The Learning and Development Handbook

Book summary

Michelle Parry-Slater is an award-winning learning and development professional with over two decades of experience in the industry. She is the founding director of Kairos Modern Learning, a consultancy dedicated to helping companies get the best out of traditional and digital workplace learning strategies. Parry-Slater has worked with a wide range of clients including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Co-op supermarket chain, and Girlguiding UK.

Learning occurs in various ways, with social learning—peer-to-peer knowledge exchange—playing a significant role alongside traditional expert-led methods. While technology has expanded access to learning, motivation remains critical, and digital tools must integrate into a culture of social interaction to be effective. In workplaces, informal social learning often fills gaps left by formal training, but it can perpetuate inequalities if left unstructured. Learning and development teams can address this by fostering connections between employees and internal experts or organizing initiatives like lunch-and-learn sessions to encourage collaboration. Though face-to-face learning remains essential for hands-on skills, advancements in technology call for a blended approach, combining traditional methods with digital innovations. However, resistance to change persists, rooted in cultural preferences for conventional learning environments. Recognizing the social value of in-person learning can help organizations develop strategies that balance tradition with modern efficiencies, fostering both skill development and meaningful professional relationships.

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