Learning at Speed by Nelson Sivalingam Summary
Overview of Learning at Speed
In a world where 75% of managers hate their L&D programs, "Learning at Speed" revolutionizes workforce development with lean learning principles. Shortlisted for getAbstract's 2023 awards, Sivalingam's guide transforms how companies upskill employees when only 12% apply training effectively.
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Key takeaways
The Speed Advantage: Learning as Your Competitive Edge
In today's exponentially changing world, the ultimate competitive advantage isn't capital or technology - it's learning velocity. When Arcadia Group collapsed in 2020, ASOS quadrupled profits and acquired Topshop brands. The difference? How quickly they learned and adapted. This revelation forms the foundation of "Learning at Speed," a practical framework for thriving amid disruption. With 54% of employees needing reskilling and 40% of core skills changing within five years, traditional approaches to workplace learning simply can't keep pace. What happens when the world changes faster outside your organization than inside it? Extinction becomes inevitable. The solution isn't shorter courses or faster content production - it's a fundamental shift to what's called "Lean Learning," an approach that helps teams learn what matters in the shortest time, apply it in moments that shape performance, and iterate based on feedback until solving business problems. Most L&D functions operate like failing startups - building solutions nobody wants. Despite organizations spending over $350 billion annually on training, 75% of managers remain dissatisfied with L&D, and only 12% of employees apply newly learned skills. Why? Because L&D often creates content without understanding the context in which learning occurs. Every organization has one of three learning cultures, each with distinct limitations: compliance-driven cultures focus solely on meeting regulatory requirements; process-driven cultures respond to every challenge with a course; and skills-driven cultures focus on building capabilities but through event-based programs that take employees away from their jobs.
Nine Essential Mindset Shifts for Lean Learning
Finding Real Problems and Building Strategic Solutions
Building Your Learning Ecosystem
Connecting Learning to Performance
From Theory to Practice: Start Small, Learn Fast
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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