Learning That Sticks

Delivering significant results is probably the expected outcome of any learning programme. But how many truly deliver...and how many drift into a box ticking process? £2.4 million in additional sales definitely sits in the significant result box in my mind and that is the kind of outcome that Sue helps her clients regularly deliver. So how does she do it? In this episode Sue shares some of the ways in which she approaches these challenges: from the way she instills self care into her learners, deliberate reflection time, detailed dashboards and established accreditations....oh and cardboard knickers on a washing line too!

Sue's wonderful and warm personality shines throughout this chat and you can't escape her genuine desire to help others unleash their potential!

How do you make sure your learning is accessible for all? In this episode the wonderful Hayley Brackley uses her insights and personal experience to share numerous practical suggestions that any facilitator or coach can embrace to make the learning experience work for everyone. From how you create and share resources, how you manage collaborations, ways to set up practice activities and organising virtual break-out rooms. And of course, that starting point of creating the psychological safety whereby participants feel they can talk to you and explain what they need. Hayley's default question: "What can I do to make this learning experience work best for you?" is one that can sit in any facilitator's preparation. Hayley also generously shares her own neurodivergence and helps us understand what Facilitators can do to help themselves bring their best to the group. An episode packed with tangible suggestions, and tips to ensure we are prepared and can run learning sessions that are accessible for all.

The wonderful Lycia Harper shares insights into the world of working and thinking systematically. Recognising that our organisations and relationships are complex, that history has a role, that stories are crucial, that the territory we operate in influences our behaviour and therefore our outcomes. Lycia shares how she initially approaches organisational challenges, the questions she asks, the areas she focuses on, how she helps individuals, groups, communities build maps to help their understanding and therefore start to make the necessary changes. We also discuss what this means for the coach/facilitator, and how you have to trust yourself to ask the right questions rather than provide a ready made solution. Lycia also points us in the right direction to learn more about this approach with insights into those who have influenced her. A fantastically interesting toe dip into the world of systemic constellations that will leave you hungry for more!

The fantastic Jamie Dixon joins us for the third time on Learning that Sticks, and as always Jamie has wonderful insights to share. This time we look at how people learn and the facilitators role in that. From Doaism to fish we discuss if concepts and models are getting in the way of how people truly learn and agree a more facilitated and coaching approach, stripped clear of those potentially outdated models and concepts is far more likely to result in real learning.

In this episode with the fabulous Gwyn Wansbrough we turn the spotlight firmy on to the Facilitator, and how transformative facilitation can help create those breakthrough moments that mean learning has truly stuck! And the focus is firmly on the people rather than the plan, on the community rather than the content. That's not to say content isn't important but without laying the crucial foundations of psychological safety and building community it is unlikely people will lean into the content in a way that means breakthroughs happen. Gwyn shares her experience and approach to show how transformative facilitation can make all the difference!

Innovating to help it truly stick

The context of the learning may be different (in this case, safety in the construction and energy sectors) but the motivation is still the same: learning that sticks and can be turned into the right performance at the right time. The challenge for Dick (and the 1000 or so learners that they work with on a daily basis!) is that they are training skills that people would rather not have to use and may not need to use for months, even years. To address this, Dick is shaking up the traditional approach and innovating to ensure their number one goal, safety, is achieved. This means using Virtual Reality, Spaced repetition, analogical scaffolding and emotion triggering videos. Most importantly this isn't innovating for innovations sake and is not about the latest new toys, but what will help them embed the skills, awareness and behaviours that can be tapped into at a moment's notice despite not having regular practice opportunities. Sticky learning at its very best!

The learner at the centre of digital learning

Following on from their episode in Season 1 on making digital learning sticky, Erica and Hayley join me this time to talk about keeping the learner forefront and centre of any digital learning, even the asynchronous solutions. They share great insights and expertise around curating varied mediums of content (not just point and click e-learning!), ensuring it is easy to access and is available for in-the-moment needs rather than when the L&D team schedules it. This is well worth a listen as we continue on our digital revolution in the world of learning!

