Should L&D be Adding, Subtracting, or Changing? (Podcast Episode 21)

Should L&D be Adding, Subtracting, or Changing? (Podcast Episode 21)

It's time for L&D to amp up our toolbox and become a tad more critical of our own work. Instead of adding content, we need to think about subtracting it or better yet, make changes that enable performance. Too often we prioritize activities over goals. Lavinia Mehedințu is known for this type of progressive thinking about the work of L&D, but she also believes in the necessity and power of supporting each other through changes in our profession that may feel risky. 

Join us in this conversation where we discuss some of the challenges L&D must address to have a greater impact as well as how to support and empower our L&D community colleagues while we change. 

In this episode: 

  • Shifting L&D's approach from adding to subtracting content.
  • The need for L&D to take a systems thinking approach.
  • L&D skills that can be applied beyond workshops. 
  • Reframing L&D's identity around goals vs. activities. 
  • Why understanding the business builds credibility and enables strategic conversation.
  • Making cross-functional "friends" as a strategy for business success.
  • The importance of support systems and community when building new skills, overcoming organizational resistance, and navigating change. 

About Lavinia Mehedintu

Lavinia has over 11 years of experience designing learning experiences across higher education, start-ups, and large enterprises. After leading an L&D team, she noticed a gap in resources tailored to L&D professionals' growth and found traditional approaches lacking the impact she was seeking. This inspired her to create Offbeat, a community where L&Ds explore their evolving roles amidst a rapidly changing world. Five years later, Lavinia combines experience design, behavior change, and technology at Offbeat to help L&Ds grow and consults with companies of all sizes on learning and behavior change initiatives.

 Episode/show links

Find and connect with Lavinia Mehedintu


L&D Must Change content jumps back and forth from a newsletter one week and a podcast episode the next.

Please share your takeaways, questions, and ideas alongside each one. If we are really going to improve this profession, we need to keep learning from each other and that includes you!


Jess Almlie is dedicated to helping L&D leaders stop working as order takers and start working more strategically, intentionally, and with measurable impact. Jess typically works with L&D leaders and teams in the following ways:

  • Speaking/Workshops. Expand the thinking of your L&D team or group to that of Strategic Business Partners through facilitated interactive experiences (virtual or in-person).
  • Customized Strategic Learning Blueprint. Squash your overwhelm at where to begin or how to structure your next learning program. Jess will conduct a full analysis of what is needed and then provide you with a blueprint for action, designed for maximum impact from modality through measurement.
  • Personalized Professional Development a.k.a."Coachsulting". Elevate your work as a Strategic Business Partner, solve your current L&D challenges, or prepare you for the next level of L&D leadership with this one-on-one combo of coaching, mentoring, and consulting.

Visit Jess's website: Almlie Consulting or message her on LinkedIn to discuss and learn more.

Great Insights! Shifting L&D's focus from adding content to making meaningful changes aligned with business goals will have a real impact on performance. 

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Stephen Mostrom

Grow your career 1% daily | Smarter learning + habits, no fluff | Professor | L&D pro | MBA + JD | DM me for a book rec 📚

3w

Love the focus on subtracting instead of always adding, Jess Almlie! L&D has so much potential when we focus on solving real business problems rather than just creating more content. 

Lavinia Mehedințu

Co-Founder & Learning Architect @ Offbeat | Learning & Development

3w

This is so excitiiiing! We could’ve gone for days, good you have a time limit for each episode 🤣 Hope everyone will enjoy the episode! ❤️

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