Artificial intelligence (AI), and in particular Large Language Models (LLMs), increasingly are touted as a transformative force that can "do it all" in Learning and Talent Development (L&TD). For some of us, images of a silver bullet form in our minds. From adaptive learning systems to personalized training journeys, the promise of these tools seems to have captivated the industry. However, while the potential of these technologies is undeniable, many leaders struggle to reconcile marketing hype and over-promises with real-world applications. Misaligned expectations can lead to costly investments and underwhelming outcomes. This article aims to bridge the gap between promise and practice. Drawing from professional experience, we offer actionable insights to help L&TD leaders navigate the realities of AI adoption. By understanding what AI can and cannot do, leaders can create practical strategies to integrate AI effectively and achieve meaningful results.

The workforce has been in a period of rapid change for the last few years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.  90% of HR leaders believe that half of their employees will need to be reskilled in the next five years.  BOOST is BizLibrary's annual conference that helps prepare HR and L&D leaders to future-proof their workforce and get their employees the skills they need today and tomorrow. BOOST is a one-day free virtual conference held on April 23rd from 9 AM - 3 PM CT. Register today to learn more about: HR and L&D trends on skill development, leadership, and compliance Strategies for implementing and revamping learning programs Solutions and tools to streamline and centralize your efforts Register for BOOST today!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way learning and development (L&D) professionals design, deliver, and scale training, but myths, fears, and uncertainties still hold many back. Join Training Magazine for an exclusive webinar featuring Nikki Le, head of impact evaluation at Google, as she demystifies AI and provides practical strategies for effectively integrating it into your L&D toolkit.  

As trainers, each of us has a unique set of gifts. We share these gifts generously with every group of learners we meet. That uniqueness is personal, like a signature. It adds deeper meaning and purpose to the work we do.  

This quick reference introduces you to the Five Personas -- the Sensei, Drill Sergeant, Superhero, Confidant, and Jester. Each persona is carefully crafted to define a core set of strengths that define excellence in our work as trainers.  Working with the personas, you accelerate the discovery process for a trainer to name their strengths and reflect on their own professional growth. Sharing the personas toolkit (including the self-assessment, skills training, and development planning) acts as a catalyst to amplify the impact that a training team has on their learners.

As we step into a new year, the importance of creating and showcasing value remains as critical as ever. In fact, the need may be even greater than in the past for your organization. Whether your focus is on learning innovation, AI integration, people analytics, or cultural transformation, it is important to deliver results that matter.  

Understand the critical role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the context of training, coaching, and achieving success. This webinar will teach specific attributes of EQ and how to cultivate for better training and learning experiences.  

This white paper provides valuable insights into industry-leading evaluation models and offers a practical roadmap for integrating the toolkit to maximize ROI and operational efficiency for Training companies.  This White Paper will explore aspects such as: What is training evaluation and why is it important?  Key training evaluation models in use today Power of training evaluation How to evaluate training effectiveness using KITABOO?

Whatever the description on the formal org. chart, most organizations are now more informal, less hierarchical. People serve on short term teams, task forces, many report to different entities at the same time. Most of our communication is virtual.  

Disengaged learners can be a costly challenge for training programs, impacting both effectiveness and ROI. This webinar explores how interactive digital content can transform the learning experience, making it more engaging and impactful.  

Quality management (QM) appears in many forms in learning and development. When facilitating a course or conference session on quality for L&D professionals, I like to ask for a show of hands as I read out different options for how their organizations might handle quality management. I’ve also conducted an online poll, which focused on the reviews, not entire quality management systems. I consider the poll unofficial due to the small sample size (139 votes) and the unverified answers. However, it still provides insight into what organizations are doing, and the results are consistent with my experience and the answers I receive when I facilitate. Of the L&D professionals who answered my poll, nearly half (48 percent) said they conducted peer reviews, meaning their fellow designers checked their work. At 30 percent, the second-highest option was an internal dedicated team for quality management (in which "dedicated" was defined as a team that only works on quality issues for an L&D team). Next was self-review at 19 percent. Finally, only 2 percent had an external dedicated team.

There’s no shortage of advice on how to design content that captures attention and sticks in memory—but how much of it is actually backed by brain science? Dr. Carmen Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist who studies exactly what kind of information resonates and is remembered by business audiences.   

Workplace training can be dry and boring, leaving participants disengaged. If participants can’t immediately see the connection between their training and their jobs, they won’t be motivated to complete training or to apply new skills to their jobs. Elearning can also be shallow and too focused on remembering content, without opportunities to practice new skills. Elearning often emphasizes behavioral engagement (clicking), at the expense of affective engagement (emotions and values) or cognitive engagement (effort and deep learning strategies).  

