The Learning Xchange

How often do you explore ideas outside your learning community, your industry, or even your organization? There's this notion that stepping out of these confines is unnecessary because what's out there is too different. But as Matthew Brown, Chief People & Culture Officer at Schoox, points out in this episode of the Learning Xchange, a little diversity goes a long way.Tune in to hear why exploring new ideas is necessary for the L&D community. Matthew also discusses ways to embrace different thought processes while staying true to what makes your industry unique.Listen to this episode to find out:How different perspectives further developmentWhy it's vital to embrace different thoughts and ideasThe part diversity plays in the learning process How diversity affects the way we embrace changeIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How equipped is your general employee population to navigate and handle trauma in the workplace? Now, that's a question that's getting increasingly impossible to overlook in modern workplaces.The impact of unresolved workplace trauma can lead productivity to take a hit and, ultimately, employee retention. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, Matthew Brown (Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer) explores six ways to effectively tackle trauma in the workplace.Tune in to The Learning Xchange to hear more.Listen to this episode to find out:Why it's vital to address trauma in the workplaceImpacts of trauma in the workplaceThe importance of considering mental safety alongside physical safetyHow transparency at work fosters a better environmentHow collaboration and shared experiences make for a better workplaceThe role of education in healing workplace traumaResources:Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/The National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://nami.org/Workplace Strategies for Mental Health: https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

The L&D landscape is constantly changing.The pandemic caused a drastic shift in the way many of us work. For that reason, we can't carry on adhering to the same principles and ideas we've always believed to be true.Body language is a huge part of our in-person interactions. But how does it work when we are working remotely?In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer) shares his tips on how to think about digital body language in 2022.Listen to this episode to find out:How the pandemic changed L&D for goodWhy body language is just as important in remote workingSeven dated ideas that should be challengedHow mood affects digital body languageKey differences between in-person and digital body languageIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

We all let things get on top of us once in a while. But how do we know when our struggles become genuine mental health concerns? And how can we build effective support systems for this in our workplaces?In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer) highlights the importance of mental health awareness in the workplace.He explores five ways to create a more accepting and supportive work environment.Listen to this episode to find out:How speaking up to your manager can help them learnWhy introducing mindfulness to your day could be beneficialWhy seeking help isn't a sign of weaknessHow to delegate to mental health first aidersIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Guess what? The world is still changing and at this pace, it's pretty clear that there are more sudden changes we need to embrace. But to bring things better into focus in the workplace, there's been a pressing need to redefine roles to accommodate all the change going around. That's where Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, Matthew Brown, kicks off this episode of The Learning Xchange. He set the scene by telling us the present state of things across all industries in terms of employee and customer expectations.Matthew also delves into the pertinent role of the L&D community in ensuring that organizations embrace these changes seamlessly.Listen to this episode to find out: What the current landscape is and how that feeds into the rescoping of rolesHow to respond to the changing demands of employees and customersWhat part Learning & Development plays in restructuring rolesHow L&D professionals can help their organizations embrace the ongoing changeThe benefits of broadening your contentWhy repeated content isn't necessarily redundantThe importance of delivering training on how to navigate the hybrid work environmentIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

What's your intent when creating content for your learners? Is it to tick off a few learning objectives or to ensure your learners really understand, comprehend, and apply that knowledge to the job? To improve knowledge transfer and create positive learning experiences, we need to eliminate cognitive bias in training. On this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer) discusses three areas L&D professionals need to focus on to tackle cognitive biases — as delivered by David Dylan Thomas in a 2022 keynote speech. He also shares a few tips to guide you on your journey to creating more inclusive and bias-free training material.Listen to this episode to find out:Why intent is important when creating learning experiencesHow cognitive bias can affect the learning processWhy we should support content with clear and relevant informationThe importance of designing for cognitive biasTips to consider when designing content for cognitive biasIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How often do you revisit business and learning systems to check if they still align with your organization's goals?In most cases, not nearly as often as necessary.While that's understandable, it could potentially cause a unique set of challenges down the line. Most times, when it comes to problems with tech, it all boils down to one culprit — neglecting to revisit the systems in place.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, Matthew Brown, stresses the importance of updating business and learning systems to match your organization's present and future goals. Matthew explains why it's only logical considering that the basic needs in an organization grow and change as the scope of work expands. He also segues into a discussion about the learning teams' potential to influence organizations by modeling beneficial behaviors.Listen to this episode to find out: What system implementation entailsWhy we overlook the need to re-evaluate implementationWhy business systems need to be updated periodicallyTips on how to evaluate business systemsHow to leverage the training team as a strategic business partnerIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

