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develop their capability to do their job and build their readiness to embrace the changes we know will come. We can’t do this alone. We all know this. Whether you have been in L&D for many decades, or a matter of months, you will have discovered that we only achieve anything when we do it with our colleagues and with the leaders of our organisations. Being at a conference can be a great


experience. Sharing news, views and ideas with like-minded souls can be the shot in the arm we crave. Listening to speakers, asking questions of experts, hearing case studies can sow the seeds of new ideas we can take back, try out, share with our team. World of Learning can refresh, revise and re-energise. But without the support of those who


are not here – most of whom are very unlikely ever to be here – we may well be talking to ourselves. After two days with our tribe, the world beyond can seem an unwelcome and unfriendly place. But it doesn’t have to be. When you speak to others, attend sessions, join in discussions or speak to service providers, ask the questions you know you will face beyond the L&D bubble. How did senior leaders react? How did you get them on board? What resistance from other departments do you experience? How do you address it? How did you obtain the necessary resources? How did you measure impact? We know these challenges are similar


for many organisations. We also know we have assembled those who are generous with their experience, expertise and insights. Whether they have set up learning communities, applied neuroscience to designing interventions, got managers to coach their team members or delivered behaviour change at an individual or organisational level, they have faced the self-same dilemmas. When they’ve applied the latest technology, they will have met with resistance, scepticism and fear (some of which will have been well-placed!) Imagine that every new idea, successful implementation or talent initiative you hear and see over the two days of World of


Imagine that every new idea you hear and see over the two days of World of Learning is a blueprint for things you want to do or need to change – what support will you need back at base to make this happen?


Learning is a blueprint for things you want to do or need to change. What support will you need back at base to make this happen? The rest of your organisation weren’t here. They won’t be as excited or as inspired as you are. Every person with a story to tell has had to convince, influence and persuade someone else to give them the space, time and trust to make it work. Ask them how, learn the whole story, understand the entire journey. Of course, you could just ensure that your senior team, or the whole of your organisation, do come to World of Learning. That would be nice (but maybe not realistic). In lieu of them being there, remember that each of you will have an annual report featuring your Chair or Chief


Executive. And each of them will say, somewhere, that: ‘Our people are our most important asset’. Maybe now – when productivity, skills, capability and dealing with change is fundamental for every organisation – it’s time to convert that statement from glib corporate speak into a reality. I wish you well! n


Robin Hoyle is the author of two books and Head of Learning Innovation for Huthwaite International. Robin is Conference Chair at is World of Learning 2024 and will be delivering the Closing Keynote session on 9 October: “Opportunities and challenges for 2025 and beyond”.


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