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/new...
Jul 07, 2020•37 min•Ep. 202
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 t...
Jun 30, 2020•35 min•Ep. 201
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 ...
Jun 23, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 200
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...
Jun 16, 2020•40 min•Ep. 199
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 ...
Jun 09, 2020•40 min•Ep. 198
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 ...
Jun 02, 2020•42 min•Ep. 197
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 ...
May 26, 2020•43 min•Ep. 196
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 platfo...
May 19, 2020•37 min•Ep. 195
In Shape Up , Ryan Singer shares the methodology that he and his colleagues at Basecamp use to 'ship work that matters'. The book presents itself as a guide for software developers, but what lessons does it hold for L&D? On this week's episode of The Good Practice Podcast, Ross D is joined by Owen, Nicola and Ross G for the third in our series of bimonthly 'book club' episodes. We discuss: our general impressions of the book the differences between Basecamp's approach and other product devel...
May 12, 2020•40 min•Ep. 194
Self-management is increasingly seen as the most diplomatic way to run an organisation. But how does this work when critical, time-sensitive decisions have to be made? What structures do these organisations need to have in place to succeed? And how do they overcome the challenges they are presented with? This week, Nicola Boyle and Owen Ferguson are joined by organisational self-management coach Lisa Gill. We discuss: The critical success factors of running a self-managing organisation The chall...
May 05, 2020•42 min•Ep. 193
Evidence has shown that part-time workers can outperform full-time workers. So why is it that they often feel stigmatized or second-tier within their organization? And what can leaders and managers do to challenge this? This week on The Good Practice Podcast, Nicola Boyle and Lucy Bishop are joined by Nikki Slowey and Lisa Gallagher from Flexibility Works. We discuss: How to challenge the stigma of part-time work How to effectively manage part-time staff How to go part-time and job-share in seni...
Apr 28, 2020•36 min•Ep. 192
What ideas are L&D most excited about in 2020? Artificial intelligence? Learning experience platforms? Curation? This week on the Good Practice Podcast, Ross D and James are joined by Don Taylor to pore over the latest Global Sentiment Survey, and discover what's 'hot' (and what's not) in learning and development. We discuss: the top-line takeaways from GSS 2020 the key regional differences in the data the trends that have emerged over seven years of the survey Show notes To download a copy ...
Apr 21, 2020•37 min•Ep. 191
This week on The Good Practice Podcast, e-learning specialist, author and consultant Clive Shepherd joins Ross G and Owen to discuss the promise of e-learning. Where has it succeeded? Where has it gone wrong? And with authoring tools now giving anyone the ability to create great e-learning, might the problem be... well... us? We discuss: the evolution of e-learning the business barriers to effective e-learning the opportunities created by personality, humour and storytelling. Show notes The text...
Apr 14, 2020•40 min•Ep. 190
Carol Dweck's Mindset (2006) and Angela Duckworth's Grit (2016) are two of the most influential social science texts of this century, but difficulty implementing their ideas and a failure to replicate their findings has left them open to criticism. In this special crossover edition of The Good Practice and Emotion at Work podcasts, hosts Nicola Boyle and Phil Willcox are joined by Owen Ferguson, Ross Garner and Gemma Towersey to discuss. We explore: the extent to which we feel we demonstrate gri...
Apr 06, 2020•46 min•Ep. 189
In Social by Design , an upcoming book from Mark Britz and James Tyer, the authors argue that we should purposefully build social connections within organisations. In this week's episode of The Good Practice Podcast, they join Ross G and Owen to discuss: the serendipitous nature of many workplace social connections the opportunities created by digital tools the impact of coronavirus on social connectedness. Show notes The book James referenced was The Connected Company by Dave Gray, available on...
Mar 31, 2020•44 min
To what extent are our decisions at work based on data and testing, versus hunches and gut feelings? In Experimentation Works , Stefan Thomke argues that the scientific method should drive business decisions and has the potential to improve performance. On this week's episode of The Good Practice Podcast, Ross D is joined by Owen, Ross G and Nicola for the second in our series of bimonthly 'bookclub' episodes. We discuss: our general impressions of the book the opportunities created by experimen...
Mar 24, 2020•34 min•Ep. 187
In the past few weeks, the rapid spread of Covid-19 has made 'self-isolation' an everyday term. 'Working from home' has stopped being a perk, and become a necessity (for those of us fortunate enough to be able to do so). But how do you adjust to working in isolation and communicating via remote meetings? On this week's episode of The Good Practice Podcast, Ross D is joined by Owen, Ross G and Emerald Workser Craig Dutton to share their advice for coping with coronavirus. We discuss: our strategi...
Mar 17, 2020•31 min•Ep. 186
This week on the Good Practice Podcast, Ross D is joined by Owen and Gent Ahmetaj to dig into the latest research report from Emerald Works — Back to the Future: Why Tomorrow's Workforce Needs a Learning Culture . We discuss: the purpose of the Learning Health Check the top-line takeaways from the report the practical implications for L&D Show notes If you're interested in reading the report for yourself, you can download a copy at: https://emeraldworks.com/resources/research-and-reports/str...
