Episode 42: Organizing L&D for Results
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Let’s get rid of L&D busywork that doesn’t move the needle.
Tired of L&D busywork that doesn’t move the needle? In this episode, Jess and Guus van Deelen dismantle “course factory” thinking and show how to organize L&D for results. They unpack the five L&D “chessboards,” shift focus from learning to performance objectives, and set clear roles and decision rights to escape order-taking. You’ll hear how to segment stakeholders with RIS (Risk, Importance, Size), apply Lean thinking to clean up operations, and run an annual L&D Cleanup Day (yes, on March 12) to kill zombie offerings and refocus on business value.
Jess and Guus Discuss
Why learning is a means—not the goal
The five L&D “chessboards” and choosing must-win areas
Escaping order-taking with clear roles and decision rights
Training internal clients to work with L&D
Replacing learning objectives with performance objectives (or adding both)
RIS stakeholder segmentation: Risk, Importance, Size
Lean habits to fix the back-office mess
About Guus van Deelen
Guus van Deelen has held multiple roles in the L&D field, from L&D manager in global multinationals to strategic consultant helping organizations reposition and optimize their L&D departments. He is on a mission to make L&D more "streetwise." designing L&D that truly drives results. Not just delivering more training, but measurable impact on people, performance, and business outcomes. Guus helps L&D teams to create learning strategies, governance models, and talent development frameworks. He is also the author of the book, Organizing L&D for Results.
Find and Connect with Guus van Deelen
Website: guusvandeelen.nl
Free resources for L&D Pros as mentioned in the episode
