Episodes

  • #9 - Amy Edmondson on Team Learning and Performance

    #9 - Amy Edmondson on Team Learning and Performance
    Apr 25 2024
    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Amy C. Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership & Management at the Harvard Business School (HBS), about team learning and performance. Thinkers50 #1 Management Thinker in the world, Amy is most well-known for her pioneering work on psychological safety and its key role in promoting team learning, collaboration, and innovation. She's the author of countless journal articles, books, case studies, and other content on leadership, teaming, and learning. Amy most recently published The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well (2023), a book about how we can all leverage failure to our advantage. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband George and is the proud parent of two terrific young men. In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to managers, leaders, and other professionals seeking to enhance the learning and performance of teams and organizations, including: Psychological safety and its role in team learning and performanceMyths about psychological safetyPsychological safety vs. accountabilityCan there be too much psych safety?The three different types of failuresThe 4 elements of "intelligent" failuresThe role of leaders in making it safe to speak up and failA whole lot more! Mention in the conversation: Psychological safetyHumans as unconscious calculatorsThe critical role of psychological safety in facilitating learningThe 4 stages of learningThe variability of psych safety on teams in the same organizationMyths about psych safetyPsych safety vs. safe spacesChris Argyris on learning-oriented conversationsCan there be too much psych safety? https://hbr.org/2024/01/can-workplaces-have-too-much-psychological-safety AND https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/the-downside-of-psychological-safety-in-the-workplace/Psych safety vs. accountabilityThree types of failureThe 4 criteria of intelligent failuresAir Florida Flight 90 - A basic avoidable failureThe Checklist ManifestoLearning from mistakesDeliberate practiceThe challenges of creating psych safety on remote teams: https://psychsafety.co.uk/psychological-safety-in-remote-teams/ AND https://hbr.org/2020/08/how-to-foster-psychological-safety-in-virtual-meetingsThe importance for leaders to frame workFramingResearch on employee experience as it relates to connection to purpose and meaning, culture and community, learning and development, and material well-being, and how they relateEd Catmull on crappy first draftsGrowth mindsetBuckminster Fuller on naivety Connect with Amy: HBS pageLinkedInTwitter/XInstagram
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • #8 - Todd Gerspach on Enhancing Executive Performance

    #8 - Todd Gerspach on Enhancing Executive Performance
    Feb 28 2024
    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Todd Gerspach, former C-level executive and founder of Fortitude Executive Coaching, about how executives can enhance their performance while maintaining some semblance of balance. In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to current and aspiring managers and leaders, including: Definitions of professional and personal successLearning from experienceLeadership vs. managementCoachingChange managementPersonal mission statements and value hierarchiesMental models of management and leadershipAnd a whole lot more! Mentioned in the conversation: 8:35:00 - John Wooden on success - https://www.thewoodeneffect.com/pyramid-of-success/ 12:19:00- Learning from experience - https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Experiential_learning13:08:00 - Definition of Management - https://monday.com/blog/project-management/four-functions-of-management/15:02:00 - CCT Trifecta - https://www.fortitudeexec.com/approach29:07:00 - Growth mindsethttps://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/29:54:00 - Management vs. Leadership - https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/leadership-vs-management30:32:00 - Servant, transformational, and authentic leadership - https://www.fortitudeexec.com/leadership-philosophys33:00:00 - John Kotter - https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=649535:14:00 - The learning/performance dip - https://medium.com/@simply_stef/stages-of-learning-when-are-people-most-likely-to-give-up-on-a-new-skill-6131866e4e2140:00:00 - Internal/intrinsic vs. external/extrinsic motivationhttps://www.verywellmind.com/differences-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation-279538440:40:00 - Personal values hierarchy - https://www.mindtools.com/a5eygum/what-are-your-values44:44:00 - Alan Mulally's family mission statement - https://www.inc.com/ayse-birsel/3-lessons-i-learned-from-ford-ceo-alan-mulally-about-being-a-better-parent.html44:49:00 - Stephen Covey on family missions - https://www.thebump.com/a/family-mission-statement45:33:00 - DISC - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC_assessment45:34:00 - EQ - https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-emotional-intelligence-eq50:41:00 - ModelNetics - https://www.maineventmanagement.com/model-netics/51:46:00 - Delegation triangle - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/three-elements-delegation-victor-roosen/53:18:00 - The Seven Ports of Life - https://www.leedunnesoccer.com/post/the-7-ports-of-life54:00:00 - KASH Model - https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/learning/process/obtaining/obtaining-information/knowledge-skills-attitudes/kash/1:01:48 - Executive 360 Model - https://www.fortitudeexec.com/executive-coaching1:02:48 - Opportunity Wedge - https://liveyourwage.com/the-opportunity-wedge/1:08:07 - Job-crafting - https://hbr.org/2010/06/managing-yourself-turn-the-job-you-have-into-the-job-you-want Connect with Todd: LinkedInWebsiteYouTube
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • #4 - Dr. Jenny Woo on Learning to Be More Emotionally Intelligent

    #4 - Dr. Jenny Woo on Learning to Be More Emotionally Intelligent
    Jan 18 2024

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Dr. Jenny Woo, a Harvard-trained educator, cognitive science researcher, entrepreneur, executive coach, and mom of three. Jenny is the founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, an organization dedicated to helping parents, teachers, and other adults apply research from psychology and neuroscience to build essential life skills in our kids. Jenny conducts research in social-emotional learning, emotion regulation, and resilience. She is the creator of a series of award-winning life skills games used by parents, teachers, counselors, and therapists in 50+ countries.


