The L&D Edit | July 2023 | Edition #15

Hi VTT'ers ??

As the summer season heats up, we're thrilled to bring you July's edition of 'The L&D edit,' packed with an array of enriching content to fuel your passion for learning and development. Whether you're basking in the sun during a well-deserved break or staying cool in your home office, we've got everything you need to keep you inspired and motivated.

??First up, our team has curated a fantastic selection of must-read books, videos and podcasts that offer fresh perspectives on leadership, personal growth, happiness, and overcoming challenges. You'll learn from visionaries like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Simon Sinek as they share valuable insights that can transform your approach to work and life.

But that's not all!

? Dive into our latest blog post that uncovers the magic of daily routines and how they can boost productivity and focus.

? Download our infographic, "The importance of taking breaks," and discover the science-backed benefits of incorporating breaks into your workday. Your team's performance and wellbeing will thank you!

? Catch up on the latest L&D insights with our handpicked articles. We've condensed the key takeaways so that you can stay informed without sacrificing your precious time.

Ready to embark on your learning adventure? Just click the links provided to access each valuable resource. We promise you won't be disappointed!

Happy reading, watching, and listening! ??

??Check out: VTT's summer library

Here's our team's recommended reads, listens and watches to accompany you on your summer break:

?? Books

• Switch — Chip Heath and Dan Heath
• Invisible Women — Caroline Criado Perez ?
• That Little Voice in Your Head — Mo Gawdat
• Why has nobody told me this before — Dr Julie Smith
• The unexpected joy of the ordinary — Catherine Gray

?? Podcasts

• The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
• The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
• How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
• Feel better, live more with Dr. Rangan Chatterjee ?
• Speaking of Psychology American Psychological Association

??? Videos

• What can we we learn about imposter syndrome from bicycle face? - Reshma Saujani:?https://lnkd.in/eD3V5P4a
• The surprising science of happiness:?https://lnkd.in/gy-i9XH
• The danger of a single story — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:?https://lnkd.in/gG6u6C3
• How great leaders inspire action — Simon Sinek:?https://lnkd.in/epd9D-S
• How diversity makes teams more innovative — Rocío Lorenzo:?https://lnkd.in/dJ3UKVZ

?? Read our blog: Beat brain fog with a daily routine

In the fast-paced world of today's workplace, we understand how overwhelming it can be to face increasing pressure, hefty workloads, and a constant stream of information. Juggling deadlines and endless task lists might be the norm for you, but have you ever wondered how this constant mental strain affects your ability to perform at your best consistently?

Welcome to our latest blog, where we delve into the topic of decision fatigue and how you can combat it with a simple yet effective strategy — daily routines.

So what do you say? Are you ready to refresh your approach to decision-making and productivity? Then grab a cuppa, take a deep breath, and dive into our blog to discover the wonders of daily routines.

?Read the full blog here.

?? Free resource: The importance of taking breaks infographic

At VTT, we've delved deep into the science of breaks and their impact on our productivity and wellbeing. We've compiled all the data you need to understand the real implications of skipping breaks into one infographic — 'The importance of taking breaks' — PLUS actionable insights so that you can transform your work culture and improve your team's performance.

?Download this infographic here.

?? Read: up on all the latest L&D insights

Do you find there are so many interesting articles, features and blogs out there there's just not enough time to read them all? ?? Don't worry! We’ve picked 3 of our favourite articles this month and summarised the highlights, facts, and top takeaways. You can read them all below!

1???Inside the mind of a master procrastinator:

• The procrastinator's brain has both a 'rational decision-maker' and an 'instant gratification monkey'.
• The rational decision-maker is responsible for long-term planning, and the 'instant gratification monkey' seeks instant pleasure. These two parts of the brain clash and the 'monkey' often takes control, leading to procrastination.
• The 'panic monster' emerges when deadlines approach, motivating the procrastinator to complete tasks, but long-term procrastination without deadlines can lead to unhappiness and regret.
• Overall, the talk highlights the need for us to address both short-term and long-term procrastination in order for us to lead fulfilling lives.

?Watch the TedTalk?here.

2???State of the global workplace: 2023 report?

This report is packed with insights. Here’s a few of the trends emerging from this years report:

• Employee engagement reached a record high in 2022, with 23% of workers finding their work meaningful and feeling connected to their team and employer. However, across the EU and the UK engagement is still very low.
• Engagement matters more than where workers work. Remote, hybrid, or on-site arrangements have less influence on employee stress compared to their relationship with their team and manager.
• Employee stress remained at a record high, with 44% of workers experiencing high levels of stress, influenced significantly by managerial factors.
• Over half of employees (51%) are actively or passively job seeking, with increased pay, improved wellbeing, and growth opportunities being top priorities for job seekers.
• The majority of the world's employees (nearly 6 in 10) are quietly quitting, psychologically disengaging from work and lacking supportive bonds with their colleagues and organisation.
• "Quiet quitters" know what they would change at work, with 85% of responses focusing on engagement or culture, pay and benefits, and wellbeing improvements.

?Read the full report?here.

3??Are people managers doing too much, or not enough?

• As we've become more dependent on technology and flattened our organisations from their previously hierarchical structures, people manager's responsibilities have increased.
• There's a lot of evidence to suggest that bad management can be partly to blame for poor productivity and employee wellbeing.
• There are very few organisations that are aware of the traits that they need in their managers to drive their economic success.
• A lot of people teams don't understand the 'economic engine' of their organisations, and therefore the essential role of the manager.
• Often individuals are placed in 'player manager' positions where they're still having to contribute their technical expertise, whilst managing a team. All without assessing if they have the necessary people skills.

?Listen to the podcast?here.

We’re on a mission to spread our love for virtual training. We’re sharing resources, tips, experiences and insights with anyone in L&D (and those not in L&D are welcome too of course!) curious enough to want to learn more. Stay up to date and receive notifications when our new L&D Edit is released,?subscribe here. To explore the world of training and resources The virtual training team can offer check out our?website.

See you next month!

Best wishes,