• Leadership, People Principles

Why Training Fails (And How to Make Learning Actually Stick)

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Show Notes

Episode Summary

People attend training.
They take notes.
They feel inspired.

A week later?

Nothing changes.

Businesses spend between $1,500 and $2,500 per employee per year on external training. Add time away from work, and the real cost is even higher.

So here’s the uncomfortable question:

Is it working?

In this episode of Lead to Grow, Tommy Sim breaks down why most training efforts fail to produce real performance improvement and what leaders can do differently to get genuine return on their investment.

Because the issue isn’t usually the quality of the training.

It’s a transfer.

You will learn:

  • Why training often works in theory but fails in practice
  • The research from Grossman and Salas on transfer of learning
  • Why attendance is not a measure of impact
  • The flawed assumption that information equals behaviour
  • How adult learning really works
  • Why relevance and ownership matter more than content
  • The neuroscience behind feedback defensiveness
  • The four stages of competence and why leaders rush the pain step
  • The 70:20:10 model explained simply
  • Why psychological safety increases learning speed
  • The difference between removing threat and removing discomfort
  • Why reflection multiplies learning
  • When learning is actually complete
  • The LEARN framework for practical application
  • Why lectures don’t create change but loops do

Key Leadership Lessons

  • Training fails when it stops at information
  • Behaviour change happens in the day-to-day
  • Managers drive transfer more than facilitators
  • Psychological safety increases speed of learning
  • Feedback works when intent is understood first
  • Reflection amplifies action
  • Capability is proven when it travels
  • Learning is complete when someone can teach it

Chapters

00:00 Why Training Feels Like It Doesn’t Work
02:23 What Research Actually Says About Transfer
04:50 Why Information Sharing Fails
07:18 How Adults Really Learn
09:44 Feedback, Ego and Brain Threat
12:10 The 70:20:10 Model Explained
14:38 Coaching in Practice
19:31 When Learning Becomes Capability
21:58 Psychological Safety and Error Reporting
24:22 Action + Reflection = Learning
26:49 Why Training Stops Halfway
28:00 The LEARN Framework

Who this episode is for

  • Business owners frustrated by underperforming teams
  • Leaders who invest in training but see little change
  • HR and People & Culture professionals
  • Managers stuck in the day-to-day because capability hasn’t lifted
  • Anyone who wants development to actually translate into results

About Lead to Grow

Lead to Grow explores the people’s principles behind high-performing businesses. Hosted by Tommy Sim, the podcast focuses on leadership, performance, culture and decision-making, with practical insights leaders can apply immediately.

New episodes are released regularly.

Connect with us:

Tommy Sim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommysim/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/injecthr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@injecthr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inject.hr/

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