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If you were to do a google search for the definition of habit right now, depending on where in the world you are, it might come up as “a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.”

A bit simplistic for something that is actually pretty complex and makes up nearly 70% of our waking behaviours.

70% is a pretty large number, may seem like the odds are working against us. So then what can we do to create and sustain new habits and how can this help us to be better learners? Well, here’s the funny thing about that…

When you go away from the generic definition of a habit and explore it through the lens of science, neuroscience to be more exact, you can see what really underlies creating, breaking or sustaining a habit. Learning. 

Habits, from the perspective of neuroscience, are things that our nervous system has learned, and those can be both consciously and unconsciously.  

Your brain and spinal cord come together to form the central nervous system. This system relays and coordinates information and allows you to do things like think, feel, move, breath etc. 

Now that we know that it’s the nervous system is doing the learning to create the new habit, the next thing we probably want to question is, what is learning then?

Through the lens of neuroscience and the brain, learning is our ability to change, which occurs through neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is how the brain changes, reorganizes and grows in response to new experiences.  

In order to create a new habit, we need to form new neural circuits/a new pathway which will represent the habit. Like all learning and endeavours to create a new memory, time and practice are required to develop and strengthen the pathway. 

How much time? Well, that depends on the person. A 2010 study “How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world”  found that there was considerable variation depending on the person, anywhere from 18 to 254 days.  

Consider the lower number there though, 18 days. Now think about what that means in the context of learning and changing a brain. It’s not going to happen overnight and is going to require some effort. 

So how can we help the brain? What can we do that will support our abilities to learn and create those desirable habits? Three words: Sleep. Diet. Exercise.

By now it’s common knowledge that those three factors, sleep, exercise and diet are critical to supporting brain function and overall health. But why? 

There’s a plethora of research and knowledge that go into each of these factors, but for our sake, let’s keep it to the context of supporting learning. 

Gives the brain time to flush out neurotoxins that build up over the course of your day.  A brain free of waste is one that can operate more functionally and will support you in your abilities to attend to your focus. Important when it comes to sitting down to learn.

Part of the memory consolidation process takes place while we sleep, during which neural connections are strengthened. Another reason why spacing out learning is an effective method.  

Promotes blood flow to the brain and improves sleep, mood and reduces stress and anxiety, all critical factors to cognitive function while you learn. 

Releases chemicals in the brain that affect the health of the brain cells themselves, those things that will be creating the network and representation of a new behaviour. 

Your brain is like an expensive car and you want to put good fuel in it to keep it running well.  Foods that have lots of vitamins,      minerals and antioxidants not only nourishes the brain but protect it from excess waste which can damage the cells. 

Your brain also burns through an exceptional amount of calories in a day considering the size of real estate it takes up in comparison to the whole body. An estimated 20%. Having some snacks and some water around when you’re learning will definitely be to your benefit. 

So at the end of the day, how do we create great habits and be better learners? Support and take care of the thing doing the learning, those beautiful brains! 

I’ll leave you with a quote from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits and one that I referenced in the recent webinar we did with the LPI, Sebastian Tindall, Head of Learning and Development for Vitality, and David William Hastings of Go1.

“Intensity makes a good story. Consistency makes progress.”

Be strategic, be intentional, sleep well, and nourish both those brains and bodies and you’ll be well on your way to being a better learner and creating those new habits you want. 

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Be strategic, be intentional, sleep well, and nourish both those brains and bodies and you’ll be well on your way to being a better learner and creating those new habits you want.

Habits, learning and the brain, what science has to say about it all

Habits, learning and the brain - what science has to say about it all

The session kicks off a fresh series of engaging webinars for 2022 which will unpick the steps businesses can make in order to create more well-rounded and positive working environments for their teams.

