Learning Impact Award 2024: Here Are the Winners!
Established in 2001, the getAbstract International Book Award is one of the oldest continuously awarded nonfiction prizes in the world. Since 2022, the Learning Impact Award, a special L&D book prize, has also been awarded. In line with our mission to provide actionable, business-relevant knowledge, it focuses on titles that help HR and L&D leaders make better decisions for themselves and their employees—in line with our slogan ‘Know Better. Do Better.’ Here are this year’s winners:
– LEARNING IMPACT AWARD 2024 –
Anna Tavis & Woody Woodward:
The Digital Coaching Revolution!
Kogan Page, 2024
Professional coaching has long been a human-centric domain, but that’s changing as coaches turn to technology to augment their services and coaching platforms embrace the potential of data analysis and digital delivery. In this comprehensive overview of the digital coaching field, coaches Anna Tavis and Woody Woodward chart the rise of the coaching industry from its roots in ancient Greece to today’s digital revolution.
Tavis and Woodward explore the ways digital coaching — in corporate environments, sports, health care, and beyond — is redefining how people learn and grow.
This book offers a captivating, well-researched overview of the evolution of professional coaching, seamlessly transitioning into how digital technologies will revolutionize coaching practices now and in the future. The exploration of how AI and similar technologies can enhance the scalability of coaching is particularly insightful. It’s a must-read for leaders as well as HR and L&D professionals looking to leverage technology to democratize coaching within their organizations.
Jana Eicher, Juror
– READERS’ CHOICE AWARD –
Learning Impact 2024
35,3% of total votes
Keith Keating:
The Trusted Learning Advisor
Kogan Page, 2023
Too often, L&D professionals stand on the periphery of their organizations’ business strategy – taking orders rather than acting as collaborative partners. In this helpful guide, L&D expert Keith Keating explains how readers can make corporate learning a strategic business cornerstone by becoming “Trusted Learning Advisors.”
Keating provides a wealth of tools and techniques to help L&D leaders build strong stakeholder relationships, develop a deep understanding of business needs, and position themselves as indispensable in shaping the future of workplace learning and performance.
With the rise of new tech tools and an ever-growing skills gap, today’s employers expect proof of ROI when it comes to learning initiatives — proof L&D professionals may struggle to provide if they’re used to passively taking orders from corporate decision-makers. In this way, The Trusted Learning Advisor acts as both a call to arms and a practical guide to avoiding irrelevance, showing L&D how to build trust with company leaders and take a primary role in developing learning solutions tailored to specific business challenges.
Hillary Branman, Juror
– FROM THE SHORTLIST –
Ludmilla Praslova:
The Canary Code
Berrett-Koehler, 2024
Many neurodivergent workers have missed out on job opportunities and had employers mismanage their talents because they don’t fit the status quo. For these workers, companies’ embrace of greater flexibility during COVID-19 was a boon that allowed them to flourish. Professor Dr. Ludmila Praslova offers insights into fostering an inclusive workplace that celebrates neurodiversity and intersectional dignity.
Discover practical strategies to create environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Learn how to break down barriers and implement effective policies that support diverse talent.
This book not only provides a good mix of research, personal anecdotes, and tools for practical application, but is also presented in a totally refreshing way. Written in a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ format, it allows the reader to create their own learning experience.
Jana Eicher, Juror
Erica Keswin:
The Retention Revolution
McGraw-Hill, 2023
Today’s workplace sometimes seems to feature a revolving door for employees moving from company to company. If you seek a cure for excess turnover, author Erica Keswin offers a human-centric approach to keeping employees invested in your company. Her seven strategic insights provide a refreshing perspective on the power of genuine connection in the modern workplace.
Keswin’s compelling stories, real-world examples and ready-to-implement steps are designed to transform your retention rates. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting, her manual can help you cultivate deeper, more meaningful bonds with your team.
This title provides a comprehensive overview of retention in 2024, addressing the post-pandemic landscape and the influx of Gen Z employees into the workforce. The author’s advice is highly practical and accessible – and indispensable for understanding the evolving needs of today’s workforce.
