People and Performance Podcast

Navigating the Shift: How Organizations Are Building Skills-Based Workforces

Skills-based organizations are no longer just theoretical concepts discussed in business journals – they're becoming the new operational reality for companies worldwide. As Charlotte Evans, Director of Global Customer Advocacy for Coursera for Business, reveals in this eye-opening conversation with Chris Bjorling, even the most recognizable global brands are only now beginning their implementation journeys."A lot of organizations look at me and go 'we are not there,'" Charlotte shares, describing how companies are typically at steps two or three of the five-step maturity model. This widespread challenge has created what she calls "group therapy" among L&D professionals all asking the same questions: Where do we start? How do we measure success? What's actually working?Evans offers compelling insights into how objective skill measurement is revolutionizing workforce utilization. By accurately identifying capabilities (rather than relying on self or manager assessments), companies can create internal "gig economies" where employees contribute across traditional boundaries. She describes a credit services company that discovered significant gaps between manager perceptions and actual Python skills, highlighting the need for data-driven skill assessment.Perhaps most fascinating is the evolution of leadership development through artificial intelligence. Coursera's "Dialog" tool creates psychologically safe environments for managers to practice difficult conversations without the disruption or cost of traditional boot camps. The next frontier? AI-powered role play that simulates challenging negotiations, sales calls, and employee conversations – moving beyond today's "peppy" AI responses to reflect workplace realities.For L&D professionals looking ahead, Evans emphasizes aligning learning with business outcomes by partnering directly with functional leaders. She shares the remarkable story of Dow Chemical, which upskilled 84% of its IT workforce in generative AI within a single quarter, largely because the CIO personally completed and showcased the training.Connect with Charlotte Evans on LinkedIn or visit coursera.com/business to explore how skills-based learning can transform your organization's performance in an increasingly dynamic business landscape.----------Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line. Chris Bjorling, Co-host Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance. For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems. Bill Banham, Co-host Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London. Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool. Contact us to learn more!

Leveraging Social Support for Workplace Performance

What if the most powerful driver of workplace performance isn't complicated systems or cutting-edge technology, but something as fundamental as social support? Dr. Amanda Hagman, Chief Scientific Officer at Atana, reveals this insight in a conversation with Chris Bjorling about human behavior, organizational learning, and strategic development.Drawing from her extensive research, Amanda challenges listeners to reconsider how social dynamics shape workplace behavior. Through the relatable example of kitchen sink habits at home versus at work, she illustrates how environmental cues and social expectations profoundly influence our actions—regardless of generation. While acknowledging surface-level differences between age groups, she argues that the fundamental mechanisms of human learning remain consistent: we observe others, adapt to social norms, and mirror behaviors we see around us.The discussion takes a compelling turn toward the strategic potential of Learning and Development professionals. Amanda proposes that L&D teams occupy a uniquely valuable position in organizations, with access to employees across departments during training initiatives. This presents an opportunity to transform learning sessions into data collection moments that yield insights about motivations, attitudes, and organizational readiness. By leveraging these "captive audience" interactions, L&D can evolve beyond its traditional role to become a source of strategic intelligence for leadership.As organizations navigate technological shifts comparable to the advent of the internet, Amanda emphasizes the importance of leadership modeling desired behaviors while simultaneously upskilling alongside their teams. Her vision for the future of workplace learning balances innovation with proven methodologies—not discarding valuable established practices in pursuit of trends, but building upon solid foundations while adapting to change. Connect with Dr. Hagman on LinkedIn or visit Atana.com to discover how evidence-based learning approaches can drive meaningful performance improvement in your organization.----------Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line. Chris Bjorling, Co-host Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance. For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems. Bill Banham, Co-host Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London. Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool. Contact us to learn more!