The conversation opens with a series of questions, addressed to the audience and the panelists around new year resolutions and the progress on maintaining them thus far. The responses are mixed, with some proud of their progress, while others admit that they have not yet been able to stick to them. This leads the discussion onto the topic of habits and how long it takes to form or on the other hand, break them. Lauren Waldman quotes a scientific claim which states that 70% of our behaviour is habitual which would make it seem like the odds are against us when it comes to trying to create or forget a habit overnight. The panelists then debate on what the definition of a habit is to them - while Lauren sticks to a more scientific notion, unpicking habits from the perspective of neuroscience, each speaker is in agreement that habits need to be looked at from a learning context, be it conscious or unconscious. So what is learning? At this point in the seminar, both David William Hastings and Sebastian Tindall turn to Lauren who provides her scientific insights - she states that learning is our ability to change our brains, explaining that our brain and nervous system constantly evolves based on our experiences. Thanks to neuroplasticity, where no less than 86 billion cells are constantly growing and evolving as we create new pathways, we build new connections into our minds. Lauren reiterates that learning is not easy, it’s a timely process which cannot be rushed. Studies have shown that it can take anything from 18 to 254 days to form a habit.

The topic segways nicely into how this consideration should be taken into account in the workplace - the panelists discuss how it is unreasonable now for businesses to expect people to learn things in an hour and then move on, when it has been proven time and time again that in order to properly assimilate something, you need to revisit what you’ve learned, you have to entertain it. David William Hastings also points out the importance of passion in the process of learning - when you care about something, you’ll want to repeat it, apply and practice it but also share the experience and inspire others.

Habitual learning is the most impactful learning, but how can you support it and create the right environment to foster new ‘habits’? Here the speakers stress the importance of exercise, a healthy diet and, last but not least, sleep. Each will contribute to making for a healthier, and more fruitful, working, and learning environment. 

Sebastian Tindall poses a challenging question - How do we cater to frontline workers, or schedule based workers - what is the best time in the day to take them away from their role?  Both Lauren and David acquiesce, stating that, though there is no one optimal time, the importance is for leadership to be mindful and compromising, making, and finding time where they can in order to support and inspire. To Sebastian, workplace wellbeing is a necessity. He is also adamant that achieving this within the workplace puts businesses at a competitive advantage which in the long run will exponentially contribute to the success of the company on all accounts. David, talks of the working culture at Go1, where everyone is able to bring their true selves to work. 

Throughout the session, David condones the preconceived idea that training needs to be profit driven, geared towards KPIs and margins etc. To him, if the library of learning is not built to help everyone, then everyone will struggle with habitual learning - he states that there is a duty of care to provide for employees and give them a safe, relatable core; a pillar of human skills as well as professional.

After answering questions from the audience, the seminar wraps up with a punchy quote tweeted by James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habits: “intensity makes a good story, consistency makes progress” proving that slow and steady, really does win the race. 

Keen to hear more insights from the panellists? Watch the full Humanising the Workplace webinar.

Lauren Waldman chief learning Scientist and founder of Learning Pirate, David William Hastings Head of Content Partnerships at Go1 and Sebastian Tindall, Head of learning and development at Vitality join forces to discuss the importance of a culture of habitual learning.

Forming a culture of habitual learning for personal and business growth

L&D provides the guidance employees need, while still allowing them to steer in their own direction, by designing learning experiences that take advantage of how today’s employees want to learn. 

In this episode of the Learning with Go1 podcast, our host Nick Ramsay is joined by Toby Devine, Alliances and Business Development Manager for TalenTeam, to discuss the importance of providing good learning experiences and its role in increasing engagement and adoption during the learning process. 

When we talk about 'learning experience' what do we mean? Most of us instantly think of technology, in the way of 'learning experience platforms' - or 'LXPs'.

After all, much of what we experience in the workplace and in our lives outside of work revolves around technology. 

Capturing the learning experiences is massive, as Toby explains. The keyword here is experience because it's not just about what is offered to a learner, but it also includes how the learning looks, how it feels, how you can interact with it, or how it can be used by that learner. 

TalenTeam operates in quite a specific space and area, particularly related to learning experiences. Toby dives deeper into what this means for L&D below. 

What is a learning experience?