Sometimes you need to stop, look back and reflect! So in this episode I am joined once again by the wonderful Emma Spence to review our Season 2 episodes. And what a collection it is....such a variety of ideas, methods and means to facilitate truly sticky learning. Amongst all the rich pickings there were some common themes emerging though, none more so than the individual learner needing to be at the very heart of it, to lead it. Enjoy this review, with Emma, it's made me want to dive back into every single episode!

"We don't just learn from the neck up"! In this episode Lena brings to life how she uses embodied learning to help the learning truly stick! Differentiating this from practice, Lena highlights that many of the physical exercises she creates in learning sessions are done in isolation and designed to resonate on a physical level rather than solely cognitive. From "walking on eggshells" to pushing against a wall some of the simplest of metaphors can reveal the physical behaviours that impact our thinking. Lena also shares brilliantly creative physical exercises that generate instant impact. Link two people, a ball and a tree and see how this unpicks a misguided approach to coaching!

If you want your participants to truly embed their learning, check out this episode for how to help them learn through the whole body!

Following on from her fabulous episode on Experiential Learning in Season 1, Romy joins us to talk about the critical subject of Psychological Safety which is at the very heart of sticky learning. No, not some fluffy hand holding ice breaker but the essential connection and belief that you can create in the group as to how they can show up, engage, work with each other and embrace the tough elements of true learning such as failure and feedback. Romy cites many leading experts in the field but you only have to listen to hear the brilliant and passionate belief Romy has in the role psychological safety has in learning and she shares numerous practical ideas for how you can build this, regardless of context or medium.

Graphic Facilitation

This isn't just about recording outcomes on flipcharts. And it isn't just about being fantastic at graphics. Keisuke combines his facilitation and graphics skills  to reflect, in the moment where the conversation is going, what is happening and what is being said along with the oh so important context of what isn't being said. The emotions, the missed connections, the interesting perspectives that a facilitator can pick up on, but then beautifully represented on the board with Keisuke's graphics. And this isn't just for a take away at the end of the session but is a powerful mirror as the conversation progresses and as Keisuke says, he can add spice to the graphics to prompt discussion and reflection from a different perspective. In person facilitation, coaching and visual workshops with 100's of participants, this is such a fabulous method to generate the stickiest of learning!

Lynda is usually involved in large development programmes that will run over 6-9 months and often have large numbers of participants. Despite this, her starting point is not content, not showcasing her or her team's knowledge, but connection. Connection with the participants and connecting them with each other. The better that you understand where they are, their starting point, the journey they need to go on then the better facilitator you can be.

You are also much better placed then, as Lynda says, to "make yourself redundant". Not permanently, just with that group on that journey, where they take control and continue to stretch and learn without needing your guidance or facilitation. Lynda generously shares her insights and ideas as to how you do this and how you can, even on big long programmes, create genuinely sticky learning experiences.

"The Story Habit"

In series 1 Jamie shared his wisdom around making Training as practical as possible. In this episode Jamie brings to life his "Story Habit" which resonates so deeply with sticky learning on every level! Starting with a wonderful fable Jamie cuts through the world of Training commissioned and done to people and illustrates why we have to help people shape their own stories. Where are they right now, what is their "map" like, when is the time right for them to commit to stepping into the stretch and challenge of learning and where do they want and need to get to. If you're planning a learning intervention soon, I challenge you not to use the metaphor of the village and the dark forest!!

Embodied Learning

From Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to practising being uncomfortable by debating London taxi drivers, Pete takes us on a journey of understanding as to what Embodied learning is. Learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable is at the heart of this approach  and so it is no surprise that this is very much for the motivated learner. Defining outcomes based on longing, tuning into emotional soundtracks, identifying these somatic markers, recognising you are a beginner in terms of choosing your response and then using deliberate and varied practice in order to develop choices rather than our ingrained response. This is the very embodiment of sticky learning!

