Mark Burns has developed a proven track record in improving teaching and leadership in education. More recently, he has worked with FTSE 100 retailers and third sector organisations to develop the quality and impact of their learning programmes on performance.

Andy Griffith has over thirty years’ experience as an educator. His work is driven by his mission to help both adults and young people to be more open to learning and thereby more effective.

Mark and Andy wrote The Learning Imperative to share their learning from working with hundreds of teams and organisations over the last twelve years. They wanted to distil the essential reasons why some of them were learning-centred, and whose performance evidently improved over time, whilst others patently were not. This involved revisiting many of their clients from the past to interview them, as well as analysing the barriers that prevented certain teams and organisations from developing a learning culture.

The result is an extremely practical book targeted at the busy leader who has a passion to improve performance through effective learning. The book walks the reader through logical steps to consider, diagnose, plan, deliver and reflect on professional learning. Whilst the theory and research is referenced throughout, the emphasis is on providing the time-poor reader with clarity on the what, why and how-to of improving the impact of learning within their team.

In terms of the benefits the book has yielded, they’ve been twofold. First, through the planning and writing of the book, Mark and Andy inevitably developed a richer understanding of the concepts in focus. Not only that, there was a great deal to learn about oneself too. After all, to be a writer requires many of the hallmarks of being a learner; resilience, reflection, an openness to feedback, and an investment of effort. Second, the book has led to many interesting conversations with others who are also keen to maximise the impact that learning can have on those they lead.

The Learning Imperative: Raising performance in organisations by improving learning has been shortlisted for the HR & Management Category of the Business Book Awards sponsored by Pathway Group. To get your copy of the book Click Here