In this episode of the L&P Podcast, I speak with Heidi Kirby, Ph.D., an L&D strategy consultant, instructional designer, writer, and podcaster, about how L&D teams and organizations can be more intentional and strategic in facilitating learning and performance. With a PhD in instructional design and technology and over a decade of industry experience, Heidi possesses a unique blend of theory and practice. Over the past decade, she has built and launched learning programs, consulted with award-winning L&D entrepreneurs, and helped countless instructional designers enhance their skills. Co-founder of Useful Stuff and host of the BLOC podcast, Heidi seeks to help L&D professionals and companies around the world make learning more engaging and useful. She lives and works in Cleveland, OH, with her family and has an infectious laugh. In our conversation, we touch on a range of topics relevant to L&D and talent professionals, including: - Why L&D teams need a big dose of strategic thinking - Ways to manage stakeholder expectations - Building strong, diverse L&D teams - Beginning L&D projects with evaluation in mind - And so much more... Topics, references, and other stuff mentioned in the conversation:

Designing for NASA, working in government
Challenging preconceived notions of training
Loom: https://www.loom.com/
Managing stakeholder expectations
Building and managing L&D teams
The importance of wins - big and small, short and long-term
Leveraging L&D talent and skills
Hiring for the same values and different skills
Aligning L&D strategy with business goals
Jim Collins - getting the right people in the right seats: https://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/first-who.html
Team vision and values clarification
Evaluating learning from the start of a project

Wistia: https://wistia.com/
Borrowing resources from other departments
Kirkpatrick Framework for Learning Evaluation: https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/
The Six Disciplines of Breakthrough Learning: https://the6ds.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Introduction-to-the-6Ds-3.0.pdf
Cathy Moore - Action Mapping: https://blog.cathy-moore.com/action-mapping-a-visual-approach-to-training-design/
Immersing yourself in the client's culture
Field of Dreams - Build It, and They Will Come? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOPTByHw5RA
Pivoting from reactive to proactive mode
Intake process for training requests
Evaluating and choosing L&D tools
L&D toolkits>elearning authoring tools
Creating authentic learning experiences
Revising and improving learning experiences
Podcasts as learning and cultural tools
Heidi's dissertation on ID management and leadership skills: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/stemps_etds/132/
The Dichotomy of control and controlling the controllable: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/365-ways-to-be-more-stoic/202304/the-stoic-dichotomy-of-control-in-practice
Setting personal learning goals
LN Connect - 2024 Conference https://thelearning-network.org/event/connect-2024-be-the-disruption/

Connect with Heidi:

Website: https://heidikirby.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby
Useful Stuff: ⁠https://www.getusefulstuff.com/⁠
The BLOC podcast: ⁠https://blocpod.buzzsprout.com/⁠

#11 - Heidi Kirby on Making L&D More Strategic