David Kelly

Looking forward to a most excellent adventure.

YouTube video by Tales from the L&D Bookshelf Practical Pathways to eLearning Design with Tim Slade

A new Tales from the L&D Bookshelf episode is now available!

I talked with Tim Slade about what real eLearning design looks like. It’s full of lessons for new & aspiring IDs.

Watch now, and follow for future episodes!

youtu.be/orJ7vanEB8Q

You Don’t Need a Title to Lead One of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is that it starts with a title. We treat leadership like a role you earn once you’ve reached a certain level.

You don’t need a title to lead.

Leadership isn’t about hierarchy; it’s about how you show up.

My latest article explores what real leadership looks like without a formal role, and why it matters more than ever.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-do...

#leadership #learning #culture

“𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲; 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.”

In this clip, Will Thalheimer shares what separates good L&D leadership from the rest.

Check out the full conversation here:
youtu.be/9xKV4b2sKkk?...

“Can you deliver faster but also maintain, or even raise, the bar on quality?”

Frank Nguyen unpacks a tension most L&D leaders will instantly recognize: the push to go faster, and the expectation to maintain high-quality learning outcomes.

Full Interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM7q...

Back in April, my time with The Learning Guild came to an end after more than 12 years. For over a decade, I had the privilege of helping to lead and nurture a community of learning professionals who…... Back in April, my time with The Learning Guild came to an end after more than 12 years. For over a decade, I had the privilege of helping to lead and nurture a community of learning professionals who ...

I’ve taken a new step in my work journey: I’ve joined Bluewater Learning as SVP of Strategy & Transformation.

I’m still driven by the same question: Is this work meaningful and impactful?

More thoughts on that - and what’s next for me - in the full post here: www.linkedin.com/posts/lnddav...

L&D’s Missed Opportunity: What Happens When We Just Speed Up Old Methods with AI If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn lately, you’ve likely seen the flood of excitement around AI in learning and development. And rightly so.

We’re not doing AI wrong in L&D...
But we might not be doing it big enough.

If we’re only using AI to do the same things faster, we’re missing the real opportunity.

I explore this in detail in my latest article.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/lds-mi...

#LearningAndDevelopment #AI

Don’t outsource confusion.

Before you outsource, name the constraint: Capacity/skill/churn/speed/compliance/ETC.

Act strategically, not reactively. Learn more from @thetraciecantu.bsky.social on Modern Learning on the Air.

🎧 youtu.be/r2lUIgi7GEI?...

#learninganddevelopment #outsourcing

A6) I don’t want to change the default from courses to workflow learning.

I want there not to be a default solution at all.

#LearnChat

A5) Before sending an article to an editor a few years ago, I gave it to ChatGPT and asked it to make it 30% shorter, since editors always tell me I’m “wordy”.

It did.

Then I got curious.
“Tell me what you cut, and why”

I did that regularly until a realized I no longer needed to.

#LearnChat

A4) AI will deliver on the promise and value of “Learning in the Flow of Work” not by being a “Flow of Work” tool, but by changing the workplace so “Flow of Work” behaviors are a natural part of the workplace.

#LearnChat

A3) with a simple click of the “Share Screen” button?

#LearnChat

A2) I think starting with a mindset focused on “resources” rather than “learning” could help.

#LearnChat

A1) Still relevant, but it looks like “solving a problem by any means necessary”

#LearnChat

Let’s get the #LearnChat party started.

Thanks for joining us tonight everyone - it was great to connect and share with you all.

#LearnChat

Special shout out to @kpagano.bsky.social for joining our #LearnChat tonight. Thank you to everyone who participated this evening.

A6) Use real work to reflect on strengths, gaps, and goals. Pair that with tools like skills assessments, peer feedback, and career mapping—then make it a shared journey between the employee, their manager, and L&D. #LearnChat

A5) Personalized learning works when it’s tied to real goals, supported by managers, and embedded in daily work. It’s not just about personalized content; it's about personalized context. #LearnChat

Q4) L&D can support transferable skills by focusing on real work, not just roles—spotting common needs like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Then create a program that’s practical, cross-functional, and tied to opportunities to apply those skills across the org. #LearnChat

🤦‍♂️
#LearnChat

Q3) In many roles, it was the skills I built beyond the job description that made the biggest impact—and opened the most doors. Titles didn’t define my growth; stepping up, learning more, and solving real problems did. #LearnChat

... An unfortunate part of the equation: You may trust that data, but do you trust the person interpreting the data? #LearnChat

Q2) I track my skills growth largely by reflecting on what I can do now that I couldn’t before. It’s less about checklists and more about real-world progress—solving new problems, taking on new challenges, and learning through doing. Growth shows up in my work, not just in a tracker. #LearnChat

Q1) A skills-based approach means focusing on what people can 𝗱𝗼, not just what they 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄. It aligns learning with real work, drives performance, and supports continuous growth. It’s not about checking boxes—it’s about building capability that evolves with the job. #LearnChat

Greetings #LearnChat - David from NY, checking in a bit late. Hope everyone is doing well.

Make your plans to join us for #LearnChat Tuesday at 8pm EST!

Thoughtful Language, Thoughtful Practice: Data-Driven Vs. Data-Informed | David Kelly In my Thoughtful Language, Thoughtful Practice articles, I explore how the words we use in Learning and Development shape not just how we communicate but also how our word usage affects how we think,…

Language shapes our decision-making. I favor "data-informed" over "data-driven" because the latter suggests numbers control us. Data alone isn't sufficient. A data-informed approach keeps humans central, using data as a guide, not the sole direction. I explore this in my latest article.

Building Trust in AI: A Human-Centered Approach Artificial intelligence has taken workplaces by storm, promising new efficiencies, insights, and ways of working. But as businesses rush to adopt this transformative technology, an often-overlooked…

How can we build trust in #AI to unlock its potential? My latest article dives into transparency, the role of managers, & strategies for fostering confidence in AI tools.

Read it here: buff.ly/3PwdJh8

#WorkplaceInnovation #LearningAndDevelopment

That really effective storytelling requires purpose as an editor.

#LearnChat