Is Development Feeling Heavy? Try Lighter Lift Learning

Effort, not just time, is often the biggest hurdle when it comes to professional development. In today’s fast-paced work environment, both leaders and employees can feel overwhelmed by the thought of adding more to their plates. But what if development didn’t have to be a heavy lift? What if we could integrate it into the work we’re already doing, making growth feel natural and effortless?

The reality is that development doesn’t require extraordinary effort or hours of focus. In fact, some of the most powerful growth happens in small, manageable moments that are embedded in everyday tasks. Here are five strategies that allow leaders to foster growth with a lighter lift, helping their teams evolve without the risk of burnout.

Purposeful Practice

Every task, meeting, or conversation offers a chance to develop new skills, but the key lies in approaching these moments with intention. Purposeful practice involves scanning upcoming interactions or activities for opportunities to test and refine skills in small, manageable ways. For instance, an employee wanting to improve their influence skills might use a routine team meeting to experiment with asking curious questions or suggesting new ideas. By consciously reflecting on what worked and what didn’t, they can incrementally build proficiency without taking extra time away from their day. Learn more from my recent article in TD Magazine .

Watch and Learn

There’s a video tutorial for nearly everything these days, making learning quick and convenient. Short, focused videos can deliver insights in minutes, allowing busy employees to pick up new skills between meetings or even on their commute. Who doesn’t have 4-minutes to acquire essential knowledge or skills? A perfect example of this is AthenaOnline’s offer of a free library of 8 microlearning videos as part of the celebration for the 3rd edition of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go. These quick lessons are perfect for managers looking to support their team’s development in bite-sized chunks .

Pull vs. Push Coaching

Traditionally, coaching has been a top-down activity, where managers initiate development conversations. However, development can be far more dynamic when employees take the lead. Encourage team members to seek out “pull” coaching moments, where they proactively request feedback or guidance from colleagues or leaders during regular meetings. Even five minutes of well-targeted feedback after a meeting can yield significant insights. This approach helps employees drive their own learning while keeping it integrated into their workflow. Learn more from my recent article in TD Magazine .

Resourceful Leadership

Managers don’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to developing their own leadership skills. From articles and podcasts to tools and checklists, there are countless free resources available to help managers sharpen their skills in a matter of minutes. For instance, my own new Resources Page (https://www.juliewinklegiulioni.com/resources/ ) offers an array of complimentary quick-to-use tools that leaders can implement to assess and elevate their leadership practices on the go.

Play Your Way to Growth

Sometimes, all it takes to spark creativity and engagement around development is a little bit of play. Games, card decks, and interactive exercises are effective ways to inject energy into learning and development. One such tool is the Developing Multidimensional Careers digital card deck, available on Deckible . It offers managers and employees countless ways to engage in creative, reflective development activities—whether in team meetings, one-on-one coaching, or even as a personal growth tool.

Development doesn’t have to be a draining, time-consuming endeavor. By embracing the idea of “lighter lift learning”—where growth is integrated seamlessly into and around the tasks we’re already performing—and using accessible tools, we can unlock tremendous growth potential for ourselves and our teams. The key is intentionality, creativity, and recognizing that development can happen in real-time, with minimal effort, without pulling focus from the work that matters most.