Many L&D professionals are interested in making learning more relevant, contextualised, and truly available to people at the point of need. 

This brings us back to the importance of 'learning in the flow', a term coined by Josh Bersin which drives productivity, increases engagement with formal learning, and improves knowledge retention. This is certainly the case for TalenTeam, as Toby describes below. 

Learning in the flow of work

What are the benefits of a great learning experience? 

To an organisation who might be considering their learning experience - their approach, platforms, and everything else attached to it - what are the value and benefits of a great learning experience? 

Toby breaks it down into three main points relating to time savings, attracting and retaining talent and the encouragement of self-directed learning.  

What are the benefits of a great learning experience?

How do you keep modern learners engaged? 

When it comes to keeping people engaged, there are many things an organisation can do. 

From having an inviting, innovative look and feel in the interface of the technology, to artificial intelligence, to personalisation, Toby discusses how using technology can enhance the learning process below. 

How do you keep modern learners engaged?

From a learning point of view, the combination of digital technology and L&D is crucial and should not be underestimated. A greater emphasis on technology-driven learning experiences will enable organisations to better serve their modern learners needs and boost skills in this constantly evolving work landscape. 

Here, Toby highlights the trends in the market that people should be aware of below. 

What are the current trends in the market?

If you haven’t already, listen to the full podcast here to learn more.  

We look forward to continuing the rest of the series with L&D professionals already scheduled to join us from Italy, Cyprus, Eqypt, Oman, Finland, The Netherlands, Australia, USA and many more. Stay tuned!   

Want to hear more? Browse the full Learning with Go1 podcast library on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify to help expand your knowledge of all things L&D. And hear how other organisations are navigating through this ever-evolving landscape. 

Episode 23 of the Learning with Go1 podcast is out now! Joining us is Toby Devine, Alliances and Business Development Manager for TalenTeam, to discuss the importance of having good learning experiences in the workplace.

The importance of creating a great learning experience

Episode 23 of the Learning with Go1 podcast is out now! Joining us is Toby Devine, Alliances and Business Development Manager for TalenTeam, to discuss the importance of having good learning experiences in the workplace. 

A new year often brings new learning opportunities. Given we’re all about lifelong learning at Go1, there is no more exciting time of year. Hopefully, you’re entering 2022 feeling refreshed, relaxed, and rejuvenated, meaning you’re in the perfect headspace to learn new skills and approach new challenges. 

We thought we’d lend a helping hand to your new year’s learning journey by examining the foundational skills you’ll need in 2022. Whether you’re learning as a New Year’s resolution, to upskill at work, or just for the sheer love of knowledge, there are a few essential skills that you’ll need to succeed this year. 

We’ll start by analysing an in-depth report by McKinsey, which outlines the skills we will all require in the future world of work, before honing in on the importance of digital literacy, understanding biases, and adaptability as key skills for the year ahead. 

In recent years, there has been plenty of discussion about how to develop ‘future-proof’ skills. That is, skills that will be in constant demand, surviving any technological or workplace evolutions. The thirst for future-proof skills is understandable, given some estimates show that 37% of workers are worried about losing their jobs due to automation.

For context, the World Economic Forum finds that 71% of total task-hours are currently completed by humans, compared to 29% of total task-hours completed by machines. However, if current trends continue, these numbers are expected to shift to just 58% of total task-hours completed by humans and 42% completed by machines within four years.

Perhaps most alarmingly, McKinsey believes that by 2030 “375 million workers — or roughly 14% of the global workforce — may need to switch occupational categories as digitisation, automation, and advances in artificial intelligence disrupt the world of work.” 

Accordingly, many employees have focused their upskilling efforts on developing foundational, future-proof skills. A recent report by McKinsey sought to define the skills citizens will need in the future world of work by identifying these foundational skills Following a survey of more than 18,000 people in 15 countries, they landed on 56 ‘distinct elements of talent’ (DELTAs) that will shape the future world of work. They then divided these DELTAs into four categories: Cognitive, Interpersonal, Self-leadership, and Digital. 