What role does coaching have in your learning strategy today?In most cases, we get caught up in the intricacies of delivering training that coaching blends into the background. Or it's simply mistaken for training.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, draws the line between coaching and training. He also revisits the competence cycle and explains how coaching helps move learners from one stage of the cycle to another.Listen to this episode to find out: Why learning and coaching are not the same thingHow to apply the competence cycle to the learning processThe responsibilities of a coachHow learning and coaching complement each otherHow to facilitate coaching in your organizationIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How do you ensure that your workforce is ready for change?There's often a lot of talk about how to navigate deploying new technology, introducing new talent, or other innovative ways to keep up with the times.But it's important to consider the “people side of things.” By doing so, we can come up with different ways to support our employees while equipping them with the tools to adjust.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer) shares a few ways you can help employees develop flexible and adaptable approaches to change.Listen to this episode to find out:How the roles of L&D, talent development, and HR have evolved Why it's vital to have a more adaptable workforceHow COVID spurred the need for flexibilityThe limitations of upskilling and reskilling5 ways to encourage flexibility and adaptability If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

What's new in the world of learning and development? The space is changing. Learners now have different expectations about training content, so we must rethink how training is delivered.Matthew Brown, Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, explores the top five trends in L&D that you should watch out for in 2022 and beyond. He discusses why flexibility, personalization, and health and wellness are big priorities for learners today.While these trends may not be new ideas, they are important to consider if you want to consistently meet your learners' expectations of training. Listen to this episode to find out: The top five trends in L&D to watch out forWhy reskilling isn't just about adapting to change Why people expect personalization in their trainingHow to be more flexible in trainingThe importance of health and wellness in the workplace If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How many times do you or your team face objections when attempting to change training and development? Perhaps you've been asked to design training that you know just won't work.Often, customers or business partners bring requests to the Learning and Development team with preconceived ideas about what the content should be, how it should be formatted, or how it should be fulfilled. If you want to change those outdated methods and try out new learning styles, you'll find that sometimes people just don't like change – but why?In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, shares personal scenarios where he has faced objections to changes in training. He shares invaluable insights and provides tips on how to counter these objections. Listen to this episode to find out: Some common reasons why you face objections to changes to trainingHow to handle requests that are about communication and not trainingHow generational codes could be influencing people's reactions How to overcome people's fears about changes to learning formatsIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

It's fair to say that virtual training is here to stay.  Now that it's become the new normal, it's vital to learn how to manage participants while keeping them engaged.  One way to do that is to hone in on the different personas that turn up in virtual training sessions. That'll make it much easier for them to get the most out of their learning experience. On this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, identifies eight specific personas you'll typically find in the virtual training space. He also offers general tips and technical strategies for managing learner engagement.  Listen to this episode to find out:  How to manage different personas in a virtual training setting Why being prepared makes trainers more flexible How to boost learner engagement Why it's beneficial to have a producer How to manage your use of the mute button Why it's great to have break out rooms The importance of delivering clear instructions   If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!  

How do you learn? You could ask a hundred people that question, and each one could give a totally different answer. Many wouldn't even know what to say. The truth is that everyone learns in different ways, and yet schools and workplaces follow a very one-size-fits-all approach. Matthew Brown, Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer, explores this topic in this episode of The Learning Xchange.Matthew shares some food for thought and breaks down different ways we can improve our mindset around learning. Listen to this episode to find out: Why we should think carefully about how we learnHow to identify learning goals How to take specific action for your learningWhy learning should be a habitThe importance of planning and scheduling time for learningWhy mistakes are good learning opportunities Why your journey to improve learning shouldn't be done alone If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Without a doubt, the nature of the workforce has changed drastically over the past couple of years. And with that has come an overhaul of ideas, concepts, and methodologies that simply don't fit the bill anymore.At the top of that list is learning engagement. An increasingly remote and hybrid workforce has made the traditional methods of delivering training a bit more complicated. As Schoox's Matthew Brown (Chief People & Culture Officer) explains, this change is an opportunity to revisit the very idea of learning engagement to find more fun, exciting and tailored ways to deliver knowledge.In this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast, he explores different ways the workforce has evolved and what needs to evolve with it. He also points out a few ways to inspire true learning.Listen to this episode to find out:How the pandemic has changed the workforceLessons the pandemic taught the L&D communityWhy learning engagement is so importantHow compliance and mandates affect learning engagementWays to make learning more fun and excitingIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

