms:

    • L’Etoile Education – Nicole’s consulting business: https://www.letoile-education.com

    • Instructional Design Institute by Luke Hobson – Nicole's course is hosted here

    • Brightspace / D2L – LMS used to deliver Nicole’s flagship accessibility course

    Transcript

  • Show more...
    5 months ago
    1 hour 5 minutes 48 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #19 - Tom McDowall on Upskilling and Reskilling L&D

    In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I interview Tom McDowall, an experienced learning and development professional and the founder of Evolve Learning Design about the importance of upskilling and reskilling—both for the broader workforce and for L&D teams themselves. We discuss why many traditional models in the field are outdated and no longer serve us and how to skill better. Tom has worked across almost every L&D role—from facilitator to digital designer to head of learning design—and now focuses on helping L&D teams improve how they think, operate, and deliver impact. This conversation is packed with insight and honesty, and I think you’ll walk away with a sharper perspective on how to help people—and yourself—learn and perform better.


    Key Topics:

    In the conversation, we hit on a number of interesting topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • What performance is and why it depends just as much on systems as it does on people
    • Why L&D often solves the wrong problems
    • The difference between capability and opportunity—and how learning only supports one

    • Tom’s journey into L&D and his critique of self-made success narratives

    • What a product mindset looks like in practice

    • Why upskilling is uncomfortable—but necessary—and how to support it without overwhelming people

    • How to measure the success of upskilling initiatives

    • Practical strategies for internal L&D teams to do more with less

    • The importance of context awareness and system thinking

    • And more.


    Connect with Tom

    • ⁠Evolve ⁠– Tom’s learning consultancy⁠⁠⁠⁠
    • IDTx Conference - Tom's conference for IDers
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube


    Notes, Mentions, and Resources:

    • Performance = where capability (internal KSAs) and opportunity (external environmental supports) meet

    • W. Edwards Deming – “A bad system will beat a good person every time.”

    • Learning = cognitive process of knowledge and skill development

    • Designing “learning” vs. designing training and resources for learning to occur

    • Spaced practice, dripped content

    • Informal learning occurring all the time

    • Thrive – LXP platform Tom worked with

    • Colossyan – AI avatar video platform Tom consulted with

    • Why luck is a big element of careers

    • Taking a “product mindset” in L&D—viewing L&D as a provider of internal products

    • Thomas Gilbert – Human Competence Model

    • Guy Wallace – Performance-based instructional design

    • Greg Arthur – Learning experience design podcast guest

    • Evolve – Tom’s learning design consultancy

    • The myth of the learner—people don't necessarily want to learn, value learning, or feel comfortable doing it

    • Goal = more performant employees/professionals, not satisfied learners

    • Upskilling and reskilling as a form of change management

    • Reskilling as uncomfortable but a kind/human thing to do

    • WEF Jobs Insight Report (2025) – Human-only jobs declining, high churn/mobility, growing demand for physical labor

    • Importance of L&D upskilling itself and practicing what it preaches

    • Challenges of upskilling L&D: budget, assumptions, discomfort, outdated models, resistance to change

    • Addressing those challenges: be flexible, communicate value, use data

    • Delivering outcomes > outputs

    • Measuring upskilling impact: connect skills to KPIs, observe behavior change, avoid self-assessments, explore genAI roleplays, consider environmental variables

    • Core L&D skills today: resilience, tech elasticity, mental health awareness

    • The Learning Network (UK) – Peer-driven L&D community

    • Pixar’s Brain Trust – Honest, iterative creative feedback

    • Being nice vs. being kind – Hard truths help people grow

    • Kim Scott – Radical Candor – Clear, caring feedback

    • Investing in contextual intelligence—reading widely and understanding learner environments

    • Adam Savage’s principle of first-order retrieval – Reduce friction and increase flow

    • Adam Grant – WorkLife Podcast – Making work better

    • Why you shouldn’t always ask older professionals for advice first

    • Gordon Brown – Seven Ways to Change the World – Insight into global systemic change

    • STOP Technique – Stop, Take a Breath, Observe, Proceed

    Show more...
    6 months ago
    1 hour 27 minutes 17 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #18 - Cathan Kabrelian on Compassionate Communication with Ourselves and Others

    In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with the late Cathan Kabrelian, a leading expert in compassionate communication. Cathan was a trainer, speaker, retreat leader, and mentor, known for integrating compassionate communication into a wide range of fields, from education to corporate environments. Through her work as a trauma-informed Needs-Awareness Trainer, Certified Mindfulness Instructor, and Breath Coach, Cathan brought a unique depth to understanding and teaching not only effective communication skills but the self-awareness skills to transform conversations and relationships at work, at home, and in all those third spaces. Together, Cathan and I discussed why compassionate communication matters and how you can use it to live a more self-aware, wonderful, and connected life.


    Key Topics

    In the conversation, we hit on a number of interesting topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • What is compassionate or non-violent communication, and why is it important
    • The importance of feelings and needs awareness to life and relationships
    • The OFNR framework of observation, feelings, needs, requests
    • How to translate thoughts and judgments into needs
    • Feelings as a “radar” for detecting what we need
    • Shifting from blaming others to identifying our own values and needs
    • Why self-connection is necessary to connect with others
    • Three ways to navigate challenging feelings
    • Two ways to practice compassionate communication - formal and real-life
    • Using compassionate communication at work
    • And much more...