Mar 10, 2020•39 min•Ep. 185
Returning to work after parental leave can be a daunting time for parents. What can managers do to ease this process and support returners in the best way possible? This week on the Good Practice Podcast, Nicola Boyle and Cat MacLeod speak to Nikki Slowey from Family Friendly Working Scotland and Camden Council's Tom Spencer. In the episode we discuss: tips for managers supporting parental leave returners some of the classic pitfalls managers fall into the perceived (or actual) gender difference...
Mar 03, 2020•41 min•Ep. 184
Working in L&D, we spend a lot of time focusing on the development of others. But how much time do we spend thinking about our own development? This week on the Good Practice Podcast, Ross Garner and Owen Ferguson are joined by Lightbulb Moment's Jo Cook to discuss: the benefits of formal training for L&D professionals the value of experience over expertise how people working in L&D can support each other. Show notes The book Owen recommends is Shape Up by Ryan Singer, and it can be ...
Feb 25, 2020•38 min•Ep. 183
Learning Technologies is one of the biggest industry conferences in the L&D calendar. But what did we learn from attending? This week on The Good Practice Podcast, Nicola Boyle, James McLuckie and Gemma Towersey discuss their highlights and key takeaways from the conference. In the episode we discuss: Personalisation The ethics of AI Getting back to the basics of learning design Show notes The Good Practice podcast episode that James referenced, featuring Nick Robinson, was episode 89 'Intro...
Feb 18, 2020•24 min•Ep. 182
For many organisations, the workplace is no longer local. Technology has helped create a global talent market, where the primary job requirements are a computer and a stable internet connection. There are obvious benefits to this, but what does it mean for L&D? How do you deliver a consistent experience to a multilingual, multicultural workforce, spread across different regions? This week on the Good Practice Podcast, Ross Dickie and Gemma Towersey are joined by Emily Decker from Comtec Tran...
Feb 11, 2020•30 min•Ep. 181
What are some of the L&D challenges faced by the not-for-profit sector? And how do they overcome these challenges on restricted budgets? This week on The Good Practice Podcast, Nicola Boyle and James McLuckie are joined by Cat Kernohan, Head of L&D at Oxfam, and Kate Kellaway Moore, Head of Talent and Resourcing at Oxfam to discuss. In this episode you'll find out: How Oxfam deliver their L&D initiatives on restricted budgets How not-for-profit organisations can attract and retain ta...
Feb 04, 2020•41 min•Ep. 180
This week, we're taking a break from our usual format to bring you some exciting news! Tune in to hear CEO Peter Casebow speak to regular hosts Ross Garner, Nicola Boyle and Ross Dickie about what's changing. You can also check out our new website at emeraldworks.com Or get in touch on Twitter @Emerald_Works .
Jan 28, 2020•4 min•Ep. 179
The LPI recently surveyed learning leaders, asking them to name their toughest workplace challenges. The results? Creating a learning culture, developing the workforce of the future, digital transformation and digital learning, leadership and management development, and self-directed learning. This week on The GoodPractice Podcast, Owen and Ross G are joined by LPI CEO Ed Monk to discuss what these findings mean for learning organisations. We discuss: increased confidence among learning professi...
Jan 21, 2020•41 min
Can learning and development ever adopt the same rigour as clinical research? And how should we judge the usefulness of existing research? This week on The GoodPractice Podcast, Ross G and Owen welcome return guest Mirjam Neelen to discuss her new book (co-written with Paul A. Kirschner): Evidence-informed learning design We discuss: the problems with research into learning the mis-use of terms like 'neuroscience' to justify beliefs the difference between corporate learning and academia. If you'...
Jan 14, 2020•37 min•Ep. 177
This week on The GoodPractice Podcast, it's the return of our much beloved Christmas episode! This year, GoodPractice guardian angels Nicola, Owen, Ross G and Ross D share their favourite clips from the past year in an effort to help Bedford Falls' own George Bailey rediscover his love of learning and development. We discuss: the L&D community behaviour change remote working learning analytics and women in learning. The episodes we referenced were: Podcast 150 — Live from London: The past, p...
Dec 16, 2019•45 min•Ep. 176
What do the Ancient Greeks, Viking warriors and World War II munition factories have to tell us about modern learning and development? More than you might think! On this week's episode of The GoodPractice Podcast, Michelle Parry-Slater joins Ross G and Owen to explore lessons from the history of L&D. We discuss: how modern L&D developed the benefits of exploring our history evolution vs revolution in L&D. If you'd like to get in touch with us about any of the things we've said on thi...
Dec 09, 2019•40 min•Ep. 175
What should we know about the people we don't? Through a series of thematically related anecdotes, this is the question Malcolm Gladwell sets out to answer in his latest book, Talking to Strangers. On this week's episode of the GoodPractice Podcast, Ross D is joined by Owen, Ross G and Nicola for the first in a series of bimonthly 'bookclub' episodes. We discuss: our general impressions of the book whether it has changed the way we interact with strangers key takeaways for L&D professionals ...
Dec 03, 2019•32 min•Ep. 174
In this special video episode of The GoodPractice Podcast, we're at eLN Connect 2019, the annual e-Learning Network conference for developers and instructional designers. We discuss: our instructional design mistakes relationships between clients and vendors good and bad applications for virtual reality problems with the traditional conference format. As well as the usual 30-minute audio cut, we've also released a 7-minute video version on our YouTube channel. You can see that here: bit.ly/GPPod...
Nov 26, 2019•30 min•Ep. 173