According to McKinsey’s report, these DELTAs are vital to the future of work because “these skills showed that higher proficiency in them is already associated with a higher likelihood of employment, higher incomes, and job satisfaction.” Examples of DELTAs include resolving conflicts, collaboration, digital learning, empathy, self-confidence, data literacy, active listening, and many more. 

You can read the full report, including all 56 DELTAs, here. However, we have identified the top three foundational skills from McKinsey’s DELTAs that stand above the rest in their importance to the future of work. 

According to McKinsey’s analysis, digital literacy is “the ability to handle digital data, use popular software, access digital services, and interact with AI…individuals regularly use the internet, access services digitally, use popular software, and understand that online activity creates data that others can use.” Notably, McKinsey also found that the digital literacy DELTA had the highest correlation to education.

We’ve discussed digital literacy extensively in the past, but it’s worth reemphasising how significant digital literacy will be as a foundational skill for many years to come. Given the sheer volume of new technologies we are now exposed to at work — from video conferencing and chat tools to word processors, AI, clouds, and everything in between — a foundational level of digital literacy is imperative to thrive in the future world of work. Without a working understanding of digital literacy, many employees are likely to be left behind as new technological trends continue to arrive at breakneck speeds and the demand for digital skills grows exponentially. 

Despite this, many teams have not yet taken action to improve their digital literacy. For instance, 39% of L&D teams say they are overwhelmed and under-equipped due to the pace of technological change. More alarmingly, ​​digital literacy expert Elizabeth Marsh recently found that 88% of organisations have not taken any action to address their employees’ lack of digital skills. Given this, while digital literacy is clearly in demand, many people still lack this skill, making it a key area of focus in 2022.  

For more insights on the importance of digital literacy, be sure to read our blog on ​​Steps to improve your team's digital literacy. 

Understanding implicit and explicit bias is fundamental to creating a healthy and productive workplace culture. According to McKinsey’s research, people who understand biases are 10% more likely to have higher job satisfaction. They define the ‘understanding biases’ DELTA as “individuals are aware of biases in their thinking and can usually ensure they do not impair their thought processes and decisions.”

Examples of unconscious workplace biases are pervasive. For example, research shows that candidates with stereotypically ‘foreign-sounding’ names receive 50% fewer interview callbacks. Similarly, in America, 15% of the male population are taller than 6 foot. Yet, 60% of corporate CEOs are 6 feet or taller. Finally, a study by Yale University found that a group of male and female scientists, who were all trained to be objective, were more likely to hire men, consider men more competent than women, and pay men $4,000 more per year than women. 

As such, biases influence almost every aspect of workplace culture — whether we realise it or not. Often, these biases cause us to make unconscious judgments. While overcoming bias is not a straightforward process, it is necessary to foster more diverse and inclusive workplaces.  

Behavioural scientist Dr Pragya Agarwal offers insightful advice on acknowledging and overcoming biases. She explains, “the more we talk openly about our biases — individual, interpersonal, and systemic — the more it helps...as does having more conversations involving different communities.”

For more insights on understanding biases, be sure to read our article on Unlearning unconscious biases in L&D. 

Adaptability and coping with uncertainty 

It should be no surprise that these two skills are in particularly high demand in 2022. Given the challenges of the pandemic, adaptability and coping with uncertainty are now non-negotiable skills. This trend shows no signs of slowing down in 2022, meaning adaptability and coping with uncertainty will continue to be essential foundational skills in the future world of work.

In fact, according to McKinsey’s research, adaptability and coping with uncertainty are the two highest indicators of employability. Respondents with a high level of adaptability were 24% more likely to be employed, while respondents who scored highly in the 'coping with uncertainty' DELTA were 18% more likely to be employed. Notably, ‘self-motivation and wellness’ was the DELTA with the highest indicator of job satisfaction. Respondents who scored highly in this category were 23% more likely to be satisfied with their jobs.