    Learn More About Cathan and NVC

    • Cathan's website
    • In Loving Memory
    • NVC by Marshall Rosenberg
    • New York Center for NVC
    • The Compassion Course by Thom Bond and team


    Notes,Mentions, and Resources

    • Identity - not just WHO we are or WHAT we do or believe but HOW we are
    • Performance - achieving tasks towards a goal with creativity, skill, and compassionate consideration of needs
    • Learning - understanding something better than we did before
    • Learning-Performance "Loops" - Learn, Practice, Perform.
    • Compassionate/Non-Violent Communication (NVC)
    • Needs awareness
    • Non-Violent Communication (NVC) by Marshall Rosenberg
    • OFNR Framework - Observations, Feelings, Needs, Requests
    • Observations - what we notice about ourselves, others, and the world
    • Feelings - sensations stimulated by met or unmet needs
    • Needs - universal life impulses; drivers of actions
    • Requests/Strategies - ways to meet our needs
    • Compassion Course Online
    • The Compassion Book by Thom Bond
    • NY Center for NVC (NYCNVC)
    • Effective practice is intentional, focused, aware
    • Translating Judgments Practice - translating judgments into feelings and needs/values
    • Shifting from judgment and blaming to connection, curiosity, and compassion
    • Principle - everything we do we do to meet a need or value
    • Feelings as "radar" for needs, not something to fear or push away
    • Applying NVC at work - values and what matters>needs; focusing on individual self-connection leads to more curiosity, compassion, and connection with co-workers
    • It doesn't take two to change a conversation, only one
    • Dealing with difficult feelings by connecting to met/unmet needs - (1) notice judgments/resistance/thinking, (2) tune into body sensations, (3) identify what you want/need and embody it, (4) think of a strategy to meet the needs
    • Feelings and Needs list
    • Study by Brene Brown on average number of feelings of Americans
    • Self-connect first to connect with others second
    • Two types of practice for showing up better - formal and integrative/IRL
    • Cathan's website - Compassionate Thriving
    • Types of Judgments - Value judgments, preferences, assessments vs. moralistic judgments
    • High performance in life = showing up authentically and connecting with others
    • Mindfulness
    • Somatic experiencing and breathwork
    • Compassion vs. empathy
    Show more...
    7 months ago
    1 hour 23 minutes 59 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #17 - Alaina Szlachta on Harnessing Data To Improve Learning and Performance

    In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I speak with Dr. Alaina Szlachta, an education entrepreneur and data and measurement "nerd," about leveraging data to improve workplace learning and performance. Alaina is the founder and Chief Measurement Architect at By Design Development Solutions, a consultancy that works with leaders and teams to create simple data collection systems that enable their programs to facilitate real, evidence-based impact and change. Together, Alaina and I discuss why measurement, assessment, evaluation, and data are so critical to learning and performance improvement, and she shares some great insights and tools for measuring and understanding the true impact of your learning and performance efforts.


    Key Topics

    In our conversation, we hit on a number of interesting topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • The importance of collecting and utilizing data (and why data is power)
    • Evaluation, measurement - what they are and why they matter
    • The criticality of having feedback loops in teaching and learning
    • The similarities and differences between measurement, evaluation, and assessment
    • Why analysis and evaluation are so often overlooked
    • The difference between analyzing and addressing performance gaps vs. designing learning solutions
    • Some challenges with measuring the impact of training and other interventions, and how to overcome them
    • How to artfully navigate questionable training requests
    • How to evaluate intangible skills in highly tangible ways
    • And a whole lot more!


    Connect with Alaina

    • Alaina's website
    • LinkedIn
    • Measurement Made Easy group
    • Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring⁠⁠⁠


    Mentions and Resources:

    • Learning 2024 Conference
    • Dr. Megan Torrance - Why data is power
    • The data pyramid and how wisdom requires data
    • Performance - a combo of attitudes and actions, beliefs and behaviors that show up in how we work
    • Learning - a means to an end at work, NOT the end result
    • The importance of evaluating performance changes, not just assessing learning!
    • Importance of constant feedback loops in teaching and learning and the lack of feedback loop in much workplace learning and performance improvement
    • Telling Ain't Training
    • Definition of measurement - strategic planning to collect data and collecting it
    • Definition of evaluation - analyzing the data and determining effectiveness
    • Importance of measurement and evaluation to decision-making
    • The ADDIE Framework - so easy to neglect/overlook A and E
    • Analyzing and addressing performance gaps vs. designing and delivering learning solutions
    • The Pareto Principle - 20 percent of content providing 80 percent of value
    • Why evaluation is overlooked - (1) lack of time, money, and people to do a comprehensive evaluation, (2) focusing on superficial aspects of learning experiences, (3) not clearly identifying the important things to value
    • Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation
    • Assessment vs. Evaluation - assessments collect data on learning, and evaluations determine changes in performance
    • Challenges with measuring impact - (1) building a training or learning solution without validating the problem is a lack of knowledge, (2) not digging into the data closely
    • Measurement and Evaluation on a Shoestring (ATD Press 2025)
    • Getting out of the shoestring by being strategic
    • Aligning L&D resources with core business/organizational metrics
    • Heidi Kirby - Useful Stuff
    • Importance of listening to your gut when sensing red flags with requests
    • How to sidestep training requests with strategic questions about the problem
    • Evaluating the "intangibles" - (1) Translate intangible skills into tangible behaviors and indicators. (2) Tie it back to the problem. What would be different if the person was better at this? If they did it, would it solve the problem?
    • Importance of using tech to automate other things and free up time for better analysis and evaluation
    • Being clear on key indicators/criteria before making professional decision (e.g., finding a job, taking on a client)
    Show more...
    8 months ago
    1 hour 8 minutes 1 second

