Brief description of your role:
I run a learning and development consultancy with time being divided amongst all aspects of managing and marketing the company, as well as working as a principal consultant and product developer.
1. Why did you become a learning and development professional?
I started my work career in school education but after a short time recognised that the business world held more interest for me. Knowing that I wanted to combine learning and development and business, I joined a multi-national mining company that had a dedicated training department.
2. What do you enjoy most about your role?
One of the key portfolios I carry in my company is that of introducing leading edge personal development ideas and practice to client organisations. The innovative ideas ‘out there’ are exciting and mind-bending. The enjoyable challenge is turning these into practical material that has impact and can be used across a wide range of sectors.
3. What do you find most challenging?
Currently, there are two most challenging aspects. One of these is keeping up with new ideas and research findings – this can prove to be quite frustrating because of the vast amount of information needing sifting through. The other is influencing companies to keep learning and development a priority in tougher economic times.
4. What do you do to be recognised as a valued business partner?
‘Walking the road’ with my clients, asking the hard questions and being authentic, has led to the development of high levels of trust.
5. What is the best advice that you would give to someone new to this line of work?
Learning and development is an essential aspect of any organisation but it is only ONE aspect. Don’t stay on the outside - get to know your organisation intimately. Go into the trade with a sales rep, work as an operator on a manufacturing line, assist with deliveries on a truck – whatever your organisation does – learn about it, and do it, if at all possible. This will create a deep understanding of your business, will develop trust in you, and will open up doors for you that otherwise would be unlikely.
6. What's the best advice that's been given to you that has helped you in your career?
In two companies in which I worked, I had unofficial mentors who influenced me in many ways. Their combined best advice was: remain curious about everything, retain a wonder about new ideas and never fall in love with what is, because it will change.
7. What's the best career help book that you've ever read?
One of the most enjoyable and influential books I’ve read in recent time is ‘A Whole New Mind’ by Daniel Pink. This book is about his take on the competitive edge of right-brain thinkers.
8. What's the best event within the training community that you've ever attended?
As a member of a global change architect’s forum, I twice attended a training event in the UK run by the Bath Consultancy Group. At each event, a specific but different exercise challenged my perceptions about myself and my role as a business partner working within client organisations.
9. Who do you think is the most inspirational member of the training community and have you ever met them?
I was privileged to work closely over a number of years with Professor Sylvia Downs. As a principal member of the Industrial Research Unit at Cambridge University for many years, she developed a learning methodology that set the tone for learning design and facilitation. Her work fundamentally changed the way in which I approached learning and development.
10. What else would you like to share with our readers?
There are big changes upon us and more are coming. As L&D practitioners we are ideally placed to influence and assist organisations and people cope with change and develop more and different capability. Focus on building sound, core skills, look beyond the obvious and be open and willing to adapt to inevitable change.
