13 books for diving deep in L&D (Learning and Developement)!

 

I think, am passionate about learning and teaching. (I switched from IT in an investment bank to an academic career)

I have always put the effort into learning more about learning.

Formally and Informally I tried to learn more about L&D (Learning and Development).

My MBA was in general management, hence didn't have a chance to learn “Learning and Development” systematically.

During the FPM program at XLRI, I got a chance to attend an HRM course, in which L&D was covered nicely. But still, it was not an in-depth full course.  

I tried to sneak into XLRI’s HRM electives in “Training and Development” – but then covid and lockdown blocked my attempt!

However, I tried my best to learn outside of this.

First I took a program “Designing learning interventions for personal change” by Ashish Pant of “Pathways to self". It runs in a seminar fashion with a small number of learners and a lot of personal attention. They formed a learning community too. However, the workshops were stopped later! 

I attended one more certificate program in L&D. But I think it was more suitable for trainers and wasn't going deep in the practice of L&D. It left me thirsty. Most of the other programs that I come across were suitable for trainers and not diving deep in the practice of L&D. 

I searched programs offered by various Institutes including IIMs, but none of the programs enticed me enough to join. (However, do share in comments, if you are aware of any good program).

Then I came across the KPMG program "Future learning and development leader program”. It wasn’t like a short MDP or executive program or workshop. I found the program well designed covering almost all aspects of the L&D cycle plus a few foundational skills for consulting in the area. Plus, I perceived KPMG brand name and consulting practice will add value to the learning.

I was right.

The program was rigorous and had a flavor of consulting in L&D. Something that added value to me as an academic.

That certainly put me on a fast track to learning. The facilitators were experienced consultants. Assignments were practical. Discussions were great, and a peer group – professionals and enthusiastic about L&D. All ingredients of a good program conducive to learning were in place. And it helped to get a grip on practice also.

I supplemented the learning with teaching.

Teaching is the best form of learning. This year, I opted for teaching an elective in L&D. I could closely/deeply read a textbook, and read through various HBR articles and cases. I am still working on refining the program for the next offering.

Learning shall continue in learning and development.

I love reading, and reading can help in diving deep into any topic of your choice.

Over my recent learning period, I have prepared a list of some books, that will help anyone to dive deep into various aspects of L&D. I don't claim it to be a definitive list. It's a list that I prepared for my use. You may have different opinions. (Do voice them in the comments or DM me!).

Here is the list. (& a brief comment)

1.       Telling ain’t teaching I see that this book is frequently recommended in various forums. I am curious to know more about this. 

2.       Training from the back of the room. This was discussed in one of the KPMG sessions. The title intrigued me and maybe something that will help you to upgrade to facilitator from trainer. 

3.       Design Thinking for training and development  Design thinking is an exciting area. I wish to learn more – particularly for solving issues/problems in the L&D domain.

4.       Design for how people learn I came across this book repeatedly in various searches. The high number of ratings on amazon and Goodreads, enticed me to put it on this list. 

5.       Elevating learning and Development: Insights and practical guidance from the field:  (Here: Amazon Link: Mckinsey doesn't require introduction nor praise. Their articles are insightful and will make you think. Probably the most influential name in consulting and knowledge business. Book title and its relevance - make it must read for this list. 

6.       Neuroscience for learning and development Coursera's most popular course by Barbara Oakley is on learning. One of her lectures, make me interested in learning more about neuroscience.

7.       Training instruments in HRD and OD: I have partially read this book. It is an excellent companion for any trainer, particularly in the area of behaviors. It has more than 80 scales/instruments that you can use in your training workshops. You don't need to read it end-to-end, but you can refer to it frequently in your practice. 

8.       An Indian approach to learning: The Talent Sutra: Devdutta Patnaik has a different flavor to his writing. I am curious to know what he says about learning. I am also curious to know what our traditional knowledge says about learning – hope it is covered in the book.  

9.       Designing and Leading life-changing Workshops: The book title, introduction, and online blurb enticed me. I put it on this list -because of the good number of ratings and reviews on Amazon.

10.   Chief Learning Officer: Driving Value Within a Changing Organization through learning & Development:

11.   Chief Talent Officer: The evolving role of Chief Learning officer:  This and the previous book – focuses on the CLO. Someone who drives the L&D -its strategy/direction and operation. When one is studying L&D – it becomes obvious to note – more about CLO. In addition to various topics, the book has interviews with some leading CLOs  

12.   Corporate Universities (Suggested in KPMG’s FLDLP Program). Firms are heavily investing in corporate universities. It talks about what these universities/academies are doing with various cases. 

3.    L&D’s playbook for Digital Age.  This is the latest publication by ATD. It was on the award list of the book-summary site getAbstract.  Topic and award – enticed me to put this on the list. 

 

 

If you know any good book and think, it shall be on this longlist of L&D books, do let me know in the comments.

I love reading and will read more or fewer titles from this list. I often add my readings on GoodRead.

If I feel book content may be useful in class/program or for future reference. I may end up taking notes (generally I put them in Evernote), writing a summary, or/and reviews. And may be able to present the book summary/reviews of some of this book. I can share that with you. If you are interested in knowing/getting them, do drop a comment or DM me. 

Or just follow me on Linkedin. 

Maybe we can have a community of L&D learners. Or I can form a mailing list. (Don’t worry, I won’t SPAM. And you can always opt out later!). 

