Episode 0 - Welcome to The Talent Forge

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Talent Forge, where we are shaping the future of training and development! I am your host, Jay Johnson. I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about the show and its purpose and share a little bit of my background and experience with you.

We have all been subjected to boring, monotonous lectures, silly, over-the-top activities that make people feel embarrassed rather than empowered, and the talks that left us saying, "Awesome, now what the hell do I do with that?"

 As talent development practitioners and leaders, we are responsible for providing opportunities for people to grow, upskill, and develop our teams. This podcast will provide a new perspective and approach to training, coaching, mentoring, and developing talent in a way that empowers the learner. 

Together, we will elevate the significance of our profession and demonstrate that with the right tools, we can create real, long-lasting change and stop people from saying, "Please, not another boring lecture." 

Meet the Host
Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents. For inquiries, contact jay@behavioralelements.com or connect below!

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayjohnsonccg/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayjohnsonccg/
Speaker Website - https://jayjohnsonspeaks.com

Transcript

Jay Johnson: 0:02

The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the rows of uncomfortable folding chairs. I shifted in my seat, trying to get some level of movement to keep awake. This was my third hour trapped in what could only be described as a training catastrophe happening in real time. The trainer, a well-meaning but completely monotone presenter, droned on about the intricacies of a new program. His voice completely devoid of any inflection or enthusiasm. His PowerPoint slides were a visual assault on my prefrontal cortex a cluttered mess of bullet points and clip art that did little to eliminate the complex subject matter. The only sounds breaking the monotony were the occasional cough and the rhythmic tapping of a pen against a notepad a desperate attempt by somebody else to stay awake. Frustration completely gnawed at me. I, a recent college graduate eager to make my mark in the department I was working in, was being subjected to this mind-numbing experience. Where was the engagement? Where was the interaction? What is the practical application of this information? This wasn't learning, it was torture. As the presenter droned down about the intricacies of a process that nobody would ever use, a spark ignited within me. This wasn't how we should be equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and survive in an ever-evolving workplace.

Jay Johnson: 1:22

Greetings everyone and welcome to Episode Zero of Talent Forge, where we are shaping the future of training and development. I'm your host, jay Johnson, and I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about this show and its purpose and share a little bit about my background and experience with you. Throughout my 20-plus years as a coach, trainer and leader, I have seen the best and the worst of talent development across the globe. That is what inspired and compelled me to create a show that helps professionals like me navigate the challenging waters of growing people. Each episode, I'll sit down with industry thought leaders, dissect real-world case studies and share actionable strategies to help you future-proof your training programs. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting to build your portfolio, the Talent Forge is a one-stop shop to shape a thriving learning culture within your organization. Now, I'm a firm believer that my bio and credentials don't really mean anything to the audience. They simply wanna know how I'm gonna make their lives better or whether or not I can help them do so. But in a spirit of what the hell qualifies me to host this podcast, I'm going to share a little bit of my background here.

Jay Johnson: 2:28

My training career started more than 20 years ago at the university when I was asked what was going on with international students that had come into our university programs with incredible CVs and incredible backgrounds but unfortunately were just struggling to acclimate to the American classroom. Through a series of different studies, interviews, surveys, I found a gap that was occurring Culturally. The students that were coming in had different expectations. In many cases they were expected to just sit there, take notes and not really engage or participate in any of the actual classroom presentations from their previous institutions. However, the American faculty expected answers, discussions and a lot of engagement and interaction. When that didn't occur and each side was sort of failing to see each other's gaps, it really triggered a downward spiral. People weren't necessarily looking at each other as the professionals that they were. So I created a training program in order to educate our faculty about cultural adaptability and getting a better understanding of what was happening in the minds of the students. I created a second program to help those students acclimate to the expectations of the American classroom. It was actually quite a success and one of the faculty came up to me afterwards, after about two semesters, when the students' grades started to massively improve, and they came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder and said, hey, you're pretty good at this, you should do this for a living. I was like, all right, I guess I'm going to do this for a living.

Jay Johnson: 3:58

And since then I have had the distinct privilege of working with some global powerhouses like Ford Motor Company, nasa, prudential, nikon, johns Hopkins, along with a number of different governments and NGOs. I've delivered talks, keynotes and workshops in more than 30 countries across four continents. I'm a two-time TEDx speaker. I've led global teams in efforts to modernize their offerings in talent development, using advanced behavioral science practices that are producing actual results, and I've been recognized for my work as an outstanding trainer, top performer and excellence in talent development awards from a myriad of organizations. I'm a designated master trainer by the Association for Talent Development and I have multiple degrees and relentlessly pursue knowledge of human behavior through psychological and neuroscientific studies. I've developed a couple of turnkey trainer programs for international organizations that serve as the foundation for developing talent globally, and I've developed a unique proprietary behavioral science assessment and training program that's really revolutionizing the way that we understand motivation, approach and growth and development. I continue to certify coaches and exceptional trainers and speakers all around the world.

Jay Johnson: 5:08

I share this, not to brag, because behind those experiences also lies a fair number of bombed presentations, flubbed speeches and programs that fail to deliver results. I've given presentations where afterwards I ask myself do I even belong here? I've had my ideas completely rejected by leadership or organizations because the solutions I was presenting didn't really appeal to their common knowledge. The journey of developing people is a hard road, but certainly it's one worth taking. I learned as much, if not more, from the failures as I have from the successes. I'm excited to share these lessons and experiences with you the good, the bad and the hilariously ugly sometimes.

Jay Johnson: 5:49

Through the Talent Forge podcast, I'll be offering a playbook for creating real transformational growth. As a trainer, coach, mentor, manager or leader, our highest calling is the ability to help others grow, develop and ultimately thrive and survive in their personal and professional environments. But transformational growth requires much more than PowerPoint slides, curated handouts and awkward role-playing exercises. I've seen some of the best trainers and coaches and leaders struggle to create real behavioral change. Trainers and coaches and leaders struggle to create real behavioral change. This podcast will give you the insights, tools and practices to build your credibility as a change maker, a problem solver and an organizational savior. Together, we're going to elevate the talent development profession and collectively build the credibility that we deserve.

Jay Johnson: 6:36

This podcast isn't going to be a collection of dry theories or rigid formulas. It's a platform to learn from the experiences of other fellow practitioners globally, distilled into actionable insights and practical strategies designed to equip you with the tools you need to excel in the dynamic world of developing people. Within the episodes, we'll explore the mindset shifts needed to transform learning experiences, the art of creating impactful learning programs, mastering the art of delivery, the science and the power behind evaluation and continuous improvement. As we embark on this journey together, remember the most valuable asset we possess is our unwavering commitment to continuous growth. I'm excited to get started on this transformative expedition together and shape the future of training and talent development.

Jay Johnson: 7:23

Don't miss out on future conversations and subscribe to the Talent Forge wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can also support your fellow talent development colleagues by hitting that like button, leaving us a review and sharing this episode with somebody who's looking to shape the future of learning and development with their organizations. We'd also love to hear from you. Connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram at jjohnsonccg that's J-A-Y Johnson C-C-G and use the hashtag TalentForge. We're always on the lookout for inspiring guests, so if you or someone you know is doing amazing things in the talent development space, send us a message. Thanks again for joining and until next time, keep forging the future of training and talent development, friends.