When was the last time you really stopped to think about the concept of trust in your workplace?If you think about it, on one side, the workplace is where it all starts. It's your home base. When seeds of distrust are scattered, it's bound to cause a bit of unwanted friction internally. On the other side, your general efforts around trust often feed into most, if not all, interactions with learners and customers alike.To get ahead of this, it's become increasingly vital to take a more hands-on approach toward trust-building, and that's what Matthew Brown (Schoox's Chief People & Culture Officer) delves into on this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast. He discusses the role of trust in the workplace as well as its unique place in the training process. Matthew also shares four ways to incorporate the trust-building process into your training.Listen to this episode to find out:Why trust is vital in the workplace and the training processThe effect of a lack of trust can impact organizationsHow the notion of trust in L&D has evolvedHow to build trust with both your employees and learnersFour ways to address the trust conversationIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

What can employers do to improve the employee experience and create positive changes?  In the last couple of years, one thing has become crystal clear. Nothing stays still for very long. The speed of change we've all experienced over the past two years is not only here to stay, but also accelerating. As a result, learning and development professionals must understand that learning has to change also. We must be willing to tackle new conversations and consider how we can use our tools and talents to help improve the broader employee experience. To start with, there are a few areas where L&D can really pitch in and help move things forward. Matthew Brown, Chief People & Culture Officer at Schoox, shares some ways L&D can lend a hand in this episode of The Learning Xchange. Listen to this episode to find out: How change is accelerating in the workplaceHow L&D professionals can help to improve the employee experienceWhy health and wellness should be a priority  Why it's so important to consider employee needsWhy we should nurture the next generation of leadersIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

What are you doing to take control of your own career? How about your employees? How we navigate our career journey depends on many factors, but it all starts with how much control we believe we have over it.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) talks about career mobility and the problem of conditioned paralysis. Sometimes the biggest roadblock in our careers is our own limiting beliefs, so Matthew explores a way to rethink career mobility.He explains the three biggest ways our conditioning and workplaces can get in the way of us sitting in the driver's seat of our careers. Listen to this episode to find out: Why career conditioning can have both good and bad consequencesWhy we need to unlearn our conditioningHow learned helplessness can affect career mobilityWhy not all career paths are linear How to encourage employees to improve the skills they needIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Far too often, people find themselves struggling to connect with other people in the workplace. Sometimes it's a case of a personality mismatch. Other times it can be a difference in communication styles. Whatever the reason, this inability to connect with others in a meaningful or productive way can cause a blockage. It can affect productivity, collaboration, and even trust if everyone is struggling to connect.  As Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) explains, it all comes down to one key thing – self-awareness. In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew discusses why self-awareness and adaptability are overlooked but critical skills for any workplace. Listen to this episode to find out: How difficulties connecting to others largely comes down to self-awarenessHow self-awareness can help us address unconscious biasWhy organizations should try to teach self-awarenessWhy organizations need to revisit and adapt processes in real-timeHow to create a safe space for all to understand each otherThe best ways to open up honest conversations in the workplace If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

The learners' needs are at the heart of any training program's success. Part of the role of learning and development is to develop training that sticks and that learners can digest.However, not all learners are the same. Everyone has various needs, and this is especially true for neurodivergent people in the workplace. In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) explores the topic of neurodiversity and where it relates to learning and development. He explains that in order to make our training more accessible, we need to consider how different people think and behave.Listen to this episode to find out: What neurodiversity means Why businesses should be equipped to help neurodiverse peopleWhere neurodiversity fits into different learning stylesWhy you should consider the environment and tools you use in your trainingTips on how to make learning more inclusiveIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Vulnerability, authenticity, and a partnership mindset are crucial elements of the employee experience. Yet, many organizations overlook them. Showing vulnerability in the workplace is not a priority when other important things like profitability are on the line. However, if you want to develop a workplace culture that's open, supportive, and trusting, you need to consider these elements.In the 50th episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success), discusses how to develop a partnership mentality in your workplace. Listen to this episode to find out: Why showing vulnerability should be a two-way thing in workplacesWhy many employees don't know how to ask for helpHow you can make your workforce feel more comfortable asking for helpWhat L&D teams can do to improve openness at workWhy you need to lead by exampleThe importance of meaningful interactions Why we should strive for a partnership mindset at workIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