Jana Eicher, Juror
John C. Maxwell:
The Ultimate Guide to Developing Leaders
Harper-Collins Leadership, 2023
To thrive in today’s fast-paced environment, companies must proactively cultivate leaders who can drive the organization forward. Leadership developer John C. Maxwell’s comprehensive guide provides practical strategies and insightful wisdom for identifying and nurturing leadership potential within your company.
Maxwell’s expert approach empowers you to create a culture of growth and excellence, ensuring your organization’s long-term resilience and prosperity. Use these best practices to transform your approach to leadership development and build your company’s future.
This is a helpful guide to developing leaders, offering a range of practical steps.
Simon Brown, Juror
– FROM THE LONGLIST –
FROM THE LONGLIST: Learning Impact Award 2024
Nadia Nagamootoo:
Beyond Discomfort
Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2024
Biases and the discomfort that can arise when people acknowledge differences make inclusivity hard. How can you, as a leader, overcome these challenges? Chartered Psychologist and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) culture change coach Nadia Nagamootoo delves into the emotional and practical complexities of achieving true organizational inclusivity.
Through practical advice and real-life examples, Nagamootoo demonstrates how leaders can embrace discomfort, be vulnerable, and drive meaningful cultural transformation to enhance employee well-being and their companies’ long-term sustainability.
Most DEI-focused books focus on changing skeptics’ minds, rather than helping leaders who are already on board with DEI better enact its principles. Beyond Discomfort steps into that void by addressing the emotional obstacles that even readers who are actively looking to further diversity, equity, and inclusivity often face and offering practical tips for overcoming those fears and challenges.
Hillary Branman, Juror
Cara North:
Learning Experience Design Essentials
ATD, 2023
Well-known L&D authority Cara North outlines the key competencies of learning experience design and provides a structured process for developing effective learning experiences. Instructional design often overloads learners with content while overlooking the context and ongoing nature of learning.
North challenges this status quo by emphasizing the integration of content with context built from the learners’ perspective, and by drawing on principles from user experience, user interface and accessibility. North includes guidance on creating a 30/60/90-day implementation plan to put her ideas into use.
Realistic, thoughtful, well-expressed. Not all of it is new, but all of it is useful.
Donald H. Taylor, Juror
Anna Abraham:
The Creative Brain
MIT Press, 2024
Is the right brain hemisphere responsible for creativity? Are people with high IQs more creative? What’s the relationship between creativity and madness? In this engaging text, creativity researcher Anna Abraham explains the source of erroneous beliefs about creativity and why people embrace them so readily.
By digging into the empirical evidence, Abraham brings to life the nuanced “kernel of truths” that hide within popular myths about creativity. Her exploration offers valuable guidance to readers looking to understand what may — or may not — affect their creative capacity.
The Creative Brain provides valuable insights that bust many popular myths on creativity.
Simon Brown, Juror
Steven G. Rogelberg:
Glad We Met
Oxford UP, 2024
Millions of one-on-one business meetings take place daily around the world. About half of them don’t achieve the desired results, but you can make sure yours do. Drawing on extensive research, organizational science professor Steven Rogelberg of the University of North Carolina provides concrete advice on setting up, conducting, and following through on one-on-one meetings, mostly between managers and their team members.
Rogelberg holds managers responsible for asking the right questions, fostering engagement, and illuminating each person’s progress. He helps managers understand why these sessions matter to their employees and to their own leadership journey.
Meetings – especially one-to-one meetings – fill up managers’ diaries in most organizations. Finally, we can do them right!
Donald H. Taylor, Juror
Suzanne Wertheim:
The Inclusive Language Field Guide
Berrett-Koehler, 2023
Today’s language etiquette includes words and phrases that might seem strange or awkward. Dismissing these changes as political correctness gone mad is easy, but language continually evolves to reflect changing attitudes. Words that you find innocuous can offend others. To forge connections and facilitate trust, consider the needs, feelings and preferences of those who have been marginalized in the past.
Embrace linguistic anthropologist Suzanne Wertheim’s six principles of inclusive language to better understand the dynamics of communication and avoid hurting others with your words.
Very helpful and insightful. The Inclusive Language Field Guide offers immediately applicable examples that should lead to a more inclusive environment.
Simon Brown, Juror
The winner of the Learning Impact Award was announced on 24 October 2024 at the getAbstract Global L&D Knowledge Forum. Click here for the nominees in the Business Impact category.
