Multiply Transfer Radio

Houra Amin explains why completion metrics are killing L&D credibility, and shares a behavioral science approach to measuring what actually matters.

The episode discusses why L&D teams struggle to prove training impact beyond completion rates and satisfaction scores, and how this leaves them out of strategic conversations and vulnerable to budget cuts.

Houra Amin, founder of Blue Jay Learning, argues measurement fails when business outcomes aren’t defined upfront; teams should start with existing baseline indicators such as errors, delays, or complaints, even if data is messy.

She explains turning vague problems into measurable outcomes and observable behaviours, prioritising outcomes by importance and stakeholder satisfaction, and linking leading indicators (behaviour changes) to lagging indicators (operational KPIs and broader business priorities) to show credible contribution rather than perfect causation.

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Houra Amin is the founder of Blue Jay Learning, where she helps organisations design learning strategies and programmes that shift behaviour and improve performance in ways that are meaningful to the business. With a background in Educational Psychology and a deep interest in behavioural science, she works with clients to move beyond content and activity, and towards interventions that are strategically aligned and measurable.
Her work focuses on clarifying business outcomes, understanding the jobs people are trying to get done, and designing environments and experiences where the right behaviours become easier. She has supported global organisations across financial services, healthcare, and energy.
 
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/houraamin/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-jay-learning/

The Elephant in the Training Room with Julie Dirksen. In this episode of Multiply Transfer Radio, host Fergal Connolly interviews learning and development expert Julie Dirksen about effective training strategies. They discuss the limitations of traditional training methods, stressing the importance of practical application and reinforcing learning in the workplace. Julie emphasizes the need to move beyond simply creating content by understanding the intricacies of how people actually learn and making training relevant and meaningful. Key takeaways include the significance of repeated exposure, the role of managers in reinforcing training, and understanding the emotional and practical needs of learners. Julie also highlights upcoming trends in virtual reality and artificial intelligence that could revolutionize learning experiences.

00:00 Introduction to Multiply Transfer Radio

02:30 Understanding Effective Learning Design

04:39 Challenges in Learning Application

07:35 The Importance of Iterative Learning

10:20 Making Learning Meaningful and Contextual

16:37 Addressing Modern Learning Distractions

20:35 The Rider and the Elephant Metaphor

23:41 The Disconnect Between Logic and Emotion in Learning

26:15 Understanding Audience Motivation

27:07 Designing Learning for Behavior Change

34:14 The Role of Managers in Learning Transfer

40:12 Exciting Research and Emerging Ideas

44:41 Practical Advice for Effective Training

46:52 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Go to MutiplyTransfer.com for more application focused learning transfer materials.

Julie Dirksen can be found at:

• LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedirksen/
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/designforhowpeoplelearn
• Julie’s online course: https://designbetterlearning.com/
• Julie’s current workshop offerings: https://usablelearning.com/current/

Kevin Redmond of Mytribel.com joins to share how you can turn everything you have learned from this podcast into repeatable and sustained behaviors using a simple process of understanding, remembering, and practice. 

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How do we know if we have hit our targets? How will we know if all those hours we have spent conducting analysis sessions, designing learning, and facilitating training have had any effect on the people we are so desperately trying to help? Thats why measuring transfer is so important. Kevin M Yates joins to discuss this important topic and details some actionable steps you can take to improve in this area today. 

For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit Multiply Transfer.

Links:

Kevin M. Yates

L&D Detective Kit 

Emma Weber is an authority in the field of coaching and learning transfer. Emma has made it her mission in life to make a difference to learning transfer worldwide. In this episode, Emma and I discuss: The strengths and weaknesses of coaching as a developmental tool How Emma has solved many issues associated with coaching by creating a conversational intelligence, Coach M. Learning transfer strategies and the concept of "Learning Breaks".

For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit ⁠Multiply Transfer.⁠To learn more about Emma and her work visit: https://transferoflearning.com/

Will Thalheimer joins to discuss his ELRA (Engage, Learn, Remember, Act) model, and how those who facilitate training can support the learning transfer process. For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit ⁠Multiply Transfer.⁠

Ecosystem (noun) - a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.Accountability for transfer falls on the shoulders of several stakeholders in the modern workplace. Lisa Burke-Smalley outlines how we as L&D practitioners can influence each of these stakeholders before, during, and after training to maximize transfer. For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit ⁠Multiply Transfer.⁠

Learning Transfer is one of the oldest research topics in organizational psychology, yet the findings of the research are under-utilized by the L&D community. Ina Weinbauer-Heidel has dedicated her career to exploring this research and turning it into practical approaches that can be leveraged by learning professionals. In this episode Ina discusses her approach to research, the biggest issue faced by researchers and L&D professionals alike, and quick wins you can implement right away to benefit your learners. For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit ⁠Multiply Transfer.⁠

Geoff Rip joins Learning Transfer Radio to discuss the important influence that leadership plays in determining learning transfer. In our chat we explore why leadership buy-in is crucial, the challenges faced by learning teams in this area, Geoff's "Ready-Set-Go-Show" model and most importantly - how to influence leadership for transfer success. 

For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit ⁠Multiply Transfer.⁠

Learning Transfer doesn't happen by chance. In this episode, Jason Durkee and I discuss the importance of designing for learning transfer. Jason shares some examples from his past about how to design for transfer, and how to adapt your current training to be more impactful. For more on the science of transfer and actionable approaches to maximise performance visit ⁠Multiply Transfer.⁠