Welcome to the L&D Transformation Podcast, hosted by Jack Gottlieb, where business leaders delve into sharing their insights and advice in a concise five-question interview within just nine minutes.

In this episode, we're joined by Adam Hickman, the Vice President of Learning and Organizational Cast Development for Partners Federal Credit Union, affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. Adam discusses the profound impact of storytelling in both business and learning and development. He emphasizes the importance of approaching the L&D space with a mindset of service, focusing on workforce engagement and development.

Adam beautifully relates Partners sponsor Disney's mastery of storytelling to learning and development. Just as Disney creates captivating narratives, L&D professionals should also strive to weave stories that engage and inspire their workforce. Adam proposes a thought-provoking question: Are you in the beginning stages of the story, or are you envisioning what's next? This analogy underlines the transformative power of continuous learning and development throughout one's career journey.

Jack and Adam explore the evolving expectations in the realm of L&D. Adam sheds light on Gallup's groundbreaking findings that highlight the state of employee engagement globally. With thriving, non-engaged, and actively disengaged categories, these statistics reveal the pressing need to enhance engagement and productivity. Adam emphasizes the vital role of L&D executives in fostering a work experience that aligns with employees' emotional and rational needs, ultimately impacting stock prices and organizational growth.

Transitioning to a pragmatic approach, Adam outlines a two-pronged strategy for L&D success: a long-term solution and a quick fix. He emphasizes the criticality of developing effective managers, who wield considerable influence over employee engagement. The narrative shifts from a command-and-control structure to one that nurtures a coaching mentality, fostering engagement and ownership across all levels of the organization.

The conversation turns to actionable implementation. Adam recommends anchoring L&D efforts to core values and competencies, identifying and building upon existing strengths. He encourages leveraging the talents of existing managers, who contribute significantly to employee engagement. Adam highlights the value of fostering one meaningful conversation a week, fostering a sense of connection and engagement that transcends transactional interactions.

Wrapping up the interview, Jack inquires about Adam's greatest inspiration. Adam reveals his admiration for individuals deeply passionate and obsessed with their crafts. From David Goggins' relentless pursuit of self-improvement to Adam Grant's ability to simplify complex concepts, Adam recognizes the value of learning from those who are obsessed with excellence.

In this insightful episode, Adam Hickman paints a vivid portrait of how learning and development, akin to Disney's enchanting tales, can captivate and empower the workforce. His wisdom on engagement, storytelling, and the transformative potential of managers offers a roadmap for fostering a thriving workplace culture. As the L&D landscape continues to evolve, Adam's innovative insights serve as a guiding light for creating meaningful change in organizations worldwide.

This has been an engaging and enlightening episode of the L&D Transformation Podcast, where the convergence of storytelling, engagement, and leadership emerges as the catalyst for a brighter future in learning and development.