    In our conversation, Jenny and I discuss:

    • Social and emotional learning (SEL)
    • Emotional intelligence (EQ)
    • The value of essential skills in the age of AI
    • The importance of relationships in human development
    • The application of neuroscience to education
    • The use of games to build skills
    • And several others...


    Mentioned in the conversation:

    • Psychological Safety
    • Harvard Study of Adult Development
    • The Loneliness Epidemic
    • Emotional Agility


    Learn more about Jenny and check out her games:

    • LinkedIn; Instagram
    • Mind Brain Emotion Website
    • Essential Human Skills Card Games on Amazon
    • 52 Essential Coping Skills
    • 52 Essential Relationship Skills
    • 52 Essential Critical Thinking Skills
    • 52 Essential Interview Skills
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • #3 - Curt Bonk on Changing Lives Through Self-Directed Online Learning

    #3 - Curt Bonk on Changing Lives Through Self-Directed Online Learning
    Jan 18 2024

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Dr. Curt Bonk, a Professor at Indiana University's School of Education who teaches psychology and technology courses. Curt is a prolific scholar and author, a sought-after conference speaker, and a big believer in the power of online education to transform lives worldwide. He currently conducts research in the field of self-directed online learning environments (SOLEs) and open education (including massive open online courses (MOOCs)).

    In this conversation, Dr. Bonk and I discuss a range of topics, including:

    • Self-directed online learning
    • Massive open online courses
    • The measurement of online learning
    • Online learning resources and support for students
    • The stages of technology adoption
    • Techniques for online Instructors to support students
    • How instructors can add some TEC-VARIETY to their courses
    • And many others...

    Mentioned in the conversation:

    • A list of Curt's 300+ articles on self-directed online learning, MOOCs, and related topics
    • EdTechBooks.org - Free education technology
    • Curt's Books
    • Garrison (1997) - Self-Directed Learning Model
    • Bonk's TEC-VARIETY Model of Motivation
    • Silver Lining for Learning podcast

    More from Dr. Bonk:

    • Curt Bonk's Open Learning World
    • Curt Bonk's IU Profile
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • #7 - Michael Sweeney on L&D, Coaching, Leadership, Teams, and Beyond!

    #7 - Michael Sweeney on L&D, Coaching, Leadership, Teams, and Beyond!
    Jan 18 2024
    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Michael Sweeney, Chief Strategy Officer at RallyBright and founder of SaberCoaching, about his career enhancing the capacity and performance of individuals, teams, and organizations. Formerly VP of Digital Learning at Bain & Company, Mike has over two decades of experience in operations management, L&D, learning design, leadership development, coaching, and technology training. A lifelong learner himself, Mike enjoys finding ways to help others perform better and master their crafts. Mike holds a Masters in Organizational Psychology from William James College and is a Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) coach. Outside of work, Mike enjoys reading, running marathons, coaching athletes, playing with his dog, and being the best dad he can be for his three teenage daughters. Mike currently lives and works in Boston, Massachusetts. In our conversation, we hit on a wide range of topics, including: The critical role of culture, values, and behaviors in organizational effectivenessThe difference between peak performance and high performanceThe neuroscience of learning and skill developmentAfter-action reviews (AARs)Leadership and leadership developmentCoaching and feedbackMotivation vs. inspirationRecruiting sponsors to drive organizational changeAnd a whole lot more! Mentioned in the conversation: 6:28 - Values-Based Leadership7:28 - Deliberate vs. Evolutionary/Emergent Strategy8:18 - Values: Espoused vs. Enacted/In-Use8:30 - Bain Values and Operating Principles8:52 - Definition of culture13:00 - Operationalizing values14:02 - Edgar Schein on culture14:59 - Humble Inquiry17:42 - Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People20:11 - Peak vs. High Performance21:05 - Learning in the brain23:11 - Unlearning23:52 - The P/PC Balance24:58 - Atomic Habits24:59 - The Power of Habit25:56 - After-Action Review26:36 - Teams that Work28:30 - Agile retrospective28:45 - Lean manufacturing30:06 - John Maxwell's Leadership Law #2 - Leadership as influence31:07 - Maxwell's Leadership Law #1 - Law of the Lid32:12 - Feedback Model - Situation, Behavior, Impact34:13 - Tim Ferriss on Learning to Learn42:39 - Tim Gallwey's The Inner Game of Tennis44:12 - Building High-Performing Teams course48:29 - The Losada Ratio48:55 - Designing the Coach-Client Alliance50:25 - Alfie Kohn on the Downsides of Punishment51:22 - Positive Intelligence53:58 - Radical Candor1:05:00 - The Sponsorship Spine1:07:15 - John Kotter's Leading Change1:07:45 - John Kotter's The Heart of Change1:09:45 - Spaced repetition1:11:30 - Learning moments of truth1:16:23 - Outlive by Peter Attia1:20:06 - CTI Fundamentals Connect with Mike: Michael SweeneySaber CoachingRally Bright
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    1 hr and 39 mins
  • #6 - Rachel Koblic on Designing Online Programs and Professional Development Communities