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #16 - Mark Sheppard on Innovation in L&D Products, Processes, and Practices

    Overview: In this episode of the L&P podcast, I speak with Mark Sheppard, a learning architect, designer, and self-proclaimed L&D “geek" about ways that that L&D professionals and teams can innovate their products, processes, and practices. Mark is the owner and founder of 2Sphynx Innovations, an L&D consultancy serving the public and private sectors in Canada and the US. With an impressive academic background and 30 years+ in the L&D field, Mark and I discuss a wealth of principles and practices you can use to change the way you consult, design, create, and lead.

    Key Topics: In the conversation, we hit on a number of interesting topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • Striking the right balance between efficiency and innovation in L&D performance
    • The yin-yang relationship between learning and performance
    • The role of emotions—both positive and negative—in impactful learning
    • Learning in the flow of work
    • Dos and don’ts of online instruction
    • The value of full-stack L&D consulting
    • Mark’s advice on being a freelancer/contractor
    • The value of open-ended questions and challenging assumptions when working with stakeholders
    • The many uses of LLMs for L&D
    • Why context often trumps content when it comes to learning
    • The crucial difference between gamification of learning and game-based learning
    • The shortcomings of traditional L&D frameworks and some better alternatives
    • Barriers to innovation in L&D and how to overcome them
    • And much more!


    Connect with Mark:

    • LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/marksheppard
    • Blue Sky: https://publictest.bsky.cz/profile/did:plc:jk4hydiju4stbfzvtamktpjq
    • 2Sphynx: https://2sphynx.com/


    Mentions and Resources:

    • Performance as a function of efficiency AND innovation
    • Role of emotion in learning
    • Education vs. learning
    • Learning and performance as yin and yang
    • Bob Mosher - Learning in the workflow
    • The roots of instructional design in the military
    • Online instruction: dos and dont's - (1) The importance of having a co-facilitator for live online learning, (2) the importance of videos and office hours for asynchronous online courses
    • Being a "full-stack" L&D professional
    • Tips on being a freelance L&Der- (1) Being a trusted advisor, (2) having empathy for SMEs and learners, (3) thinking like an entrepreneur/owner, (4) focusing on solving problems>providing training solutions, (5) watching out for bad contracts, (6) engaging in regular marketing and sales and articulating your value prop
    • The role of powerful questions (e.g., "how might we") in building trust, challenging assumptions, and creating better solutions
    • Importance of pre-boarding to successful onboarding
    • The value of LLMs for L&D - (1) knowledge management, (2) time saving, (3) content design and development, (4) sounding board, (5) thought partner, (6) devil's advocate, (7) needs analysis and evaluation, (8) data analysis and insights
    • LLM watch outs - too much focus on content production>process
    • The role of play and fun in learning
    • Performance analysis and improvement - Guy Wallace, Geary Rummler, Joe Harless, W. Edwards Deming
    • Microlearning
    • Performance support
    • Importance of context and activities>content and events
    • Iterative L&D - agile, rapid prototyping, SAM
    • The Kirkpatrick Framework and its shortcomings
    • The CIPP Evaluation Framework (Context-Input-Process-Problem)
    • Will Thalheimer's Learning Transfer Evaluation Model
    • The ADDIE Framework - a macro doctrine, NOT a process or project plan
    • 3 targets of innovation for L&D - (1) Product, (2) Process, and (3) Practice
    • Barriers to innovation in L&D - (1) fear, (2) inertia
    • Game-based learning/design vs. gamifying learning
    • Promises and pitfalls of gamificiation
    • The psychology of game-based learning - social learning, novelty, choice, experimentation/safety
    • Conditions vs. constraints in design of games
    • Dunning-Kruger Effect - mismatch between competence and confidence
    • Yerkes Dodson Curve - Moderate anxiety as a beneficial for learning
    • Importance of breaks and working with your brain in mind
    Show more...
    10 months ago
    1 hour 34 minutes 55 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #15 - Noah Rasheta on Using Buddhism to Become a Better Person

    In this episode of the L&P pod, I speak with Noah Rasheta, a Buddhist philosopher, author, and podcaster dedicated to making Buddhist philosophy accessible and practical for everyday life. Noah's podcast, The Secular Buddhism Podcast, shares Buddhist principles and practices that modern people can use to learn, perform, and live more wisely. His book, "No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners," breaks down key Buddhist concepts for a Western audience and is an invaluable resource for those seeking to incorporate mindfulness and philosophical insights into their daily routines. In the conversation, Noah and I discuss some basic ideas from Buddhism and ways people from a secular background can leverage Buddhism. Noah enjoys photography, paragliding, volunteering as a school bus driver, and spending time with his wife and kids in Utah.