What Do Your Employees Want to Learn? The Question Leaders Ignore

What happens when we forget the human beings behind job titles? Kristen Nielsen Donnelly, PhD, COO of Abbey Companies and founder of Abbey Research, tackles this question with refreshing candor in our conversation about workplace dynamics across generations.Breaking from typical generational discourse filled with negativity and fatalism, Kristen offers a provocative perspective: "Nearly everything people complain about in Gen Z is the fault of the older three generations in the world." She challenges leaders to recognize how we've created systems that didn't equip younger workers with necessary coping skills, then unfairly criticize them for struggling within those very systems.The most overlooked factor for improving workplace performance? "Remembering that they're people," Kristen states, noting how uncomfortable this simple truth makes many leaders feel. She cautions against the growing trend of AI-driven training solutions that flatten organizational culture and eliminate the nuances that make workplaces distinctive and attractive to diverse talent.As economic conditions tighten heading toward 2025, Kristen envisions L&D professionals as champions for humanity in organizations, becoming "the clanging drum and the resounding cymbal" reminding everyone that "our people are people" amid challenging business decisions. Her bold recommendation for talent development? Start by asking employees what they want to learn beyond their current role – what skills they hope to develop during their time with your organization.Discover more about Abbey Research's groundbreaking work on multi-generational workspaces through their website abbey-research.com, where you can access their published work, sign up for their newsletter, and stay updated on their latest findings about creating more human-centered workplaces where everyone can thrive.----------Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line. Chris Bjorling, Co-host Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance. For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems. Bill Banham, Co-host Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London. Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool. Contact us to learn more!

Surfacing Problems: The Gift of Failure

What happens when you treat problems as gifts rather than obstacles? According to Mike Taylor, cybersecurity professional at Nationwide and instructor at Franklin University's instructional design program, this mindset shift creates the foundation for powerful organizational learning.During this enlightening conversation with host Chris Bjorling, Mike challenges conventional L&D wisdom by emphasizing the critical importance of audience understanding before content creation. "If you have one size fits all, it really means one size fits none," he explains, advocating for learning experiences that are simple, relevant to specific roles, and emotionally resonant with learners.Mike offers a refreshing perspective on failure and conflict, sharing a transformative moment when a former boss taught him to welcome problems: "If you don't know about the problems, you can't fix them." This philosophy extends to his views on artificial intelligence in leadership development, where he encourages organizations to experiment now rather than being left behind—comparing today's AI hesitancy to early resistance toward email adoption.Looking toward 2025 and beyond, Mike articulates why learning itself represents the ultimate competitive advantage. "In an uncertain world, the learners will win," he quotes, emphasizing that success will go to organizations that can learn and apply new knowledge faster than competitors. This requires not just teaching content but teaching people how to learn effectively through psychological safety—environments where employees aren't afraid to fail and can surface problems openly.The conversation concludes with insights from Mike's co-authored book "Train Like a Marketer," which explores how L&D professionals can adopt marketing techniques to better capture attention and influence behavior. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn, through his L&D newsletter at mike-taylor.org, or discover his book at trainlikeamarketer.com.----------Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line. Chris Bjorling, Co-host Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance. For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems. Bill Banham, Co-host Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London. Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool. Contact us to learn more!

Ditching the L&D Soapbox

Cutting through the noise of today's workplace requires more than just great content - it demands a true understanding of learners and their needs. In this engaging conversation Chris Bjorling had with Bianca Baumann, VP of Learning Solutions and Innovation at Ardent Learning, we explore how marketing techniques can revolutionize learning and development efforts.Bianca shares her powerful guiding principle: "learner before content." This simple yet profound approach encourages L&D professionals to deeply understand their audience before developing materials, ensuring relevance and impact. As a newly published author (her book with co-author Mike Taylor launches next week!), Bianca brings fresh perspectives on creating learning experiences that genuinely resonate with today's workforce.The discussion takes a candid turn when Bianca identifies communication as the most overlooked lever for improving workplace performance. "Especially now in this era of AI and technology, it's noisy, it's really really noisy out there and cutting through that noise is hard," she explains. Building trust emerges as a critical theme throughout our conversation, with Bianca highlighting its cascading positive effects on organizational culture.Looking toward the future of L&D, Bianca challenges traditional structures with a bold vision: "In a perfect world, I would love for L&D to not report into HR but to sit in each business line and support the business right there." This perspective invites L&D professionals to enhance their business acumen, remove departmental blinders, and collaborate across organizational boundaries.Whether you're an L&D professional seeking fresh approaches, a leader navigating today's complex talent landscape, or simply curious about the future of workplace learning, this episode offers actionable insights to transform how you approach people development. Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn or visit trainlikeamarketer.com to learn more about her groundbreaking work.----------Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line. Chris Bjorling, Co-host Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance. For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems. Bill Banham, Co-host Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London. Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool. Contact us to learn more!