Further research demonstrates how important adaptability is in the modern workplace. According to PWC, 63% of CEOs are unable to find talent that can adapt to the requirements of the business. Likewise, Barclays Lifeskills finds that 60% of employers believe adaptability has become more important this decade than ever before. Despite this, only 8% of employers actively offer adaptability training. What's more, just 15% of people list adaptability as a skill on their CV.

As such, there is a significant disconnect between the skills employers crave and the skills that many employees are currently developing. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that adaptability is now one of the few constants in life. Therefore, adaptability and coping with uncertainty are vital foundational skills to hone in 2022. 

For more insights, be sure to subscribe to the Go1 newsletter to stay on top of all the latest L&D trends. Or, you can book a demo today to find out how Go1 can help with your team’s learning needs.

We're lending a helping hand to your new year’s learning journey by examining the foundational skills you’ll need in 2022. We’ll start by analysing an in-depth report by McKinsey, before honing in on digital literacy, understanding biases, and adaptability.

The foundational skills you’ll need in 2022

The relationship between learning and memory is incredibly close and intertwined. It is almost impossible for an individual to truly learn something without also having the memory to retain what they have learned. 

In episode 22 of the Learning with Go1 podcast, we are joined by Learning Scientist Lauren Waldman and Cognitive Neuroscientist Dr Elliott Jardin to talk about learning and memory, the operational function of our brains, and how understanding humans in the workplace can translate into more effective learning design. 

Check out some of our favourite highlights below.  

The complicated relationship between stress and memory 

When it comes to memory, there are plenty of studies that show us that stress is not a bad thing when it comes to learning memory encoding. It's the level and how much we can take however that has become a hot topic, especially as we find ourselves adjusting to this new world of work.  

So, how much stress is good, and how much stress is bad? And, is there a particular threshold that people pass where it starts to become detrimental to their ability to memorise, learn and retain information? Dr Jardin dives deeper into this below. 

The complicated relationship between stress and memory

The importance of learning about our brains 

So how does knowing about our brains help us as learning professionals - and everyday humans for that matter?  

Having a baseline understanding of our own cognitive resources allows us to not only be more aware and understanding of the limitations of those around us but enables us to help to protect them as well.  

For those who are responsible for designing learning, it gives a higher awareness of what can be done in the design itself to make it more operationally functional for the people who are on the other side of the screen or sitting at the other side of the desk, as Lauren explains below. 

The importance of learning about our brains

The value of sleep when it comes to learning 

One of the biggest preparations for your brain to learn is giving your brain adequate rest.  

Research suggests that the quantity and quality of sleep have a profound impact on learning and memory. So whether it's connecting different ideas or different types of motor learning, the importance of sleep really can't be overstated, as Dr Jardin explains below. 

The value of sleep when it comes to learning

When you learn something new, the best way to remember it is to sleep on it. 

In our daily lives, we're constantly bombarded by stimuli all around us. These are noises, colours, scents and much much more. With everything around us, there is only so much we can pay attention to at any one time. We need to be strategic about what we focus our cognitive energy on so that we can prime our brains to be in the best position for learning. This can be assisted through the practice of mindfulness. 

Mindfulness as a tool for the brain

If you haven’t already, listen to the full podcast here to learn more. 

We look forward to continuing the rest of the series with L&D professionals already scheduled to join us from Italy, Cyprus, Eqypt, Oman, Finland, The Netherlands, Australia, USA and many more. Stay tuned!  

Episode 22 of the Learning with Go1 podcast is now live! Joining us is Learning Scientist Lauren Waldman and Cognitive Neuroscientist Dr Elliott Jardin to discuss the importance of preparing your brain for learning.

The importance of preparing your brain for learning with Lauren Waldman and Dr Elliott Jardin 

Episode 22 of the Learning with Go1 podcast is now live! Joining us is Learning Scientist Lauren Waldman and Cognitive Neuroscientist Dr Elliott Jardin to discuss the importance of preparing your brain for learning. 

The importance of preparing your brain for learning 

We all know by now that consistent learning and development is essential for just about every industry. What may be less obvious is how to best carry out this learning to ensure participants are getting the most out of it. What are some techniques that L&D leaders in all industries can bring to their learners and how can we help learners to then apply those techniques in their everyday work?