    KEY TOPICS:

    In our conversation, Noah and I hit on several topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • What is secular Buddhism
    • The Four Noble Truths
    • The difference between pain and suffering
    • Seeing life as a game
    • The power of awareness and attention for learning and performance
    • Common myths and misconceptions about Buddhism and mindfulness
    • Enlightenment as a journey vs. a destination
    • Unlearning as a tool for learning
    • Acknowledging multiple perspectives
    • The Middle Way of optimal performance
    • The power of pausing and returning to the breath
    • Doing things for the sake of it
    • Questioning the judgments and evaluations we make


    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Noah Rasheta is a Buddhist philosopher, best-selling author, and podcast host. He has presented his teachings at some of the world's most renowned organizations, such as Apple®, PwC, YPO, Entrepreneurs' Organization, and many others. His teachings have been downloaded millions of times by individuals all around the world.


    CONNECT WITH NOAH:

    • Secular Buddhism website
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter/X


    MENTIONS and RESOURCES:

    • Performance vs. effort - See this and this
    • Secular Buddhism - See this and this and this
    • First Noble Truth - Truth of Suffering - See this and this
    • Second Noble Truth - Truth of the Cause of Suffering - See this and this
    • Third Noble Truth - The End of Suffering - See this and this
    • Fourth Noble Truth - Eightfold Path to End Suffering - See this and this AND this
    • Pain vs. Suffering - See this and this
    • Groundlessness
    • Life as Chess vs. Tetris -
    • The Myth of Having a Totally Happy Life
    • Life Bingo
    • Myth: Meditation as a Way to Feel Good (Catch the Butterfly) vs. a Way of Better Seeing/Feeling (Flashlight to Raise Awareness)
    • Happiness as a Butterfly
    • Myth: Enlightenment as an End Goal vs. a Journey
    • Importance of awareness in learning and teaching
    • Unlearning as a tool for learning
    • Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant - different ways of understanding things
    • Learning styles vs. preferences
    • Secular Buddhism podcast
    • No Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners
    • The Power of the Pause
    • Flow experience
    • The Middle Way of Performance
    • Doing things for the sake of it
    • Not tying identity to outcomes
    • Parable of the Farmer and the Horse - "Who knows what is good/bad?"
    • Life is short, so make the most of it
    Show more...
    11 months ago
    1 hour 27 minutes 36 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #14 - Massimo Pigliucci on Stoicism for Learning, Performing, and Living Well

    In this episode of the L&P pod, I speak with Massimo Pigliucci, a philosopher, professor, author, and expert on Stoicism and practical philosophy. Massimo and I discuss why humans should study philosophy and how modern people can apply the ancient philosophy of Stoicism to improve our ability to learn, perform, and live well. The episode provides a toolbox of Stoic principles and practices for us all to navigate an increasingly complex, chaotic, and uncertain world.


    KEY TOPICS:

    In our conversation, Massimo and I hit on a number of topics relevant to learning and performance, including:

    • What is philosophy and why it matters to the average person
    • The two main branches of philosophy - theoretical and practical
    • Stoicism as a philosophy of life
    • The three main components of philosophies as ways of life
    • The Origins of Stoicism
    • The three aspects of human nature
    • The four cardinal virtues
    • Key Stoic figures like Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca and what they can teach modern people
    • Common myths and misconceptions about Stoicism and other ancient philosophies
    • The difference between intentions and outcomes
    • Analytical and practical techniques devised by the Stoics to help us be wiser and flourish
    • A whole lot more!
  • ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Massimo is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. Massimo holds PhDs in evolutionary biology and philosophy. He conducts research and teaches classes on topics including philosophy, philosophy of science, and Stoicism. Massimo’s authored several articles and books that make ancient philosophy, especially Stoicism, more accessible and applicable to everyday life. He’s part of Modern Stoicism, a movement to help revive Stoicism that has equipped many with tools to handle life’s challenges more effectively. You can learn more about him from Wikipedia.


    CONNECT WITH MASSIMO:

    • Website
    • University Page
    • Substack
    • YouTube
    • Stoa Nova
    • Modern Stoicism


    MENTIONS, REFERENCES, AND RESOURCES:

    • Internal vs. external standards
    • Biological, machine, and human learning
    • Definition of Philosophy
    • Two branches of philosophy - theoretical vs. practical
    • Eudaimonia - flourishing in life
    • Plato
    • Stoicism
    • The three components of philosophies as a way of life - Meta-physics, ethics, practices
    • Living in accordance with nature
    • Zeno of Citium - founder of Stoicism
    • Three aspects of human nature - biology, rationality, sociality
    • The four cardinal virtues - practical wisdom, courage, justice, temperance
    • Marcus Aurelius
    • Stoic training/practice
    • How to Be a Stoic by Massimo Pigliucci
    • The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
    • The Discourses of Epictetus
    • Epictetus's Enchiridion
    • Seneca's Letters
    • Stoic definition of "passion"
    • Stoic vs. stoic
    • Epicurean vs. epicurean
    • A Handbook for New Stoics by Massimo Pigliucci and Gregory Lopez
    • Contemplative exercise: Philosophical journaling
    • The myth of learning from experience alone
    • Musonius Rufus
    • Physical exercise: Fasting, abstaining, intentional mild discomfort
    • Dichotomy of control exercise
    • A Guide to the Good Life by Bill Irvine
    • Intentions vs. outcomes
    • Galen
    • Setting internal vs. external goals
    • Aristotle and aristotelianism
    • Epicureanism
    • The Philosophy of CBT by Don Robertson
    • The Role Ethics of Epictetus by Brian Johnson
    • Hic et nunc - "Here and now" tattoo
  • Show more...
    12 months ago
    1 hour 13 minutes 43 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #13 - Mike Christensen on Leveraging Thinking To Your Advantage

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Mike Christensen, a counselor, trainer, and expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), about how our thoughts and beliefs influence how we feel, what we do, and ultimately, our ability to learn and perform. Mike and I discuss a range of CBT tools and techniques that are not only valuable to therapists and their patients, but can be used in any situation in which people might need to rethink things or change beliefs in order to learn or perform better. We also discuss how to use "deliberate practice" to improve at providing therapy, coaching, and beyond.