When did you last make time for personal development?Learning and development professionals work tirelessly to help others develop themselves, but what about their own development? L&D is a somewhat one-sided relationship. The job is all about improving education and efficiency within the team, developing new talent, or training the next great leaders. However, rarely do L&D professionals get the opportunity to spend time on their own training and development. There's not usually another department where the teachers can be taught. In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) talks about the personal development problem in L&D. He shares some ideas on how we can carve time out for personal development and why it should be treated as a priority. Listen to this episode to learn: Why the learning and development department is usually overlooked for training needsHow it can feel awkward to make time for personal developmentHow everyone has unique needs that must be met in the workplaceThe best way to make time for personal developmentWhy L&D professionals should tell the business what they needIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Is there enough empathy in the workplace? What about within your training sessions?Over the past 18 months, empathy has been crucial to holding workplaces together. As learning and development professionals, we often lead with empathy during discussions and interactions with others. But it's often overlooked when it comes to the training content.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) explores the idea of empathy in training and the wider workplace.Listen to this episode to find out:Why empathy should be a guiding force in training contentWhy L&D professionals can be too focused on box-ticking How you can embed empathy in training and the workplaceWhy employees now demand more empathy in the workplaceThe questions we can ask to be more empatheticWhy L&D can lead by example and change the workplace culture If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Do employees at your workplace feel comfortable sharing new ideas and worries?It's important that all people in an organization feel confident to share their ideas and thoughts without fear of repercussions. Not all workplaces are open, and many (without knowing it) do a poor job of ensuring psychological safety for all. In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, delves into the topic of psychological safety. He talks about the four stages of psychological safety and what we can do to help our teams and organizations improve on it.Listen to this episode to learn:What psychological safety is and why it's importantWhy building trust and confidence takes times The four stages of psychological safetySteps you can do to build trust in the workplace Why we should always challenge the status quoIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

When was the last time you attended an in-person event? For many, it's been months or even over a year. As people head back to the office and from virtual to in-person events again, a degree of relearning is in order. For the past 18 months or so, many of us have not really ventured out to professional events and have instead become used to the world of Zoom-based interactions. Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) explores this in this episode of The Learning Xchange. He discusses a recent experience where he attended an in-person event and shares his observations about how interactions have changed. Listen to this episode to find out:Why in-person events require relearningHow body language has changed between virtual and in-person sessionsWhy the physical space in the room affects people's level of comfortWhat learning and development professionals need to prepare forIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Sometimes in work and life, we forget about the simplest of things. In the age of COVID and all the stress that comes with it, we need to remember not to neglect the little things.In a fast-paced, modern world, sometimes it pays to just sit and observe the world around you. In observation mode, you can see the way people interact in different ways and learn so much.By injecting more kindness and patience into our everyday and professional lives, we can connect with others.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, shares the insights he picked up from a recent trip. Listen to this episode to find out:Why kindness and patience are crucial now more than ever Why we should understand that everyone's in the same boatHow to apply this to training and professional development If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

Change is an unavoidable part of life, and it has been at the forefront of people's minds during the past 18 months.As things change and we adjust to new ways of working now and in the future, we tend to overlook how this impacts our learners.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, discusses how change can impact learners. Matthew shares the five stages that learners go through when adjusting to change and what you can do along the way to help.Listen to this episode to find out:Why change affects learners The five stages of adjustment that learners go throughWhy adjustment to change can be so complexHow to use mobile technology to ease knowledge transferWhy we need to focus on skills that can be applied in real-time If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

There's one thing that's crystal clear in the learning and development world. Training is never a one-and-done thing. The best kind of training is ongoing and is a constant feature in any workplace.Many organizations realize the importance of training and are eager to teach new skills, but what about older skills? Skills you trained for just a couple of years ago are in danger of being outdated unless you revisit them. We call this a “skills half-life.” In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, joins Karen Clem, Director of Talent Development, to discuss the half-life of skills in the workplace. Listen to this episode to find out:What a skills half-life means How quickly the need for skills changesThe difference between durable and perishable skillsWhy should try to plan ahead and anticipate the need for retraining If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