A deceptively simple approach to deep high quality learning! Sarah Jane and David return to "Learning that Sticks" to share how they use the ABT model (And, But, Therefore) to help build a coaching style approach to learning using our everyday methodology of problem solving. With heavy emphasis on collaboration, reflection and learner led responsibility this seemingly simple approach lends itself to vivid depiction of desired outcomes (And), concise and objective recognition of the problem or barriers (But) and deep commitment to the required solutions (Therefore). As in their previous episode in series 1, Sarah Jane and David are a Podcast delight with their insights, ideas and generosity making the complex (deceptively) simple!

"Truly making a Difference"

At the heart of "Learning that Sticks" is a desire to help make sure any learning intervention genuinely delivers for it's participants. However, learning interventions, in whatever shape, context or size rarely work in isolation. To make a real difference often involves the wider organisation, deep discovery conversations, establishing the real business needs and making sure everything and everyone is set up internally to enable that. This is the approach and expertise that James and Katie provide, partnering with organisations to make sure the decisions they are taking around learning are decisions that will truly make a difference to the business and are not led simply by the latest fad or shiny new learning toy.

Reflective practice

For Sam, reflection is part of the very DNA of the programmes she runs.This not some hopeful activity that is left to chance but an integral part of the learning journey and an essential component of any programme that truly sticks. We look at what reflection really is, when it can happen, in what format it can be done and how it can be baked into the design of a learning programme. We also look at the barriers to reflection (have you really not got time for such self-care?!) and recognise that the more a learner makes choices about this, and takes personal responsibility for developing reflective habits, the greater the results are gained.

Phil's episode from Series 1 brilliantly highlighted the integral role that practice plays in learning and I instantly adopted two of his phrases: "Deliberate practice" and "Practice comes first"! Returning in series 2, Phil shares deeper insights into how practice fits into a true learning journey (Yes, right from the start!), how we need to practice at practice to ensure it helps us learn and we also touch on the Dunning-Kruger effect and how this can hold people back from utilising practice effectively. Once you've listened to Phil, practice will never be that rushed role-play at the end of a workshop again!

We've probably all experienced it. The vacuum in learning that can happen between sessions. The need to use session 2 to remind, reflect, review and practice what was covered in Session 1, because everyday work just got in the way! In this episode we focus on what coaches and facilitators can do to help ensure the learning continues to happen when you're not there. The necessary action, practice, reflection and accountability that makes the learning truly stick. Dr P has a great phrase of the "Scaffolding" of this time between sessions, a framework of accountability, action taking and teamwork that fits everyday work rather than being in competition with it. As Dr P says, like being a genie in their pocket!!

In this episode we venture to Australia to chat with the wonderful Catherine Mattiske, delving into her vast experience of learning (31 books and counting!). We focus in on the power of high performance learners, those that are motivated, committed and crucially self aware of how they best learn. When you combine these with facilitators who are driven by Catherines values (100% of the learners achieve 100% of their performance outcomes) then you truly get sticky learning! Tie in the fact that Catherine had been delivering 100% virtually since 2011 (no waiting for a global pandemic)! and you'll realise that we have only scratched the surface of her expertise.

A first for Learning that Sticks as we welcome back one of our fabulous guests from Series 1! In that episode True shared his beliefs on how facilitators and Trainers can go from good to great. This time we focus on what you are delivering and how you can ensure that it keeps fresh, up to date and has sticky wow factor! True shares a wealth of ideas, tips and experiences and wraps it all up with some great advice on debriefing activities to ensure the value they have created is transferred effectively.

Using actors and comedy to help learning stick

Dry dull PowerPoint? Theory heavy discussion? The dreaded "role-play"? One conversation with Clare and you'll forget all of this and replace it with Forum Theatre, well planned "real-play" and heavy dollops of humour. And the great thing is, this isn't just about having fun, this is dopamine inducing, interactive and real, this is sticky learning in action! With stories a plenty (spoiler alert, there is a group of very experienced train drivers in Scotland who are awesome at managing conflict!) and laced with humour Clare makes an utterly compelling case for using actors to bring any kind of learning to life.