    KEY TOPICS:

    In our conversation, Mike and I discuss a range of topics, including:

    • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and how what we think determines how we feel

    • The difference between CBT and positive thinking

    • David Burns’ new “TEAM” model of providing therapy and coaching

    • The importance of measuring outcomes

    • Why empathy is a necessary but not sufficient condition for change

    • Overcoming resistance to change

    • A bunch of techniques to help you untwist your thinking

    • The importance of deliberate practice and feedback in improving

    • Positive reframing

    • A whole lot more…


    ABOUT THE GUEST:

    Mike Christensen. MACP, RCC, ACS serves as the Director of Professional Development at the Feeling Good Institute. He is a Registered Clinical Counselor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counselors and holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. His diverse background in business, community organizations, and family support roles has provided Mike with a wide array of experience in leadership, administration, parenting training, and team building. He is a Certified Level 5 Master TEAM CBT Therapist and Trainer and is the Director of Feeling Good Institute Canada. He provides advanced level online training with the Feeling Good Institute for therapists around the world and is the co-author of “Deliberate Practice for TEAM CBT"  with Dr. Maor Katz, Dr. Tony Roussmaniere and Dr. Alez Vaz. Mike lives in Canada with his wife and daughters. He is an avid cyclist and former swim coach.


    CONNECT WITH MIKE:

    • Email: mike@feelinggoodinstitute.com
    • Website: https://www.feelinggoodinstitute.com/find-cbt-therapist/mike-christensen
    • LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/michael-christensen-5555bb50


    MENTIONS, REFERENCES, AND RESOURCES:

    • The Feeling Good Institute
    • TEAM-CBT
    • David Burns
    • Hines Ward on talent
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    • Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
    • The Cognitive Model
    • Cognitive appraisal: How we THINK determines how we FEEL
    • Cognitive distortions
    • Cognitive restructuring (thought challenging)
    • The cognitive triad (The CBT triangle)
    • Behavioral experiments
    • Exposure therapy
    • CBT vs. positive thinking
    • Two approaches to combating negative thoughts - counterattack and acceptance
    • Matthew May
    • Brian Johnson - Win or Learn
    • Aaron Beck
    • Testing (T)
    • Empathy (E)
    • Agenda-Setting/Assessment of Resistance (A)
    • Outcome vs. process resistance
    • Addictions as failed solutions
    • Methods (M)
    • "Examine the Evidence" technique
    • 50 Techniques to Change Your Thinking
    • Therapy methods - behavioral, motivational, relational, cognitive, compassion-based, truth-based
    • The "Semantic" method
    • The "Best Friend/Double Standard" technique
    • Tools Not Schools of Therapy
    • The Recovery Circle
    • FGI Fast Track to Level 3 certification program
    • Deliberate practice
    • The Deliberate Practice of TEAM-CBT
    • Zone of proximal development (ZOPD)
    • Offering an "invitation" to a client
    • Sitting with "open hands"
    • "Multiple choice" empathy
    • Growth mindset - Why there's no such thing as "I can't do it."
    • Importance of high expectations
    • Facebook Live session with David Burns in which Mike failed
    • Learning from role models and anti-role models
    • Simone Biles failure
    • Reframing obstacles as opportunities
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 46 minutes 44 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #12 - Connie Malamed on Designing Interesting and Impactful Online Learning

    In this episode of The Learning + Performance Podcast, I speak with Connie Malamed, a learning experience designer, consultant, author, speaker, and mentor to L&Ders around the world, about how to create interesting and impactful online learning experiences to promote learning and performance.

    In our conversation, we discuss a number of topics related to enhancing learning and performance, including:

    • Myths and misconceptions about eLearning
    • Why scenario-based e-learning can be so powerful
    • Connie’s key elements of effective e-learning
    • Simple visual design principles that anyone can use to design more digestible learning experiences
    • Common struggles instructional designers and developers face
    • The importance of evaluation and empathizing with your learners
    • Several techniques for learning effectively
    • And more!


    About the Guest:

    Known as the eLearning coach, Connie has spent over two decades studying and practicing the art and science of designing engaging e-learning and teaching others how to do it too. Her website, The eLearning Coach, shares actionable strategies, practical content, product reviews, and resources to help professionals design, develop, and understand learning, instructional design, and visual design. Connie's authored of two books on visual design, hosts a podcast on e-learning, has a free e-mail course on Breaking into Instructional Design, and runs a membership community, MasteringID, for people wanting to learn and build instructional design skills. Connie has a masters in Instructional Design and Technology from UT-Austin and a BA in Art Education from Penn State. She lives and works in the DC-Baltimore area and enjoys reading about all things learning, design, and the brain.


