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/⁠