The conversation around burnout and mental health has increasingly become a focus for workplaces. Yet, with burnout on the rise, many workplaces are not equipped to deal with it successfully. If you look on news websites, especially HR or business-specific ones, you can see just how much of a problem burnout has become. Burnout is causing employees to leave their roles, it reduces their productivity, work satisfaction, and it can have a huge effect on company culture. In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) shares his top ways to handle burnout in the workplace. He explains how to identify burnout, what could be causing it, and why it's vital that we don't just ignore it.Listen to this episode to find out: What burnout is and what it looks like What can cause burnout How burnout can affect both businesses and individualsWhy self-care and therapy should be a priorityHow to talk openly in the workplaceThe importance of setting goals How a simple journaling exercise can help you let go of worriesIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

When a new hire joins, there's always a learning curve. What about an unlearning curve, though?  New hires come with experience, processes, and habits picked up from their old workplace. They may or may not align with your company culture, goals, or processes. In this case, a degree of unlearning must happen for a new hire to settle into their role.  When welcoming any new hire on board, it's critical to set very clear expectations so they can successfully merge with your company culture. We often welcome new hires intending to do so with open arms to help them get immersed in the organization. However, sometimes we fall short in one area or another.  This is what Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, discusses in this episode of The Learning Xchange.  Listen to this episode to find out: Why unlearning is an important part of onboarding How we can alter the onboarding process to make it more effective Why new hires need to know about company culture Why allowing employees to tap into prior experiences is useful for everyone  If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Whether it's to keep up with changing technology, a fast-paced market, new regulations, or something else, change is a necessary part of running a successful business.However, implementing new changes and initiatives can be a tricky process. One simple change can affect every single part of an organization.If a new initiative is to be introduced in your organization, you need to be prepared. Most organizations focus on project management, process management, or some kind of implementation methodology. However, this overlooks one key area – the people affected by the changes. In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) explores the steps that organizations need to take to implement change effectively. Listen to this episode to find out: Why focusing on the people, not just the processes is crucialHow to manage requirements across the organizationHow to engage different types of people in the processWhy you need feedback as early as possibleCommunication tips to ensure a successful implementation processIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

What happens when we make a concentrated effort to form positive working relationships? Not just basic collaboration and pleasantries, but to really connect and check in with your colleagues.Many of us get caught up in our own heads, too busy with the day-to-day responsibilities to remember to do this.However, the benefits are huge for us as individuals, our colleagues, and the organization as a whole.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown, VP of Learning and Brand Success, takes us through this topic in detail. Matthew shares all the benefits that come with forging strong connections at work, the best ways to do this, and why you should try to interact more with different departments.Listen to this episode to find out:Why forming good working relationships is so beneficialWhy you should make an effort to collaborate with departments like HRHow to use different perspectives to improve the employee experienceWhat you can learn from othersIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

We could all use a little reminder that it's okay to expose our human side at work.When employees look at learning and development professionals, they may think of us as superhuman in a way. Perhaps not on the level of Superman, but they may assume L&D professionals have all the answers and don't make mistakes. This just isn't true, though.Learners are not really expecting perfection, neither are the companies themselves and yet L&D professionals can fall into the trap of over-analyzing everything they do. All that does is create a tremendous amount of pressure.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, discusses how to be your authentic self as an L&D professional and why it's okay to not be perfect.Listen to this episode to find out:The problem with expecting perfectionFour simple ways to show your authentic self at workWhy you should accept that no one has all the answersIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

When was the last time you went to a workplace training session full of excitement and anticipation?Even those who love learning can sometimes struggle to motivate themselves to learn. It's a common problem across all industries, and one reason is because training is usually a must-do, not a want-to.Even when training isn't mandated, a lot of people are still stuck in that same mindset. It may come from school or other workplaces where training is seen as a necessary evil. It's something that distracts you from your routine and responsibilities.How do we get employees to want to learn? How do we teach them about the joy of learning for learning's sake, not just as a box-ticking exercise? The best way to achieve success with training is to have enthusiastic and open employees, but for that to happen, some mindset retraining needs to take place.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown, VP of Learning and Brand Success, discusses just that. He shares some reasons why employees are hesitant about learning and what we can do to change their mindsets.Listen to this episode to find out:Why some employees are hesitant to engage in learning activitiesThe problem with mandated-only learningThe common excuses against training sessionsHow trust could be a roadblock in your organizationHow to use a different approach to learningIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