    Connect with Connie:

    • Website: The eLearning Coach
    • Consulting Site: www.ConnieMalamed.com
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter/X


    Topics, Mentions, References, and Resources:

    • Connie's Books: https://theelearningcoach.com/my-book/ AND ⁠https://amzn.to/3EMQxDH⁠
    • Connie's MasteringID Community
    • Connie's newsletter
    • Connie's podcast
    • Connie's big List of ID programs
    • Assimilation vs. accommodation
    • Levels of knowledge and understanding: facts, concepts, processes, principles, theories, applications
    • User experience (UX) design
    • Myths and misconceptions about eLearning - the brain is a recorder, eLearning needs to be boring, learning is a one-time event
    • Scenario-based learning and the importance of leveraging imagination, stories, personalization, relevance
    • Clark Quinn on the importance of having learners make decisions
    • Importance of empathizing with learners
    • Key principles of effective online learning - interactivity, discussion/social learning after, follow-up/reinforcement, evaluation and feedback
    • Visual design for e-learning - the importance of white space, visual hierarchy
    • Connie on Why less is more in designing learning
    • Richard Mayer's 12 principles of multimedia design
    • ID vs. UI/UX vs. LXD
    • Differences between ID, elearning development, and training
    • LinkedIn group for freelance IDers
    • Struggles IDers face - not having a seat at the table, leaders not knowing how people develop skills, not being an order taker
    • Connie on What to do if you CAN'T speak with your audience
    • Root cause analysis
    • Julie Dirksen on the Importance of evaluating AI outputs
    • Using AI tools in ID - ChatGPT, Grammarly, Feedly
    • Connie on Agile ID and the importance of developing e-learning prototypes
    • The importance of incorporating the language of learners
    • Connie on Talent Stacking
    • Techniques for more effective learning - spacing learning, learning in short bursts/microlearning, reflection, studying things you care about, elaboration, discussion
    • Connie on elaboration
    • Connie's Breaking into ID site and email course: https://breakingintoid.com
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 8 minutes 1 second

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #11 - Heidi Kirby on Making L&D More Strategic

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Heidi Kirby, Ph.D., an L&D strategy consultant, instructional designer, writer, and podcaster, about how L&D teams and organizations can be more intentional and strategic in facilitating learning and performance. With a PhD in instructional design and technology and over a decade of industry experience, Heidi possesses a unique blend of theory and practice. Over the past decade, she has built and launched learning programs, consulted with award-winning L&D entrepreneurs, and helped countless instructional designers enhance their skills. Co-founder of Useful Stuff and host of the BLOC podcast, Heidi seeks to help L&D professionals and companies around the world make learning more engaging and useful. She lives and works in Cleveland, OH, with her family and has an infectious laugh. In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to L&D and talent professionals, including: - Why L&D teams need a big dose of strategic thinking - Ways to manage stakeholder expectations - Building strong, diverse L&D teams - Beginning L&D projects with evaluation in mind - And so much more... Topics, references, and other stuff mentioned in the conversation:

    • Designing for NASA, working in government
    • Challenging preconceived notions of training
    • Loom: https://www.loom.com/
    • Managing stakeholder expectations
    • Building and managing L&D teams
    • The importance of wins - big and small, short and long-term
    • Leveraging L&D talent and skills
    • Hiring for the same values and different skills
    • Aligning L&D strategy with business goals
    • Jim Collins - getting the right people in the right seats: https://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/first-who.html
    • Team vision and values clarification
    • Evaluating learning from the start of a project
    • Wistia: https://wistia.com/
    • Borrowing resources from other departments
    • Kirkpatrick Framework for Learning Evaluation: https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/
    • The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning: https://the6ds.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Introduction-to-the-6Ds-3.0.pdf
    • Cathy Moore - Action Mapping: https://blog.cathy-moore.com/action-mapping-a-visual-approach-to-training-design/
    • Immersing yourself in the client's culture
    • Field of Dreams - Build It, and They Will Come? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOPTByHw5RA
    • Pivoting from reactive to proactive mode
    • Intake process for training requests
    • Evaluating and choosing L&D tools
    • L&D toolkits>elearning authoring tools
    • Creating authentic learning experiences
    • Revising and improving learning experiences
    • Podcasts as learning and cultural tools
    • Heidi's dissertation on ID management and leadership skills: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/stemps_etds/132/
    • The Dichotomy of control and controlling the controllable: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/365-ways-to-be-more-stoic/202304/the-stoic-dichotomy-of-control-in-practice
    • Setting personal learning goals
    • LN Connect - 2024 Conference https://thelearning-network.org/event/connect-2024-be-the-disruption/

    Connect with Heidi:

    • Website: https://heidikirby.com/
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby
    • Useful Stuff: ⁠https://www.getusefulstuff.com/⁠
    • The BLOC podcast: ⁠https://blocpod.buzzsprout.com/⁠
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 28 minutes 15 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #10 - Chris Deavin on Habit and Behavior Change

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Chris Deavin, health coach, personal trainer, and business owner, about key principles of behavior change and how to form healthy habits. With over two decades of experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds to enhance their health and well-being, Chris is an expert at helping people build durable and repeatable habits and lifestyles. Chris has degrees in exercise science and certificates in nutrition, personal training, and related areas. He owns multiple health and fitness-related businesses, including MyHealthCoach, All-in-1 Health and Fitness, PT Development, and Reigate Health and Fitness. Chris lives in Reigate, UK, with his partner. He loves to travel and challenge himself by competing in all sorts of physical endurance events. In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to anyone seeking to develop habits to promote their health, performance, and well-being, including:

    • The difference between knowledge and application
    • Why motivation is a myth
    • The power of consistency
    • Why it's so crucial to get the fundamentals right
    • Core values -their benefits and costs
    • Why mindset trumps planning
    • Designing your environment to reduce friction
    • And so much more...