Applying neuroscience to make learning stick.

Magda's passion for learning and delivering amazing learning experiences means she is on a constant self-development drive. And that means making the most of recent research in fields such as neuroscience to ensure that her learning is sticky. Even better, Magda takes that learning and evolves it into simple strategies, models and metaphors to share ideas on how anyone can apply the science in simple but artful ways.

From her PERCS model, through to the Elephant and Rider metaphor and onto Journaling this episode is packed with ideas to design and deliver truly sticky learning!

Introversion and sticky learning.

Dull? Lacking in confidence? Disengaged? Absolutely not!!

Those with an introversion preference may not warm to the traditionally extrovert learning environment but this should absolutely not be viewed as disengagement. Jo has a wealth of experience in the world of learning fused with a clear understanding of her introversion preference and brings this all to life with wonderful stories and examples of how introversion is no barrier to sticky learning. From providing (geniusly) simple choices in advance, to structuring exercises that showcase introvert strengths, deliberate reflection time and maximising follow up opportunities there are a myriad of ways to flex the design and facilitation of sticky learning to work for everyone. And let's not forget the incredibly common case of the Introverted Facilitator! Jo's ideas around "Pre-charging" and "Recharging" are invaluable for those who may struggle to be authentic in a role perceived to be the realm of the extrovert.

Creating physical artefacts to embed the learning

"Magical, meaningful, memorable"

When you are as innovative as Jimbo it is not hard to imagine any session he facilitates living up these three standards. Jimbo humbly describes himself as a man who puts boxes on peoples heads but when you listen to his approach and beliefs around learning you instantly know that the "box" experience will be magical, have enormous meaning for those taking part and, of course, be truly memorable!

With the box in mind we talk through how the shift to virtual as our medium for learning does not mean we need to forget the physical and this leads us to the wonderful concept of facilitation origami! We also explore what is next for virtual learning and how to create a sense of physical "off-site" experiences whilst still being based anywhere in the world!

A learners review.

Emma has been on a learning journey of her own over the last few years. Always focused on people in her role co-founding and building a successful African Safari business, Emma discovered coaching, realised she was a natural and set about refining and developing her skills culminating in her qualification and accreditation as a Co-Active Coach. Emma has also listened avidly to our podcast and so here we chat through a review of many of the previous episodes, picking out key moments that resonated with Emma from her coaching perspective, her understanding of learning and her own reflections on the journey she has been on.

Improvisation and sticky learning.

As facilitators and learning professionals we are always needing to think on our feet. However well planned your session is you can't plan for all scenarios and so the need to be present, to listen and to respond appropriately in the moment is a fundamental skill to ensure the learning you are facilitating really sticks. And when you think about it, this is true of almost all human interactions and many of the behaviours and mindsets that we as facilitators are often helping develop: leadership, sales, customer service, presentation skills and so on. Erin truly understands this and proactively encourages this skill through the use of Improvisation, running experiential learning programmes packed with improv activities, helping people build the necessary skills and mindset to be present, to listen and to act appropriately.

There's no script with Erin and she is an irresistible and generous force of nature: listen in to gain fabulous insights to how you can use the fun and playful Improv approach to help your learning be as sticky as possible! (Plus hear how we might react if we won the lottery!!)

Making digital learning sticky.

Erica and Hayley embraced digital learning long before most of us "had" to! Their positive and creative outlook on the future of not just digital but the role of L&D in helping organisations maximise the potential of technology and people is compelling. We explore design and facilitation of both virtual and hybrid sessions and agree that regardless of the tool or platform used, great facilitators adapt in order to make learning accessible for all.

The operations role in embedding learning

Garry is the Contact Centre Specialist and knows from his vast experience that training in isolation will rarely if ever work. Garry shares how he takes an all-consuming approach that ensures the whole operation is involved in managing learning interventions that truly stick. Believing that training is the "solution" is, to quote Garry, an "abdication of responsibility" and we explore how the role of the Team Leader and senior management is critical in delivering a successful outcome.