Or maybe we can think of a book club only for L&D domain folks. (I do run a couple of book clubs. If you are in general interested in reading, do comment or send me a direct message – I will get in touch.)

See you soon with more details on these books.

(Top Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Learning_is_Hanging_Out_(15905754123).jpg.

Other Images: From Amazon).

How to land in a dream Job.

 

 I am a great believer in "Project-based learning". 

Or what is popularly known as 70:20:10 learning.

Also labeled as "ALP - Action learning projects" or "Hands-on" Learning. 

The majority of learning comes from "Doing" or by "Dirtying one's hand". 

Here is an illustration. 

I was talking to an MBA 2nd year student. Almost all of her classmates are struggling to find a suitable job and blaming the whole environment for their struggles. But she landed a suitable job. The icing on the cake is - this is the kind of profile she was eager to join!

With curiosity, I probed - what she did in the last year!

1. Took up a course in Social Media Marketing at a not-so-well-known institute. 

2. Took up a google course in digital marketing.

3. Completed five internships. One full-time and the other "on-demand" shorter in the off period.

All in the area of social media/digital marketing. First, two bullet points are added to a knowledge bucket, while 3rd a skill bucket. (Three buckets are KSA -Knowledge, skills, attitude - backbone of competency) 

No wonder, her passion, and experience paid off.

It would have certainly made her shine in the fresher's resumes & interviews. 

I think a couple of things can ensure, that she can go places, and her career is on a fast track.

1) She shall consider the next couple of years as an "OJT" - on-the-job training and keep a learning attitude.

2) Read regularly, which can be as little as 15 to 20 minutes (1% of the day) daily on digital marketing. Even this little time will be equivalent to 5 to 6 books in a year. It's a power of habit and compound effect. 

3) Find a mentor in social media marketing and digital marketing. 20% of the 70:20:10 formula comes from a good mentor. 

This particular strategy is excellent for getting any job or even in career change efforts too. 

(Sometime back I wrote an answer on Quora for this and got sizeable views in HR community. Here is a brief...)

1. Every job has 3 to 5 core competencies. Identify the key competencies required for your target job. Any HR professional or faculty shall be able to help you with this. Informational interviews will also help. 

2. You can work systematically to develop these competencies. Take the help of mentors/teachers and design ALP - Action learning projects for "hands-on" practice of those competencies. 70% part of the work!

3. Find a mentor for that particular competency or project. Get his mentoring. 20% part of the work! 

4. Read books, and take classes for theory. Participate in discussion forums etc. This is a 10% part of the work!

5. Repeat the cycle for the next competency. 

Though there is no hard-n-fast rule or laws/theories there, you will be able to grasp one competency in 4 to 6 months of period (Mastering will take longer). Thus 3 competencies over a year-n-half or two. 

A period that overlaps your MBA journey. And you will have decent preparation for an intern or fresher interview. 

The presence of projects and keywords will make your resume sail through search strings and short-listing. 

Action learning will make you super-confident in the selection process, which mostly consists of interviews. 

Certain way to a dream job !

(I have worked with a few students and professionals and will be more than happy to help!)

[Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Job-1.jpg]

Why did I decide to read/Study Gita?

 

                                               (Image Source: Google). 

For long BhagVadGita proved to be elusive.

1.       When I was in college, my mother – a typical housewife, who wouldn’t read much – learned Gita by heart. She used to attend “Swadhyay Parivar” and she learned to Chant Gita. She never learned Sanskrit neither I saw her reading any Gita commentary.  I tried to learn but in vain. It made me curious how come?

2.       Unfamiliarity with Sanskrit – also kept me away from Gita. When I used to see others Chanting or reading or speaking on Gita authoritatively, I was amused. It made me curious how come?

3.       Often saw quotes/comments by eminent people on Gita. I read APJ Kalam, our past president mentioned he used to read, whenever he was in Dilemma. It made me curious – how such a scientific and modern bent of mind found solace in Gita.

4.       As a part of my doctoral journey, I did a seminar course on Karma Yoga. (Today I find it funny😀 ). And in hindsight, I can see that it was superficial. I did all the work – without even touching Gita. Karma Yoga is a core of the Gita (At least as presented in GitaRahasya by Bal Gangadhar Tilak). And It's laughable that I tried Karma Yoga without reading Gita. It made me further curious – to read in the original what's said about Karma Yoga in Gita.

5.       Last year I read a colossal biography of Mahatma Gandhi by Ram Guha (close to 1600 pages). Gandhiji gave a lot of credit to Gita. He called it "Eternal Mother" and "Spiritual reference book". I am curious – what made him call Gita so?

6.       Recently I was at a friend's place and he spoke about Vinoba Bhave and how his lectures on Gita delivered in prison were written down by another stalwart Sane Guruji. Vinoba Bhave called the book – Geetai. And translated it into lyrical Marathi.

7.       How these towering personalities – credit their strength to Gita. I am curious about it.

8.       I often face dilemmas even in mundane issues. And curious will Gita help me overcome it? 

Particularly in the light of what Mahatma Said, 

"

I confess to you that, when doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I run to the Bhagavad Gita and find a verse to comfort me, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow.”

I think I kept it away for too long. No more. I know unfamiliarity with Sanskrit should not be a reason to shun Gita. So this year, Gita is on the anvil.

I decided to read Gita in English this year.

Have gathered a few like minded friends, who will support in this endeavour. 

will keep posting as I travel along.