Do You Really Need That Tool?

Today’s Thoughts ☠️

Hey there 👋,

A popular question put to me is “How do I make use of a new tool my company has already purchased and we (L&D) have to implement?”.

This is an all too common but a major pain in the ass situation.

I’ve felt that pain.

Below I share a little cheat sheet I use when assessing the need for new tech. It’s one I deployed often as a Head of L&D. Coincidentally, it’s also one you can use to reverse engineer use cases for any tech.

I hope it serves you just as well as it serves me.

Get your tea 🍵 or beverage of choice ready. We've got lots to discuss!

In today’s chat 👇

• The tool before use case trap

• New site refresh

• Solving the content choice problem

The Big Thought
The Tool Before Use Case Trap

Microsoft’s Work Trend Index report found that 86% want to use AI to summarise their meetings.

Who can blame them?

We have too many of these things, right? This is also a useful insight into being task-led with the latest wave of technology. Any new tool is only good if it solves problems.

Read that last line again.

Despite the cult-like worship of AI tools and inflated expectations. It is not going to create world peace and build a utopian society.

The majority of us don't care about that.

We just want to offload stuff that is frustrating so we can do things we enjoy.

When you talk about generative AI tools for business. Identify the use case first. Don't jump on board because of market expectations.

That should be the approach for any tech conversations.

Here's a little cheat sheet:

1. Use case

2. Problem

3. Task

4. Tool

Don't make the mistake of putting 4 to number 1.

Grateful Thought
Thank You + Site Refresh

5 years ago this decision changed my life.

You probably wouldn't be reading this if I hadn't done it.

I purchased a domain for Steal These Thoughts! I had no plan, no strategy and no real goals with it. I just knew I enjoyed writing.

So I built somewhere to do more of that.

I added a newsletter as I was curious to learn how that worked. I thought 10 people might read it. Again, I had no plan. I just wanted to write about L&D.

It's weird to sit here writing these words 5 years later.

That decision has opened many doors and given me more experiences and skills than I could have imagined.

I'm not rich and I'm not famous. That was never the plan and never will be.

But those skills and experiences are priceless to me. I'm not one of those follow your passion people who say I was lucky. Truth is I've worked my ass off mostly while in a full-time role.

I've always loved it. But I'd never advocate pulling my crazy 18-hour days from time to time. I love hard work, but I'm also a bit mad.

Anyway, what I really want to say is thank you.

Thank you for following me, reading my work, following my newsletter and buying my products. It's true when I say that I couldn't do what I do without you.

I look forward to the next 5 years.

Until then, I've given the site a makeover to make it even easier to find the insights, tools and templates you need for different categories of the L&D world.

→ Check out the site

The Dojo
Become Gen AI Confident in L&D

A recent Boston Consulting Group and Harvard report discovered people working with ChatGPT:

• Completed 12.2% more tasks
  

• 25.1% faster task completion
  

• Over 40% higher quality work

If you want to work smarter and future-proof your skills - I’ve got you covered.

Leverage the power of ChatGPT for L&D with this Crash Course.

I like to say the Crash Course is much more than a course.

That’s because you get:

1. Monthly course updates

2. Exclusive monthly course newsletter with actionable tips and tools

3. Access to the private L&D ChatGPT community with over 60 students

It’s a continuous learning experience, not a one-time event.

Smart Thought
1% Better Every Day

New Thoughts

Content that has just dropped or recently been updated.

How I can help you👇

⚒️ My L&D toolkit stack with 20 zero-cost tools.

 🤖 Work smarter with AI in HR and L&D in my ChatGPT Crash Course.

🥋 Build your L&D skills in the Steal These Thoughts Dojo

 🤝 Work with me on your projects and L&D challenges.

Please share your thoughts with me on these pieces or anything I share on LinkedIn or hit 'reply'. Chat to you soon.