    Mentioned in or based on our conversation :

    • Knowledge vs. Wisdom - https://betterhumans.pub/the-difference-between-knowledge-and-wisdom-3ff97605287a
    • 3 Different types of knowledge - conceptual, process/procedural, contextual - https://ice.ua.es/es/jornadas-redes-2013/documentos/2013-posters/334641.pdf
    • Definition of performance
    • Motivation vs. passion/desire
    • Definition of learning
    • The fundamentals - Sleeping, eating, exercising - https://eatmovesleep.org/
    • The power of values - https://www.mindtools.com/a5eygum/what-are-your-values
    • Simon Sinek - Start with Why - https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/
    • Core values - https://scottjeffrey.com/core-values-list/
    • The downside of core values
    • Readiness to change model - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transtheoretical_model
    • David Goggins - https://davidgoggins.com/
    • The motivation myth - https://www.amazon.com/Motivation-Myth-Achievers-Really-Themselves/dp/0399563768
    • Eliminating environmental friction - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/well/mind/healthy-habits.html AND https://www.bobsutton.net/book/the-friction-project/
    • James Clear - Atomic Habits - https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
    • "Crowding out" bad habits
    • Process vs. Results
    • Mindset before plan
    • The "C word" - consistency
    • Action planning
    • Experiential learning from failure
    • Keystone or fundamental habits - https://jamesclear.com/keystone-habits
    • Failure vs. feedback
    • Embrace the Suck - https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Suck-Navy-SEAL-Extraordinary/dp/0306846330
    • BJ Fogg - Tiny Habits - ⁠https://tinyhabits.com/⁠


    Connect with Chris:

    • Coach.Me - https://www.coach.me/chrisdeavin
    • Over 50 and strong YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@over50andstrong
    • Twitter/X - https://www.twitter.com/myHealthCoach3
    • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/myhealthcoachuk
    • Email - myhealthcoachuk@gmail.com
    • MyHealthCoach - https://www.myhealthcoach.online/your-coach
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 24 minutes 52 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #9 - Amy Edmondson on Team Learning and Performance

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Amy C. Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management at the Harvard Business School (HBS), about team learning and performance. Thinkers50 #1 Management Thinker in the world, Amy is most well-known for her pioneering work on psychological safety and its key role in promoting team learning, collaboration, and innovation. She's the author of countless journal articles, books, case studies, and other content on leadership, teaming, and learning. Amy most recently published The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well (2023), a book about how we can all leverage failure to our advantage. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband George and is the proud parent of two terrific young men.

    In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to managers, leaders, and other professionals seeking to enhance the learning and performance of teams and organizations, including:

    • Psychological safety and its role in team learning and performance
    • Myths about psychological safety
    • Psychological safety vs. accountability
    • Can there be too much psych safety?
    • The three different types of failures
    • The 4 elements of "intelligent" failures
    • The role of leaders in making it safe to speak up and fail
    • A whole lot more!

    Mention in the conversation:

    • Psychological safety
    • Humans as unconscious calculators
    • The critical role of psychological safety in facilitating learning
    • The 4 stages of learning
    • The variability of psych safety on teams in the same organization
    • Myths about psych safety
    • Psych safety vs. safe spaces
    • Chris Argyris on learning-oriented conversations
    • Can there be too much psych safety? https://hbr.org/2024/01/can-workplaces-have-too-much-psychological-safety AND https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/the-downside-of-psychological-safety-in-the-workplace/
    • Psych safety vs. accountability
    • Three types of failure
    • The 4 criteria of intelligent failures
    • Air Florida Flight 90 - A basic avoidable failure
    • The Checklist Manifesto
    • Learning from mistakes
    • Deliberate practice
    • The challenges of creating psych safety on remote teams: https://psychsafety.co.uk/psychological-safety-in-remote-teams/ AND https://hbr.org/2020/08/how-to-foster-psychological-safety-in-virtual-meetings
    • The importance for leaders to frame work
    • Framing
    • Research on employee experience as it relates to connection to purpose and meaning, culture and community, learning and development, and material well-being, and how they relate
    • Ed Catmull on crappy first drafts
    • Growth mindset
    • Buckminster Fuller on naivety

    Connect with Amy:

    • HBS page
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter/X
    • Instagram
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 10 minutes 36 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #8 - Todd Gerspach on Enhancing Executive Performance

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Todd Gerspach, former C-level executive and founder of Fortitude Executive Coaching, about how executives can enhance their performance while maintaining some semblance of balance.

    In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to current and aspiring managers and leaders, including:

    • Definitions of professional and personal success
    • Learning from experience
    • Leadership vs. management
    • Coaching
    • Change management
    • Personal mission statements and value hierarchies
    • Mental models of management and leadership
    • And a whole lot more!