It's a learning and development professional's job to not just deliver training content, but also to ensure it sinks into the minds of your learners.This is much easier said than done. How do you create learning content that resonates, sinks in, and is retained after a training session?The solution may not be what you include in your content but more about how you deliver it.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success, discusses why modality matters.He shares his thoughts on why organizations should add additional content on top of pre-built training solutions to improve engagement. He also talks about why L&D professionals should take note of learners' different learning styles.Listen to this episode to find out:Why it's not enough to just deliver training contentHow you can adapt pre-built content for your learnersDifferent ways to bring additional content into your programsWhy you should always consider different learning stylesIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

Do you or your learning and development team feel like order-takers in your organization?Often the learning and development teams feel somewhat separate from the rest of the organization and are brought into the conversation way later than they would like.This is a common problem in companies and can lead to a gap in understanding, which can have a significant impact on the training content that L&D professionals come up with.If this sounds familiar, the best solution is to go from being just an order-taker to becoming a strategic business partner instead.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand success) takes you through ways to help you shift from being an order-taker to a business partner. He shares his insights into how to get to know the rest of the organization and use that information to improve your training content.Listen to this episode to find out:Why a gap in understanding the organization can impact the learning contentHow to build engagement with your learnersThe three steps to becoming a strategic business partnerWhy you should always acknowledge the team's contributions to the contentIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

All organizations want to boost employee engagement and encourage quality learning. Luckily in the age of new technology and remote tools, this is easier than ever.There's a tool for everything these days, and with remote work becoming the “new normal,” just about everyone is familiar with them.Now that people are more comfortable using these tools, the next step is to find ways to improve what these tools can help us achieve.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown from Schoox (VP of Learning and Brand Success) talks about using these tools for learning and employee engagement. He shares three types of tools all organizations should explore and gives his recommendations for each one.Listen to this episode to find out:How modern communication tools fit into learning and developmentWhy video-based communication can be more effective than writtenHow to encourage employees to be advocates with BambuHow collaboration tools can become part of your learning programIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

When was the last time you gave your learning system a spring clean?If you're not regularly maintaining and revisiting your learning systems, you could be missing out on opportunities to improve them.Sometimes the systems we build and the content we rely on for workplace training becomes out of date. Your learning system won't tell you this, though. Your employees might, but the best way to know if your system is out of date is to revisit it regularly.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, VP of Learning and Brand Success at Schoox, shares his seven tips for learning system maintenance. He takes you through the reasons why you should regularly revisit your system, tools, and content, and the best ways to do this.Listen to this episode to find out:Why you need to regularly maintain and revisit training contentWhy you need honest feedback from your usersThe seven ways you can set up a maintenance cycle to catch issuesThe importance of communication, open channels of support, and feedbackIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

How can you make your learning experiences more memorable?Capturing your audience's attention and holding it can make the transfer of knowledge much more effective.It's more important than ever to try and create a memorable connection during the learning process. It's not enough to simply check the boxes and have all the right content. That content needs to be arranged and presented in a way that sticks in your audience's minds. You want people to walk away with as much knowledge as possible.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, VP of Learning and Brand Success at Schoox, has some great ideas on making learning more memorable.Listen to this episode to find out:Why memorable experiences are so important in trainingWhy including your learners can help boost engagementHow to make training less disruptiveWhy you should try to create a safe learning spaceHow feedback is valuable to creating more effective contentIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Is your organization ready to start looking for a learning and development vendor?If you decide to take things externally, shopping around for a vendor is not an easy task. You need to find a vendor who can provide exactly what you need, a solution tailored to your specifications.However, a common mistake people make is rushing into it without a plan. For long-term success, you need to approach an L&D vendor with a solid plan of action.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown, VP of Learning and Brand Success at Schoox, discusses the best way to approach L&D vendors.Listen to this episode to find out:Why the first step in selecting a vendor is to clearly identify your needsWhy you need to look beyond budget and timeThe downsides of rushing into a decisionThe problem with generic RFP templatesThe benefits of planning thoroughly before approaching a vendorIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

Are you looking for a new training solution for your organization?One of the first decisions to make is: will you buy a solution from a third party or design your own? There are pros and cons to either option, and your choice will likely depend on budget, time available, and your existing skills and resources.A common solution is to use a mixture of both by purchasing training and then adding your own context on top to connect the dots.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) delves into the topic of bought versus built training content. Matthew shares his tips for making purchased training solutions more effective and relevant for your team.Listen to this episode to find out:How the preference for built versus bought content has changed over the yearsWhy a hybrid approach is sometimes bestThe first step towards making a training course work for your organizationWhy it can pay to reserve your resources and buy contentHow to improve the user experience for learnersWhy you should start with the end in mind and work backIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review! 

