A community of learning leaders, collaborating and building connections.
The Learning Loop is a community of learning leaders, collaborating and building connections to deepen our shared practice and insight. Together we spark new thinking that adds value to our organisations and talent.
Hidden Strengths Learning collaborates with LEXi Learn , a leading edge drama based learning consultancy, to create a powerful and supportive space for leaders in learning and talent to connect, build a community and learn.
Sessions and reading lists
Download our reading lists from The Learning Loop and past sessions, previously known as The Collaborative Breakfast.
Experience Meets Energy
In this session we were joined by one of our Associates, Charlotte Gibson, to discuss how we harness the power of all generations, with a particular focus on those over 50.
The strongest message from the session was that organisations do not need to “solve” generational difference; they need to create the conditions for safer, more skillful, more curious conversations. When that happens, the benefits are not only human but operational and commercial: stronger collaboration, better use of experience, more engaged later-career employees, and more inclusive teams.
Imagine a workplace where happiness is the secret weapon. That's what 2026 started with at The Learning Loop! Our session was a vibrant deep-dive into the commercial and human value of 'happiness at work.' Forget fluffy concepts; we showcased the robust research proving positivity drives higher engagement, sharper thinking, and genuine innovation. It was a high-energy exploration, equipping every participant with simple, practical ideas to inject a boost of joy and focus into their teams and leaders across our organisations.
Turning Promises into Practice (and enhancing your ROI)
We've all been there - attended a learning event or coaching programme, left with the very best of intent to change and embed our learning, and then life gets in the way! In this session The Learning Loop focused in on the practical tools and approaches we can adopt to enable our participants to make real progress that has real impact. Drawing on the work of people such as James Clear and his Atomic Habits, we identified how we can design and facilitate learning to create real behavioral shifts and enhance your ROI.
The misinterpretation of Psychological Safety as simply "being nice" poses a real danger to high-performance culture across the UK. In this crucial session, we leveraged the collective expertise of our community to move beyond the surface. We thoroughly explored the tangible commercial impacts of this confusion and confronted the critical role of L&D. Attendees left with clarity and confidence, equipped to answer the ultimate question: What is our blueprint, as Learning and Leadership Development professionals, for driving a deeper understanding and mastering the practical skills that genuinely foster high-impact Psychological Safety?
The Reinvention & Growth of "Social" and "on-the-job" Learning in a Hybrid World
In this Breakfast we explored how our ways of learning have had to evolve in response to our hybrid world. Our clients had been noticing that the 'learning by osmosis' approach had truly been impacted by hybrid and virtual working. If we start with the 70/20/10 principles as a framework, how do we embrace the 70 and 20 when our ways of working are so different? How, for example, can our Learning programmes include experiential elements to fill this void? How can we support managers to feel comfortable in coaching and mentoring teams in a hybrid world and what do they need to intentionally focus on to make a shift here? Possible approaches to adapt included being more intentional about the power of networking moments and opportunities in learning environments, alongside supporting leaders to enhance their coaching skill set to support development on a day to day basis.
Leadership development: Empowering leaders and talent to take accountability for their learning
This Virtual Breakfast looked at how we can encourage the ownership of learning within our teams. We explored ways that leaders and talent could be empowered to take ownership of their own learning and identified issues that could be blocking them from doing so. Factors to consider included the perception of learning (what it is and how it is valued within organisations), differing learning styles and generational attitudes. Options to enhance ownership included adapting the language we use to define 'learning' alongside techniques such as group coaching were recognised as methods to resolve some of these dilemmas.
Collaborative Leadership: Harnessing the power and creativity of the collective
What role can Leadership Development play in enhancing collaboration within organisations in order to navigate challenges? In this Virtual Breakfast we explored this question and worked together to brainstorm a variety of ideas and solutions, suitable for adapting across different settings. We also discussed how to promote collaborative leadership by making specific space for intentional collaboration, how to foster a collaborative culture that recognises this approach and how to develop the skill set required to implement this.
Leadership Development's role in attracting and retaining talent
Our first Collaborative Virtual Breakfast of 2022 invited participants to discuss the growing issue of retaining and attracting talent within their organisations. We explored the reasons behind ‘the great resignation’, such as the seismic change to worker’s priorities during the pandemic and the discovery that hybrid working was actually possible. The group noted that senior leadership has a powerful role in creating a culture of belonging and growth, inclusion and authenticity and discussed L&D’s role in equipping leaders to fulfil that role positively and effectively.
Re-igniting the spark and finding joy in our teams
This Collaborative Breakfast took place at a point when organisations were more aware than ever of the need to prioritise the well-being of their people - trends highlighting an exhausted workforce tired of experimenting. This was coupled with considering the need to feel joy in our work - something which had also been missing for many. We explored a variety of questions including, how to reignite the spark to combat brain fog, burnout and survive the ‘‘war for talent’?
This Collaborative Breakfast addressed the issues facing leaders who were dealing with the ambiguity of hybrid working. In the face of the constant change and future unknowns how can we ensure we maintain levels of engagement? Together we considered how leaders can maintain their presence from wherever they are working and explored how turbulent times can provide a unique opportunity to do things better in the future.
By October 2020, we knew prolonged remote working was inevitable. Organisations faced the task of retaining employee engagement, a vital ingredient to maintaining effective collaboration and performance. At the same time, health and well-being was at the forefront of our minds, leaving Learning professionals asking how they could be ambassadors for connecting with their talent to retain and ensure their ongoing engagement and well-being.
Leadership development — getting creative in the new normal
In our very first Virtual Breakfast, soon after the first Covid-19 lockdown began, we addressed the questions on everyone’s minds. How to identify the different skill sets needed to work virtually, while still making an impact? What response was demanded from leaders to support teams during this time? And how could we approach this creatively?
It is a joy to work with Katerina Kerr and her team at LEXi Learn. LEXI Learn (Role Plays for Training Ltd) is a drama based training consultancy. They use drama based learning techniques to explore behaviours, change mindsets and enhance relationships at work. They engage collaboratively and creatively with private and public sector organisations to help their people achieve better performance. LEXi Learn deliver in person, over the phone and online.
The Learning Loop, and many of our programmes, include the option to use the amazing approaches that LEXi Learn bring and we are delighted to work with them so often.