    Mentioned in the conversation:

    • 8:35:00 - John Wooden on success - https://www.thewoodeneffect.com/pyramid-of-success/
    • 12:19:00- Learning from experience - https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Experiential_learning
    • 13:08:00 - Definition of Management - https://monday.com/blog/project-management/four-functions-of-management/
    • 15:02:00 - CCT Trifecta - https://www.fortitudeexec.com/approach
    • 29:07:00 - Growth mindset
    • https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/
    • 29:54:00 - Management vs. Leadership - https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/leadership-vs-management
    • 30:32:00 - Servant, transformational, and authentic leadership - https://www.fortitudeexec.com/leadership-philosophys
    • 33:00:00 - John Kotter - https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6495
    • 35:14:00 - The learning/performance dip - https://medium.com/@simply_stef/stages-of-learning-when-are-people-most-likely-to-give-up-on-a-new-skill-6131866e4e21
    • 40:00:00 - Internal/intrinsic vs. external/extrinsic motivationhttps://www.verywellmind.com/differences-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation-2795384
    • 40:40:00 - Personal values hierarchy - https://www.mindtools.com/a5eygum/what-are-your-values
    • 44:44:00 - Alan Mulally's family mission statement - https://www.inc.com/ayse-birsel/3-lessons-i-learned-from-ford-ceo-alan-mulally-about-being-a-better-parent.html
    • 44:49:00 - Stephen Covey on family missions - https://www.thebump.com/a/family-mission-statement
    • 45:33:00 - DISC - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC_assessment
    • 45:34:00 - EQ - https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-emotional-intelligence-eq
    • 50:41:00 - ModelNetics - https://www.maineventmanagement.com/model-netics/
    • 51:46:00 - Delegation triangle - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-elements-delegation-victor-roosen/
    • 53:18:00 - The Seven Ports of Life - https://www.leedunnesoccer.com/post/the-7-ports-of-life
    • 54:00:00 - KASH Model - https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/learning/process/obtaining/obtaining-information/knowledge-skills-attitudes/kash/
    • 1:01:48 - Executive 360 Model - https://www.fortitudeexec.com/executive-coaching
    • 1:02:48 - Opportunity Wedge - https://liveyourwage.com/the-opportunity-wedge/
    • 1:08:07 - Job-crafting - https://hbr.org/2010/06/managing-yourself-turn-the-job-you-have-into-the-job-you-want


    Connect with Todd:

    • LinkedIn
    • Website
    • YouTube
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 19 minutes 24 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #4 - Dr. Jenny Woo on Learning to Be More Emotionally Intelligent

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Dr. Jenny Woo, a Harvard-trained educator, cognitive science researcher, entrepreneur, executive coach, and mom of three. Jenny is the founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, an organization dedicated to helping parents, teachers, and other adults apply research from psychology and neuroscience to build essential life skills in our kids. Jenny conducts research in social-emotional learning, emotion regulation, and resilience. She is the creator of a series of award-winning life skills games used by parents, teachers, counselors, and therapists in 50+ countries.


    In our conversation, Jenny and I discuss:

    • Social and emotional learning (SEL)
    • Emotional intelligence (EQ)
    • The value of essential skills in the age of AI
    • The importance of relationships in human development
    • The application of neuroscience to education
    • The use of games to build skills
    • And several others...


    Mentioned in the conversation:

    • Psychological Safety
    • Harvard Study of Adult Development
    • The Loneliness Epidemic
    • Emotional Agility


    Learn more about Jenny and check out her games:

    • LinkedIn; Instagram
    • Mind Brain Emotion Website
    • Essential Human Skills Card Games on Amazon
    • 52 Essential Coping Skills
    • 52 Essential Relationship Skills
    • 52 Essential Critical Thinking Skills
    • 52 Essential Interview Skills
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 10 minutes 27 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #3 - Curt Bonk on Changing Lives Through Self-Directed Online Learning

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Dr. Curt Bonk, a Professor at Indiana University's School of Education who teaches psychology and technology courses. Curt is a prolific scholar and author, a sought-after conference speaker, and a big believer in the power of online education to transform lives worldwide. He currently conducts research in the field of self-directed online learning environments (SOLEs) and open education (including massive open online courses (MOOCs)).

    In this conversation, Dr. Bonk and I discuss a range of topics, including:

    • Self-directed online learning
    • Massive open online courses
    • The measurement of online learning
    • Online learning resources and support for students
    • The stages of technology adoption
    • Techniques for online Instructors to support students
    • How instructors can add some TEC-VARIETY to their courses
    • And many others...

    Mentioned in the conversation:

    • A list of Curt's 300+ articles on self-directed online learning, MOOCs, and related topics
    • EdTechBooks.org - Free education technology
    • Curt's Books
    • Garrison (1997) - Self-Directed Learning Model
    • Bonk's TEC-VARIETY Model of Motivation
    • Silver Lining for Learning podcast

    More from Dr. Bonk:

    • Curt Bonk's Open Learning World
    • Curt Bonk's IU Profile
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 5 minutes 9 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    #7 - Michael Sweeney on L&D, Coaching, Leadership, Teams, and Beyond!

    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
    Show more...
    1 year ago
    1 hour 38 minutes 47 seconds

    The Learning + Performance Podcast
    The show that explores key ideas, strategies, tools, and techniques for enhancing human learning and performance.