What do the words “employee experience” mean to you?Every employee, manager, or business owner likely has a different definition. It can relate to day-to-day experiences, recruitment, training and development, retention, and everything in between.It relates to every touchpoint a business has with an employee, from when they first join to whenever they decide to move on. The experience that they have in between those two points and even beyond carries an impact across the company. Even once they leave, their experience can still create ripples for a business, for example, through Glassdoor reviews.That's why it's so important to think about employee experience and employee culture, as both those things naturally go hand in hand.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Schoox's Matthew Brown (VP of Learning and Brand Success) is joined by his colleague Karen Clem for a discussion on employee experience and the role of training in it.Listen to this episode to find out:Why the employee experience and company culture are so closely linkedHow the employee experience can affect customers and profitsThe role of learning and development in employee experienceWhy training should be continuous, not just an annual eventThe importance of engaging training programsIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Are you making time for self-care?Self-care is something that often gets neglected in the hustle and bustle of the modern world. But are we doing ourselves, families, and colleagues a disservice by doing so? By ignoring our own needs, are we making things more challenging for ourselves, our productivity, and our teams at work?In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) explores the topic of self-care and why it's so important to make time for ourselves. Focusing on good self-care has plenty of benefits for your own mental health and wellbeing, as well as your team's.Listen to this episode to find out:Why self-care is so important to make time forWhy self-care starts with us as individualsThe challenge of maintaining good self-care in the era of remote workPractical ways to introduce self-care aspects in your professional lifeHow to help colleagues and employees with their self-careIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How does your workplace approach content curation or creation?If your company is dedicated to learning and development, content curation is a great way to add value to your employees. In the context of learning and development, content curation is the process of gathering, sourcing, and organizing information that's helpful for a team.In many workplaces, the learning and development team is viewed as solely responsible for creating this type of content. However, there are lots of benefits when a company empowers the learning and development team to tap into the broader employee community.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) discusses the benefits of content curation in workplace learning and development.Listen to this episode to find out:What content curation is and why it's helpfulThe problem with generic training solutionsHow to get employees involved with content curationThe benefits of employees helping with content curationWhy hearing different perspectives is key to great training contentIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

Do you consider and encourage different perspectives in your place of work?There's a lot more open discussion in the world today, and more people value the spirit of inclusion and diversity. But for some, there's still a long way to go, particularly in the workplace. How you approach open discussion in the workplace can significantly affect collaboration, morale, and productivity. Are you actively seeking to learn from others with different opinions, experiences, and backgrounds? If not, what valuable ideas and perspectives could you be missing out on? Hearing differing perspectives that challenge our own has great benefits.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) talks all about the importance of valuing different perspectives. Listen to this episode to find out: The benefits of hearing different perspectives Why you should be open to challenges and remove any defensiveness How to encourage people to speak up and share their opinionsWhy being open to different perspectives makes it easier to have difficult conversationsIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How can we encourage engagement in a virtual training session?It looks like virtual training is not going anywhere any time soon. While many people had never participated in virtual training before, tools like Zoom have become a familiar home for team meetings and training sessions. For some, the virtual experience has been ideal, but there are certainly challenges that come with it.  As a learning and development professional, one of the challenges for virtual training is getting people engaged and interacting.  There are all sorts of distractions that affect our attention in a virtual meeting. How you approach building and managing your training sessions can help boost engagement and create a productive learning environment.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) shares some great tips and insights into engagement in virtual training sessions. He discusses the best ways to plan content and manage different personas in a virtual group. Listen to this episode to find out: The challenges of virtual learningHow to deal with distractions in a virtual learning spaceThe best way to structure your virtual training coursesHow to encourage everyone to engage and feel comfortable doing soIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How can you create a highly effective virtual training session?Whether virtual sessions are your go-to method of training or not, it can be difficult to deliver a session that works for everyone. There are lots of things to consider when putting together a virtual training course.While challenging, virtual sessions offer unique opportunities for engagement - if you utilize the tools effectively.In this episode of The Learning Xchange, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) shares some tips for making your next virtual training session a success. He discusses how to best leverage virtual tools to boost engagement and the importance of icebreakers and feedback.Listen to this episode to find out:Why making training sessions voluntary leads to better engagementHow to use different virtual tools to boost engagementWhy it's important to be mindful of those who prefer not to participateHow to use icebreakers effectivelyWhy you should get feedback from each sessionIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

