The Mindtools L&D Podcast

474 — So long 2025, what's hot for 2026?

What a year it was! In this week's episode of The Mindtools L&D Podcast, HowNow's Nelson Sivalingam joins Ross G and Ross D to reflect on 2025 and look to emerging trends in 2026. We discuss: * AI (obviously) and how it's evolving * the rise of instructor-led training * how market consolidation is changing the choice of suppliers for L&D leaders. During the discussion, Ross G referenced a number of new stories: * Only 22% of organizations have a visible AI strategy [https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/press-releases/2025/june/the-ai-adoption-reality-check-firms-with-ai-strategies-are-twice-as-likely-to-see-ai-driven-revenue-growth-those-without-risk-falling-behind] * Three in five workers say they use unapproved AI tools at work [https://www.techradar.com/pro/many-workers-are-using-unapproved-ai-tools-at-work-and-sharing-a-lot-of-private-data-they-really-shouldnt] * 95% of organizations see no measurable return on AI, partly due to 'workslop' [https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-generated-workslop-is-destroying-productivity] We also discussed Don Taylor's Global Sentiment Survey 2025 [https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2025/], Don's AI in L&D [https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/focus04-race-for-impact/] report written with Eglė Vinauskaitė, and Hemsley Fraser's 2025 L&D Impact Survey [https://www.hemsleyfraser.com/insights/2025-impact-survey]. Finally, Ross G referenced the 'enshittification [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification]' of AI products. In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D shared an example of learning through lyrics [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQPZypRj-Sf/?igsh=MXc1M2ZubXJ3MXhmdg%3D%3D]. Nelson discussed Gmail's new 'Manage subscriptions [https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/gmails-new-manage-subscriptions-tool-will-help-declutter-your-inbox/]' tool. And Ross G discussed the process of making a teaser trailer for his novel, Centauri's Shadow. You can view the trailer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ross-garner_sciencefiction-centaurisshadow-amwriting-activity-7403025832325324800-5H1x?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAjLAwUBrg2NJxIL6f6D9e5bVuai-5ArhnA]. For more from Mindtools and Kineo, visit mindtools.com [https://www.mindtools.com/]. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, each aligned to our Manager Skills Assessment. And for more from HowNow, visit getthehownow.com [https://www.gethownow.com/]. Like the show? You'll LOVE our newsletter! Subscribe to The L&D Dispatch at lddispatch.com [https://www.lddispatch.com/] Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: * Ross Garner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-garner/] * Ross Dickie [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-dickie/] * Nelson Sivalingam [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonsivalingam/]

473 — Learning at LV=

How do you run an organization-wide learning function with just two people? At LV=, that's the main focus for Talent, Learning and Development Partner Rob Foster. This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, Rob joins Claire and Ross G to discuss: * how building relationships throughout the organization helps support induction, mentoring and reverse mentoring programs * how internal champions expand the impact of digital resources (like Mindtools!) * advice for teams working on a similarly small scale. In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross discussed the structure of Taylor Swift's 'The Fate of Ophelia [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQnSuhmDaat/?igsh=b3Bna2V6c2Uwc21k]'. For more from Mindtools and Kineo, visit mindtools.com [https://www.mindtools.com/]. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, each aligned to our Manager Skills Assessment. Like the show? You'll LOVE our newsletter! Subscribe to The L&D Dispatch at lddispatch.com [https://www.lddispatch.com/] Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: * Ross Garner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-garner/] * Claire Gibson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairefordgibson-learning-design/] * Rob Foster [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwfoster/]

472 — Delivering business value

The L&D industry has always talked about 'business value' as an elusive concept. Now, a new book from Laura Overton and Michelle Ockers, The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value, articulates what that looks like in practice. This week on The Mindtools L&D Podcast, they join Ross D and Dr Anna to discuss: * how L&D teams can transition through different stages of maturity * the role of data in shaping business value * the role of community and where to find it in the post-Twitter world. The book, The L&D Leader: Principles and Practice for Delivering Business Value [https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/the-l-d-leader-9781398620278], is available now from Kogan Page. For more from Mindtools and Kineo, visit mindtools.com [https://www.mindtools.com/]. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, each aligned to our Manager Skills Assessment. Like the show? You'll LOVE our newsletter! Subscribe to The L&D Dispatch at lddispatch.com [https://www.lddispatch.com/] Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: * Ross Dickie [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-dickie-88408388/] * Dr Anna Barnett [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-barnett-phd/] * Laura Overton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraoverton/] * Michelle Ockers [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleockers]

471 — A long-term view on learning

In many organizations, not least within L&D, urgent and important short-term challenges often crowd out the bigger picture. So, how do we step back and take the long view? In this week's episode, Ross D and Claire are joined by Nina Bressler, founder of Reimagined Value, to discuss: * Nina's background and what she means by the term 'societal learning' * How to work with business stakeholders to help them decide what to focus on * How to measure the impact of long-term initiatives. To find out more about Nina's work, check out Reimagined Value [https://www.reimaginedvalue.com/]. In 'What I Learned This Week', Ross D mentioned the article 'Hollywood's Music Biopic Boom: Quantifying the Rise of a Soulless Genre' [https://www.statsignificant.com/p/the-rise-of-the-soulless-music-biopic] from the Stat Significant newsletter. For more from Mindtools and Kineo, visit mindtools.com [https://www.mindtools.com/]. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, each aligned to our Manager Skills Assessment. Like the show? You'll LOVE our newsletter! Subscribe to The L&D Dispatch at lddispatch.com [https://www.lddispatch.com/] Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: * Ross Dickie [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-dickie-88408388/] * Claire Gibson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-ford-gibson-learning-design/] * Nina Bressler [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninabressler/]

470 — AI in L&D: The Race for Impact

Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, Donald Taylor and Eglė Vinauskaitė have released four reports exploring L&D's use of AI. In this week's episode, Don joins Ross D to discuss the latest report — AI in L&D: The Race for Impact. We cover: * What's changed over the last three years, and why we're at an inflection point * How L&D's use of AI has slowly matured over time, evolving into more sophisticated use cases * A vision for the future of L&D, beyond content-creation. You can download a copy of the full report here [https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/focus04-race-for-impact/]. In 'What I Learned This Week', Don recommended the book Amorous or Loving?: The Highly Peculiar Tale of English and the English [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amorous-Loving-Highly-Peculiar-English/dp/1917458088]. For more from Mindtools and Kineo, visit mindtools.com [https://www.mindtools.com/]. There, you'll also find details of our new face-to-face and virtual workshops, each aligned to our Manager Skills Assessment. Like the show? You'll LOVE our newsletter! Subscribe to The L&D Dispatch at lddispatch.com [https://www.lddispatch.com/] Connect with our speakers If you'd like to share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on LinkedIn: * Ross Dickie [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-dickie-88408388/] * Donald Taylor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldhtaylor/]