Adventure Learning

Phil is an adventure learning and experiential education expert and brings all this experience to our chat to illustrate just how powerful well structured adventure learning can be. Phil explains exactly what Adventure learning is (and no, it doesn't always require you to be hanging by the seat of your pants high up in a tree!) dispels some of the myths and misperceptions around it and walks us through exactly how he makes it particularly sticky!

Practice comes first

Phil is on a mission to turn L&D on its head, to shift away from content heavy learning sessions and towards practice first interventions. With references to Andy Murray and The Karate Kid, Phil's passion and belief in deliberate practice as being the means for achieving performance gains is irresistible and compelling!

James has worked on many large projects (over 200,000 participants anyone?!) tasked with delivering significant change and where simply ticking the "training" box won't do. In this episode James shares his 8 stage process that he uses to ensure that the role learning plays in the change is sticky and long lasting.

Facilitation - From Good to Great.

True shares his insights from years of experience on the crucial differences between being a "good" facilitator and being a "great" facilitator, channeling these into three key themes. True also drops in plenty of nuggets for those keen to learn more:

Adult Learning Resources True Mentioned

What exactly is a "Learning Journey"?

Jane is a true advocate of learning being a journey of discovery for an individual rather than a one off intervention. Sharing her approach to how she structures the learning, Jane explains how she influences stakeholders to believe in this process and the difference this can make for the individual. The shared love for Travel also comes through with analogies on road trips and round the world journeys being our metaphors for how to view a "learning journey"!

How do you design sticky learning??

Sheridan shares her expertise and wisdom on the world of Training design and how, with the right approach and dedicating the right amount of time you can ensure the learning is sticky. For those (as Mark sheepishly admits he used to) rely on their facilitation skills to run engaging sticky sessions Sheridan clearly demonstrates the benefits of viewing the design stage as a crucial component in facilitating effective learning. There is also a fantastic framework that anyone can use whatever the context of their learning.

How can you use Nature to help your learning stick? And what role could a Wolf-pack have on trust, teamwork and leadership?

Nicki's knowledge, expertise and passion shines a light on how easy it is to incorporate Nature in your learning programmes. With countless practical ideas (even if you are stuck in the Training room!) , powerful metaphors and research that shows the real impact nature can have on the quality of learning, there are rich resources for any form of learning here.

A serious (and fun!) look at what games based learning is all about.

Terry shares his expertise and passion for gamification in learning and learning design. We explore what games based learning is (and what it isn't), what makes it particularly sticky and how it can be designed into most learning interventions. Terry also lists numerous resources for those wanting to dig a bit deeper and develop their own games based learning solutions.

How do you make learning truly practical?

Based in China Jamie describes how his participants expect entirely practical, solution based learning experiences and he shares countless gems as he describes his methods and approach for delivering this. Practical take-aways from a practical training expert!

Is Experiential learning just about lots of exercises and games??

Romy, a Faculty member of the Institute of Experiential Learning, shares her passion and expertise in bringing to life exactly what experiential learning is, how it makes learning sticky and what it takes to build this into any learning intervention you are designing and delivering.

How do "Stories" help learning stick?

Sarah Jane and David explain how Story is at the heart of all they do, and at every stage of the learning journey, be that building an initial connection, bringing theory to life and especially in the essential deep reflection and heavy practise that makes learning sticky!

Micro learning: just another re-brand or a usable method for helping learning stick in the workplace?

Scott shares his passion and creativity for all things learning and performance as we explore what exactly Micro learning is (and isn't) and the different ways it can be used to provide the right impact at the right time...concluding with his genius idea around a Treasure Hunt!

Is the model you are using a complex theory or a sticky learning tool?

Angela shares how she makes different models as simple and usable as possible and the way in which she ensures the necessary practise and application of learning actually happens.

Is your training "learner led"?

Rod discusses how learner engagement is key to sticky learning, how he builds this into programmes he designs, plus how the inclusion of a minor bird in a school play ensured some of the stickiest learning he has experienced!