In episode 21 of the Learning with Go1 podcast, Lars Ruud, Global Learning and Development Partner with Wilhelmsen Group, joins our host Craig Hamill to discuss effective implementation and maintenance of workplace L&D strategies. 

Throughout the podcast, they share insights into their personal experience with how L&D leaders can create a learning culture that keeps participants coming back through specific techniques. They also discuss how these techniques not only help with learning but with the implementation of that learning in participants' work outside of the training.

Check out some of our favourite highlights from the podcast below.

What are the benefits of digital training?

One of the biggest changes to workplaces all over the world in recent years has been an increase in digital communication. More than just emails, workplaces are now turning to instant messaging and video conference platforms as a major means of communication, whether it be for day to day tasks or training.

In this section of the podcast, Lars goes into detail about how conducting training digitally can help eliminate some of the inefficiencies that can often occur when attempting to gather people from all over the world for training.

The benefits of digital training

It's a no brainer that when we are excited about a task that we are more likely to be motivated to complete that task. Lars provides insight into how we can harness technology to help bring excitement and emotion to digital training and therefore provide more benefits for the participants. Craig then shares how people that work in L&D are often very passionate about what they do and if they are able to relay that passion to the workforce, "we're on to a winner".

Excitement as a motivator

How do you know when you've achieved success?

We've mentioned before that L&D is something that is essential for just about every industry; it can therefore seem difficult to measure the success of L&D in a way that's as universally applicable as possible. Lars discusses this challenge and how determining this success is often easier in industries like sales where success is measurable through statistics.

"When it comes to the salespeople success stories, we have people who have officially come out and said, hey, I tried this and I finally closed the sale. And that's something that's really very powerful in terms of helping other people see that maybe I need to do something different. Maybe I need to try something new."

If you haven’t already, listen to the full podcast here to learn more.

Want to hear more? Browse the full Learning with Go1 podcast library on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify to help expand your knowledge of all things L&D and hear how other organisations are navigating this ever-evolving landscape.  

Episode 21 of the Learning with Go1 podcast is now live! Joining us is Lars Ruud, Global L&D Partner with Wilhelmsen Group, to discuss creating and maintaining an effective learning culture.

Creating and maintaining an effective learning culture

By highlighting content gaps and areas where we want to fill out our offering, we hope to influence your roadmaps for the year ahead and position you strongly within our library!

The big headlines: Customers want language options. The more the better. As Go1 becomes increasingly global, our customers want European and Middle Eastern languages on top of English. Additionally, having courses discoverable in foreign languages through the search function is a strong preference. Though having language options through a dropdown menu function is also great.

Having multiple language options for courses drives consumption for customers with a global workforce, which are typically larger in size, and it extends your content’s reach to new markets.

The top five languages in demand from North American customers are: Spanish, Canadian French, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese. For Europe, they are: French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and German.

In terms of topic areas, based on an internal survey of our Account Executives and Customer Success Managers in the US, UK, and Australia, this is what we’ve learned:

*Language Learning is in greater demand from our EMEA markets while Anti-Harassment trainings are requested more in the US.

We also see requests for courses in Coding, Smartsheets, Autocad Civil 3D, Forex, and Web Development (software applications such as Maven, TeamCity, ELM and Grafana). Finally, related to DE&I, we also have demand for Allyship and Intersectionality as topics.

Beneath the headlines: There is a strong demand for continuing education credits, as well as course certifications embedded in your SCORM files where appropriate. These credits are particularly important for medical, nursing and health sector customers. For the US, OSHA certified is also sought after.

Harassment trainings are widely requested and having these courses reflect specific business and industry settings enhances our ability to service different verticals. For instance, a sexual harassment training with video that is set in an office environment is of little interest to customers servicing construction-site based workers.

As we move into 2022, Go1's Content Partner Success Team share some topline insights from our enterprise prospects and customers.