Dr. Carmen Simon and Mike Parkinson share the latest techniques in cognitive science and design to engage and captivate your audience. Learn how to craft presentations and learning materials that not only inform but also leave a lasting impact. Discover science-based and practical techniques to improve understanding, recollection, and adoption.  

Custom simulations are the gold standard for talent development—immersive, relevant, and impactful. But the process of building them doesn't align with real-world demands.  

It can cost 150-200% of a sales rep’s annual salary to replace them, and with average sales turnover at 35%, many organizations are paying the price. The number one way to combat this is through effective sales leadership. Given the right training, sales leaders not only improve but they can also become the "secret sauce" that turns a good sales function into a great one—increasing revenue, engagement, and retention of your best reps!  

The last five years have inspired big changes to how organizations communicate and interact with their employees remotely, and that continues to have an impact on how training is delivered. While virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is a staple for 73% of organizations, poor learner engagement continues to be a huge challenge, with only 27% considering VILT highly effective.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way Learning & Development teams work, but many organizations struggle to fully benefit from AI due to a lack of readiness, strategy, and team adoption. A recent Boston Consulting Group study found that organizations often fail to maximize AI’s potential—not because of the technology itself, but because their people don’t know how to use it effectively.  

Join us for an insightful webinar, "Pioneering the Future: Integrating AI to Revolutionize Competency Models," where industry experts from SkillDirector will unravel the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in competency model development. This session will explore how AI can streamline the identification of competencies for every role, specific skills related to each competency, and produce behavioral examples of each of the skills, ensuring your organization stays ahead in an ever-evolving landscape.  

What Will It Take to Keep Learners Engaged? What’s driving shifts in virtual training today? Where is the future of L&D headed? How are new generations impacting the status quo for many organizations’ workforces? This brand new report, created in partnership with Class and Microsoft, compiles learnings from 650+ L&D and training professionals and provides insights to transform your learning strategy, including: Workforce training trends & challenges: Virtual instructor-led training (VILT) is a staple for 73% of organizations, but poor engagement (72%) and accurate measurement (47%) remain top challenges. Innovations reshaping training delivery: Training and L&D teams are prioritizing smarter tools, with 41% seeking engagement analytics and 39% wanting deeper learning management system (LMS) integrations—reshaping how virtual training is delivered. New strategies to support Gen Z: Some 62% of individuals surveyed are prioritizing flexible delivery models and 45% are offering coaching for digital natives and Gen Z learners. Download the full report for data and insights to help shape your training strategy into the future.    In partnership with  

When you’re looking for a new L&D content provider, you want to be sure that they have everything you need for your workforce.  Whether you’re looking for a supplemental provider or a library to fill every need from compliance to leadership development, you need to know the right questions to ask.  Check out this infographic by BizLibrary created to help you screen potential training content providers! 

AI can create stunning visuals faster than ever, promising cost savings and accessibility. But beneath the allure of speed and scale lies a critical question: Can AI-crafted presentations truly captivate and persuade your audience? Or do they fall short, risking a message that feels hollow, forgettable, or even harmful to your brand?  

In the wake of a global pandemic, the world of education went virtual. As businesses reopened and hybrid or on-site work cultures made an exciting return from mid-2021, some virtual training opportunities continued their meteoric rise. L&D leaders witnessed greater effectiveness with virtual onboarding, compliance, procedural training, and other skilling programs. The training was better received by learners and training outcomes were far superior. Virtual procedural training is today embraced by diverse industries—manufacturing, healthcare, high-tech, and beyond. Professionals who have spent decades in interventional medical device education believe virtual procedure training is here to stay. Thriving in the new digital setting, it offers increasingly immersive learning environments to a globally dispersed and diverse cohort of students. Similarly, in the manufacturing industry employees report increased safety awareness, and develop conditioned responses, problem-solving skills, and muscle memory—most often even before they are on the job! The paradigm shift to facilitating and receiving virtual procedural training today is undeniable and has opened new doors in training methodologies and learning environments. Learning professionals new to virtual training may be wondering: What makes immersive learning environments like virtual reality and game-based learning top the charts for learning effectiveness? How have companies capitalized on this trend? What are the use cases and success stories of companies that are riding the wave? This ebook will go on to address such burning questions. Comprehensively explore ways to implement games and virtual reality to make training immersive and engaging, and deliver better learning experiences for your learners. 

Learning leaders struggle to keep up with constant change of pace of the business. It’s been recently reported that employees’ major complaint with organizational learning is that it’s no longer relevant. What do leaders need to do differently to ensure learning opportunities are relevant for employees and the business? They must have a clear and agile learning strategy that aligns with the core metrics of their business.