In any business or organization, there are naturally some people who perform better than others.How does your organization focus on or identify those high-performing employees? Do you focus solely on them, and if so, does that mean there is an imbalance in the organization?It might seem like a no-brainer to spend more time and effort on high-performing workers. Many companies will have programs specifically in place to help elevate these people to senior positions. However, a common mistake that organizations make is putting their entire focus on high-performing workers. This means that most of the workforce is left without the support they need to succeed.That's what Matthew Brown talks about in this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast. Matthew (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) shares his thoughts on supporting lower-performing staff to help them become more engaged.Listen to this episode to find out:Why focusing only on high performers could be a mistakeHow to turn low performers into high performersHow to get lower-performing workers more engagedWhat makes a high performer and ways to apply that to othersIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

One of the most difficult decisions a business can make is choosing a vendor.Choosing the right vendor is not just about getting the right products, tools, or services. If you're going to be working closely with them, it's important to choose vendors that are a great fit for your company values.That's what Matthew Brown discusses in this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast. Matthew (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) shares his advice for choosing a vendor that can become a true partner of your organization.Listen to this episode to find out:How your choice of vendor can have a huge effect on your organizationThe best ways to choose the right product or serviceWhy it's important to look at a vendor's valuesThe difference between ordinary vendors and partnersWhat the vendor's employees can teach you about their working styleIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!Check out our FREE e-book, “Your Guide For Choosing The Best Learning Management System.”

How can you spark new ideas and encourage innovation in your team?Innovation is so important for organizations to continue growing. But are you openly encouraging it within your own team? Are you creating a space where employees at all levels feel comfortable sharing their ideas?That's what Matthew Brown discusses in this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast. Matthew (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) shares his six tips for encouraging innovation in your team. He says that being more open to trying new things and encouraging everyone to speak up can empower your organization.Listen to this episode to find out:How innovation can help organizations overcome challengesWhy innovation is everyone's jobHow to encourage a trial-and-error approachWhy it's so important for people to share their stories and ideasWhy no idea is a bad idea if it can spark innovationsIf you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How often do you reassess your priorities, either in your business or personal life?In times of change or crisis, many of us make the mistake of keeping those plans and priorities the same. However, if the world/the business/your life has changed, shouldn't those priorities change as well?That's the topic of discussion in this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast. Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) talks about the importance of setting priorities and regularly reassessing them.Matthew says that while planning for the future is essential in business, things rarely stay exactly the same. When things change, it's important to be flexible and revisit priorities. He also discusses the importance of talking to your team about goals,  and tasks and being honest. If there's too much on your plate and you need help, talking to others can help you better prioritize tasks together.Listen to this episode to find out:Why you need to revisit priorities in times of change and crisisWhy it's important to set goals and revisit those goals regularlyWhat to do when your plate's full and something has to giveThe importance of conversation and collaborationHow to use the Eisenhower Matrix to better prioritize tasks.If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!

How can you give the best training advice possible? What if someone asks for training, but you want to suggest an alternative?As a trusted learning professional or trainer, it's your job to assess the need for training as well as implement it. But how do you give the best advice if it's contrary to what the organization asks for?In this episode of The Learning Xchange podcast, Matthew Brown (Schoox's VP of Learning and Brand Success) is joined by his colleague, Karen Clem. They discuss how to strike a balance between being a “yes-man” and learning how to say “no” when giving training guidance. They also talk about the importance of positioning yourself as a consultant, or even a doctor diagnosing problems, to help create better solutions.Listen to this episode to find out:How to build trust, authority, and respect as a learning professionalHow to say no without building wallsThe benefit of viewing your job as a consultant or a doctor diagnosing problemsLearning when to implement extra training or advise on better communication insteadHow to give great guidance on training.If you enjoyed this episode, please share what you love about The Learning Xchange by leaving us a rating and review!