In today’s fast-moving professional world, learning isn’t optional. Yet admitting we don’t know something can feel deeply vulnerable. In this episode of Learning Horizons, we explore how to make learning personal, social, and safe through the power of learning communities.
Join Gaëlle Watson and Fiona McBride as they share a practical, experience-based look at what it really takes to build thriving learning communities, whether within a development programme, across teams, or in your wider organisation.
If you’re designing programmes, leading teams, or rethinking how people learn together, this episode offers real-world insights and actionable ideas to help you craft spaces where learning becomes both personal and powerful.
Key learnings of Learning Communities: The Art of Personalised Learning
Take an intentional and practical approach to building learning communities that truly work.
Create psychological safety that encourages honesty, curiosity, and growth.
Use light facilitation to spark engagement without overmanaging.
Turn learning from a solo experience into a shared journey of discovery.
Express review
Save time and focus on the discussion elements which are essential for you:
1. Why learning communities? (0:02:22)
2. Defining learning communities? (0:03:03)
3. Key benefits of learning Communities (0:04:05)
4.Getting started with Learning Communities (0:09:28)
5. Does size matter? (0:14:45)
6. Learning Tech and Communities (0:23:07)
Tools and resources
Get inspired:
Facilitation is not just for trainers. It is for anyone who wishes to solve a challenge as a group and aims to give everyone a voice. Subscribe to Fiona’s monthly Facilitation Inspiration newsletter to spark ideas and new approaches: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/facilitation-inspiration-7333571426869796866/
Experiencing learning communities:
Join LnDcowork in person or online: https://about.me/lndcowork or https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12932060/
About Fiona McBride, guest speaker of Learning Communities: The Art of Personalised Learning
Fiona McBride is a facilitator and learning consultant with over 20 years’ experience, including more than a decade as a freelance consultant. She works alongside organisations to develop their people and create impactful learning experiences. Her work includes the design and facilitation of team and leadership days, as well as larger-scale events like the HR Leaders Unconference and Facilitator’s Unconference.
Bringing people together to explore and learn, share experiences and collaborate is what she does best. Fiona creates inclusive, energising spaces where real conversations happen and people feel empowered to take action.
In addition to her consultancy work, Fiona is the co-founder of #LnDcowork, a successful community which provides a friendly, informal, and professional space for L&D professionals. Over the past 10 years, #LnDcowork has developed into a brilliant community of likeminded learning professionals who regularly gather to work alongside each other, share ideas, and collaborate!
Contact Fiona
Available episodes:
Episode 1: Making Learning Material Truly Accessible
Episode 3: How to measure Learning Impact
Episode 4: How to use videos for collaboration, creativity and performance enabler
Episode 5: Driving Learning Impact Through Accountability
Episode 7: Unmuting Emotions for Better Collaboration in Hybrid Teams
Episode 8: The Art of Meaningful Communication in the Digital Workplace
Episode 9: Psychological Safety in Remote Teams: From Silence to Trust
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Contact SyncSkills
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- hello@syncskills.net
