Humanity. It will be both.
In the previous article, we discussed the first five takeouts of the ATD Tech Knowledge Conference. This article continues to explore the intersections between technology and humanity from a human angle, covering the reflections of the L&D Conference. As my shirt said while offering an AI use case session:
Humanity. It will be both.
So many technology-driven projects fail because of human factors. I have worked with The Tech’s most Bright Minds team, and I assume the solutions they’re building will encourage adoption itself. Because it’s so “intuitive” and “logical” that they’ll come, as “they build it.” Humans are complex and often complicated. If we’ve always done the right thing, good for us, and logical things, we can get rid of 80% of our prisons and HR policies.
L&D Conference Reflection: Takeout, Round 2
1. Accessibility: Who cares about others?
Speaking of the right thing…accessibility was at the very top of the mind in panel discussions, sessions, and hallway conversations. The foundation of accessibility is not the technical specifications for including Alt-text in every image, but the following mind framework: We humans need to care about other humans.
Every decision we make can affect others. The simple fact that we are thinking about this in our designs, conversations, comments and reviews is itself the first step to access for everyone. One is one for everything.
The challenge of acting on these principles is that they are often hampered by “theoretical” guidance without any real checklists or tools. I’ve seen him approach this challenge many times with the mindset of “I can’t be perfect right now, so wait until we’re there.” Progress needs to be made beyond perfection. This was exciting to create an accessible and comprehensive learning experience written by field learning experts, under the guidance of editor Sarah Mercier. That’s the reason. [1].
2. Are you waiting for God Tech?
Speaking of progress towards perfection… If there’s an endless drama on TV about L&D’s escape from an imaginary isolated island, it’s called “Waiting for Godotech.” That is, you’re waiting for the next shiny technology that will magically solve all your problems and sail safely for everyone. From the invention of learning management systems through mobile learning, gamification, microlearning, augmented reality, virtual reality, and current AI, we have been fascinated by Edtech vendor Wonderworld at all meetings over the past 20 years. Ta.
I fall in love with some large and expensive tech investments and have countless examples of leadership that spends all my resources on implementing something without the desired impact. Waiting for perfect skills is turning things around. It’s like getting the solution first and doing your best to fit it into the problem.
Start with problems and opportunities. You may not need new technology. It may be necessary for humans to understand how problems can be solved and what trade-offs are.
Don’t wait for God Tech. You will find yourself transitioning from one island to another. Understand and repetitive the problems, the people involved. A small victory over everything helps you build reliability and support.
3. Collaboration technology is not collaborated. Humans do that
Another big topic and subject of this L&D meeting’s reflection is connecting people. Many organizations have found that sending individuals to courses on behavioral change does not work when it comes to actual human behavior changes. We work in teams, but we tend to think of development as an individual activity that magically translates into team performance. Using AI can tire the pace change. You cannot become the master of everything. When building a network, both human and agent (coming soon) or even digital twins need to collaborate.
That’s the beginning of the challenge. Many experts reported that building a community is much more complicated than expected. Again, investments in technology with collaboration capabilities are not where you can start. Collaboration features do not collaborate. Humans do that. Collaboration cannot be mandated or community mandated.
You design the appropriate conditions and they will come. So, start with where and how to cooperate where employees communicate today. Find the challenges they face in their efforts. Solve it for them and expand it for them. Rather than adding another platform to the pile, build it from where it is happening.
Where should I start? Behavioral science and motivational theory. Again, humans are complex and motives may not work intuitively as you think you should. Understanding self-determination theory, BJ Fogg’s maps, COM-B, and other science-based approaches can help correct fundamental mistakes. Next, we focus on our progress towards perfection: iteration. Repeat. Repeat.
4. Diverse ideas, better results
The first AI assistant I built for myself (and then anyone opened it for whom?) was what I called “Holey Poke.” I used it to puncture my ideas, approaches, beliefs, plans, or solutions. I acted it like a demon advocate, a wise leading figure, a researcher, a “tough love” friend, an innovator, an analyst.
In the instructions, I asked my assistant to look into the final response and apply the same principles to respond to puncture holes with my own recommendations. This approach can provide a first diverse thinking. You can then bring it to a human and do the same thing. Diverse thinking tends to lead to more effective outcomes, especially when you do the same thing over and over again. Remember: the one who brought you here may not take you there.
5. Living next to Alice: Alice? who [Beep] Is it Alice?
On my last personal note, I also went to karaoke. The “Orchestra in the Sky” experience is a social activity to sing and sing without singing. Humans vs. human. If you ever had the opportunity to hear me sing, you know why I didn’t choose that profession. Incidentally, I did a song that is not suitable for HR so I won’t go into detail about the lyrics, but you can find it yourself by searching “The Life of Gompe Next to Alice.”
The related learning points and the final point of reflection on this L&D meeting that I want to make come from my childhood. In elementary school, there was a music class. The teacher took it most seriously. Let’s say “my friend” Alice was in class. The process for assessing Alice is as follows:
a) The whole class sings the song together
There’s no problem with Alice.
b) Individually, everyone gives themselves grades
Alice makes a strategic move (like the F-A in the US system, the grade system was 1-5). Steps A and B are repeated to provide opportunities for self-improvement.
c) If you give yourself 1(f) or 2(d), you must sing individually in front of the class
This is in case you underestimate your performance. Alice considers that, but rejects the idea.
d) If you give 4 or 5 (b or a), you need to sing individually
This is to prove your worth: Alice doesn’t consider this.
e) However, if you give yourself 3(c), you don’t need to be embarrassed.
In this case, you will take your grades home: Alice? who [beep] Is it Alice?
Now, guess what my friend Alice did with music 🙂
References:
[1] Mercier, Sarah, 2025. Designed for all learners: Create an accessible, comprehensive learning experience. Talent Development Association.
