The Human Touch: Leading Performance Beyond Algorithms

What happens when we stop treating learning as a compliance checkbox and start designing it around human experience? Justin Seeley, e-Learning Evangelist for Adobe, reveals why most corporate training fails to engage employees and what we can do about it.

Having led learning teams at Twitter, LinkedIn Learning, Snapchat, and Walmart Marketplace, Justin brings a wealth of practical wisdom to this conversation about creating learning experiences that actually work. He challenges the conventional "sheep dip" approach to training where everyone receives identical instruction regardless of their learning preferences. Instead, he advocates for personalized, practice-based approaches that accommodate different learning styles.

"Learning is not necessarily overlooked, but it is undervalued," Justin explains, pinpointing why so many organizations struggle with workforce development despite substantial investments. He shares how his pioneering work with in-course practice modules at LinkedIn Learning dramatically improved engagement by giving learners hands-on challenges followed by solution demonstrations. This practice-feedback loop, combined with opportunities for peer interaction, creates the kind of immersive learning experience that drives real skill development.

As AI reshapes the learning landscape, Justin predicts a fundamental shift in how L&D leaders function—moving from production managers to strategic thought leaders. While some organizations might temporarily reduce L&D investments based on AI capabilities, he believes the pendulum will eventually swing back toward human expertise. His compelling call for democratizing education by breaking down learning silos offers a practical pathway for organizations navigating this transition.

Ready to transform how your organization approaches learning? Subscribe now for more insights on building high-performance teams through strategic talent development. Share your own learning experiences in the comments—we'd love to hear what works for you!

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Talking About Ways To Improve Company Culture and People Performance

The People and Performance Podcast is a show that dives into all things related to raising performance in the working world around us. We investigate how technology and HR processes are inextricably linked to the employee experience and the bottom line.

Chris Bjorling, Co-host

Christopher Bjorling is President at Fidello Inc., a consulting and services firm specializing in improving human performance.

For over 30 years Chris has led Fidello in creating unique talent management solutions. Through the products and services he and his team have created over the years, his organization has helped clients design, develop, implement and integrate talent management processes and systems.

Bill Banham, Co-host

Bill Banham, Publisher at The HR Gazette, Host of the popular HRchat Podcast and Organizer of events such as DisruptHR London.

Bill has worked with lots of business tech and HR-focused brands in the UK and North America including HRreview, TalentCulture, HRmarketer, Sprigg HR, and Team Fitness Tool.

Contact us to learn more!