    #6 - Rachel Koblic on Designing Online Programs and Professional Development Communities
    Dec 6 2023
    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with ⁠Rachel Koblic, former VP of Learning Experience at 2U and co-founder of StarlingLX, a professional development startup that offers mid-level leaders the learning experiences, real-world resources, and social support they need to thrive in their roles, nurture the people around them, and create better workplaces. A generalist at heart, Rachel has held a variety of roles designing learning experiences and leading learning teams across a range of industries. She has a Masters in instructional technology from Indiana University and is a true lifelong learner. Rachel lives and works in upstate New York with her partner on a farm with a whole mess of critters! In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics in online learning and professional development including: Rachel’s journey into edtech and learning design The 4 key elements of impactful online learning Rachel’s role in developing 2U’s Learning Experience Framework The evolution of online learning in higher education What “quality” online learning means to learners Rachel’s decision to start Starling and the need it serves Starling’s unique approach to professional development for mid-level professionals Much more! Learn More About Rachel: LinkedIn StarlingLX Mentioned in the Conversation 7:40 - Performance vs. Mastery Objectives 15:25 - Learning management systems (LMS) LinkedIn Learning Thinkific Kajabi 19:01 - Ideal Customer Personas (ICPs) 19:25 - Micro-lessons and micro-learning 21:02 - 2U’s Learning Experience Framework (LXF) 22:17 - Bruce Spatz 22:35 - Clark Quinn 25:00 - Intrinsic motivation 26:13 - Learning Design Hooks 28:32 - The Power of Questions 34:15 - StarlingLX 34:38 - Disco community learning platform 36:00 - Jeff Sirroni 38:30 - Human-centered leadership 39:45 - Capacity planning 40:12 - Power to the Middle (McKinsey) 44:58 - Chris Dede’s The 60-year curriculum 45:04 - Stanford’s Open Loop University 46:06 - MasterClass 53:38 - Professional user manuals 56:25 - Self-determination theory 1:00 - Ego-centrism 1:02 - Tasha Eurich’s Insight
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • # 5 - John Larson on Coaching for Learning and Performance

    # 5 - John Larson on Coaching for Learning and Performance
    Nov 10 2023

    In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with John Larson, the founder and CEO of CoachAccountable, a digital coaching platform designed to make coaches better and help clients get more out of coaching. Half coach, half coder, John has dedicated his life to improving the experience of coaching for coaches and their clients. He lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and kids.

    In our conversation, we discuss:

    • What is coaching
    • What coaches do (and don't do)
    • The role of coaching in facilitating learning and performance
    • John's journey into coaching and building CoachAccountable
    • The shortcomings of many coaching conversations
    • The importance of goals, metrics, action plans, and session notes
    • What makes for an effective coach
    • And much more...

    Mentioned in the Conversation:

    • MacLelland (1995) - Coaching (Learn with) vs. Mentoring (Learn from)
    • Landmark Forum
    • What gets measured gets managed - Peter Drucker?
    • My Body Tutor
    • Spark by John Ratey
    • The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
    • The Seventh Guest
    • The 11th Hour
    • Flow

    Learn More About John:

    • About John
    • LinkedIn
    • CoachAccountable
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • #2 - Luke Hobson on Instructional Design in Higher Ed and Beyond

    #2 - Luke Hobson on Instructional Design in Higher Ed and Beyond
    Aug 2 2023

    In this episode of the L&P podcast, I speak with Dr. Luke Hobson, an instructional designer working to build effective and engaging learning experiences for students in higher ed and beyond. Luke is also a teacher, author, and podcaster.


    Dr. Hobson and I discuss a range of topics in instructional design, including:

    • The linkage between learning and performance
    • What do instructional designers do?
    • Working with subject matter experts
    • The importance of conducting learner research and getting feedback
    • Integrating technology into your online courses
    • AI tools for IDers

    Dr. Hobson also shares some of his personal inspirations and habits that keep him learning and performing at high levels.

    Mentioned in the Conversation:

    • ADDIE
    • Spark by Jon Ratey
    • GenAI Tools: ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Bing


    More from Dr. Hobson:

    • Website
    • LinkedIn, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook
    • Podcast
    • Instructional Design Institute
    • What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an ID (book)
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    1 hr and 11 mins