Have you ever inadvertently groaned at the announcement of another mandatory training? Have you ever left a training dissatisfied and feeling you didn't learn any usable skills? Do you long for the type of instructor that engages the class and captures your imagination?

In today's episode of "Why It Works," Michael Kennedy, Learning & Development Leader for the NBA, reveals some of the hidden mechanisms behind why Learning works. We explore the role of emotion in learning, why experts may have a more difficult time learning new things, and the secret the Pink Panther can teach us about effective learning.

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MEET OUR GUEST

Mike Kennedy

NBA Properties Inc. (the National Basketball Association)

Learning & Development Leader, Associate Vice President

Mike Kennedy leads the Learning and Development team’s design and delivery of innovative, enduring learning solutions for the NBA’s 1,500 employees worldwide, and provides L&D advisory services for all related team entities (NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, and 2K). Kennedy was hired as the NBA’s Director of L&D in 2012, and in 2015 launched the NBA’s Leadership Development function, which has since established a new standard of practice within the sports industry and distinguished the league office as a premier developer of top talent. In his time with the NBA, Kennedy has overseen a dramatic expansion of the league’s professional development catalog, implemented its learning management system, and founded the NBA Business Academy to support the growth of the league’s high-potential population. His team was awarded Gold in Brandon Hall’s 2016 Excellence Awards for Best Advance in Leadership Development. Kennedy developed his expertise as a learning strategist, facilitator, and organizational analyst in previous roles with KPMG LLP and Tiffany & Co. Kennedy refers to himself as a recovering psychotherapist, having received his BA from Brown and his MA in Counseling Psychology from Assumption College. He resides in New Jersey with his wife, children, and dogs.

Mike's Books and Blog of interest

How We Learn – Benedict Carey

Make It Stick – Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel

https://www.worklearning.com/wills-blog/

SPONSORS

For you, the listeners of WHY IT WORKS, Audible is offering a FREE audiobook with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service.

A great book to go with this episode is How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens, by Benedict Carey. It's a favorite of mine and a favorite of Mike's!

To download your free audiobook today click, http://www.audibletrial.com/WhyItWorks

If you prefer paper, Kindle or are already an Audible member, no problem - buy the book here.

CLIPS

Dodgeball - If you can dodge a wrench...

Karate Kid

Whiplash

Wolf of Wallstreet

Dead Poets Society

MUSIC

Opening features the song "Morning" by Cambo Smith, available under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial License.

Recommendation segment features the song "Delta" by Moonove, under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 International License

Closing features the song "Siesta" by Jahzzar under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.