‘We are not always the best at learning in learning’ 

David is in conversation with James Poletyllo, Director of the Learning Effect, he has extensive experience in people development and champions the development of the profession and brings challenge to ineffective practice. 

Is Learning and Development sleepwalking into extinction? 

This is an uncomfortable question to be asking - let alone to be answering - but it’s an important one. One that James Poletyllo explored in a recent article. In this episode, we dive deeper into our experiences of L&D to seek examples of this and where our profession might need to more consciously evolve to stay relevant. 

There is a blurring of boundaries as we move into a more connected world and this is an opportunity for L&D to do things differently and in a more agile way, listen in and hear more. 

  

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• It seems to be different modes of delivery but the same old stuff. 
• Sometimes you get excited by and driven by the newness of something regardless of whether it is the right solution.  
• A good learning professional is really involved in the business and there to make sure the change that is being implemented will resonant with those on the front line who are trying to make it work and it’s not just one hit and will have real value to the business 
• We are still viewed as not having a real impact on the business 
• We need to get better at creating an architecture and infrastructure that allows a business to learn and share knowledge more quickly and to impart knowledge and information across the business more quickly. 

• There is an opportunity to look at things and ask how we can identify learning opportunities in a more agile way? 
• How can we get solutions out there more quickly? 
• How can we drive personalisation 
• How can we really make adaptive learning work 
• As a L&D professional, we don’t have to know everything but we have to be facilitators of the organisation 

• A myriad of skills are needed in L&D including engagement, data, curation of content, technology and being able to create experiences that add value. 
• Get close to what’s important in the business and ask how are you going to create purpose for the learner. 

  

BEST MOMENTS 

‘We should work on being solution-focused to solve problems at the speed  business needs’ 

‘Let’s step back and look at what we are trying to achieve’ 

‘We can’t just rebrand we have to do things differently’ 

  

VALUABLE RESOURCES 

The Learning & Development Podcast  

Article ‘Ten reasons why learning and development is sleepwalking into extinction’ 

  

ABOUT THE GUEST 

James Poletyllo Bio 

James has almost 20 years of experience in People Development in sectors as diverse as Telecoms, Local Council, Healthcare, and Hospitality, with many of his roles at a senior level. Now, as a consultant, he champions the development of the profession, whilst challenging ineffective practice that seems to be holding us back. 


 

CONTACT METHOD 

You can follow and connect with James via: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespoletyllo/ 

Website: https://www.thelearningeffect.co.uk/ 

Article ‘Ten reasons why learning and development is sleepwalking into extinction’: https://www.trainingjournal.com/articles/opinion/ten-reasons-why-learning-and-development-sleepwalking-extinction 

  

ABOUT THE HOST 

David James 

David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. 

As well as being the Chief Learning Strategist at Looop, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D as well as an active member of the CIPD L&D Advisory Board. 

  

CONTACT METHOD 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/davidinlearning?lang=en 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin/ 

Website: https://www.looop.co/