L&D Expert Julie Dirksen Exposes the Real Reason Your Training Flops

Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofit Organizations

Have you ever created a training, only to realize it didn’t have the impact you had hoped? In this episode of the Learning for Good podcast, we explore why training alone often fails to drive lasting behavior change.
My guest Julie Dirksen, author of "Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change," discusses the limitations of training when systemic and external factors are barriers to change. Julie emphasizes the importance of understanding behavior at an individual level.
We talk about how asking good questions can help identify where learners are and how to meet their needs, whether through education, persuasion, confidence building, or reinforcement.
Changing culture may require investments beyond training. This episode provides a framework for nonprofits to evaluate training effectiveness and foster impact through systems-level interventions.
▶️ L&D Expert Julie Dirksen Exposes the Real Reason Your Training Flops
▶️ Key Points:
02:24 Julie Dirksen’s introduction and background
06:45 Using the elephant metaphor to describe decision-making09:49 Why training often gets blamed for failures
12:20 Systems view and considering external factors that impact training success
18:54 The challenge of making equitable decisions without group-level data
21:46 Knowing where learners are at on the "change ladder"
24:22 The importance of understanding learner motivations, pain points, and system influences on behavior
Resources from this episode:
"Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change” by Julie Dirksen
“Design for How People Learn” by Julie Dirksen
Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective
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Connect with Julie Dirksen
Julie Dirksen is an acclaimed author and learning strategist who brings behavioral science insights to the design of impactful learning experiences. She has over 20 years of experience creating digital learning experiences for diverse clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to international NGOs and technology startups.
LinkedIn: Julie Dirksen
Facebook: @designforhowpeoplelearn
Website: usablelearning.com
Connect with Heather
Linkedin: Heather Burright
Website: skillmastersmarket.com
Book an interest call with Heather here.