Why Learning & Development Programs Fail Despite Great Design With Michelle Parry-Slater

09/01/2025 18 min

Listen "Why Learning & Development Programs Fail Despite Great Design With Michelle Parry-Slater"

Episode Synopsis

Reach out and work with Tom Bailey - https://thomasbailey.co/

What’s the real reason great leadership programs fail to make an impact?

Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction: Be kind to yourself and others in L&D.
[00:17] Podcast overview: Meet brilliant minds in people development.
[00:53] Michelle’s journey: From teaching English in Japan to running Kairos Modern Learning.
[01:27] Starting early in L&D: Why timing and relationships matter.
[02:24] The power of relationships: Understanding the language of your business.
[04:38] Culture for learning: Addressing the missing foundation in leadership programs.
[06:17] Lessons from failure: Saying "yes" vs. learning when to say "no."
[08:37] Proudest moment: Facilitating a critical conversation on diversity and inclusion.
[10:20] Worst L&D moment: Early public speaking challenges in male-dominated spaces.
[13:03] Evidence-based practice: Why it’s crucial for effective L&D solutions.

What does it take to create truly impactful learning programs? In this episode, we explore why even perfectly designed leadership programs fail when culture and relationships aren’t prioritized.

You’ll learn how starting L&D initiatives early, building strong workplace relationships, and asking the right questions can transform your organization's approach to development. We’ll also uncover the role of evidence-based practice in solving real business challenges.

Links & Future Learnings

Michelle Parry-Slater on Linkedin
Michelle Parry-Slater’s latest book - The Learning and Development Handbook
Tom Bailey on LinkedIn
Tom Bailey Website



More episodes of the podcast Rogue L+D Hotshots with Tom Bailey