L&D Book Reviews: Map It! (Repost from LinkedIn)
This week, I want to talk about a book that I think best teaches the fundamental purpose of L&D to newcomers but also provides a lot of useful resources, examples, reminders, and new knowledge to experienced professionals: Map It! by Cathy Moore.
What I learned:
*How to hone my sensibilities of training/learning/human performance as a problem/solution structure
*I feel like it gives you a sense of "being there" with all the rich examples of things gone right v. wrong, objections, etc.
*How to focus on business results and human performance (not just from this book, but it gives a foundation)
*Where training goes wrong and how control of it gets away from the designer and even the department, and how to focus it back on what will build value
What I like about it:
*Everything in this book is based on the common sense principles of how one focuses to a goal and designs meaningful solutions to problems -- it all feels satisfyingly like it just makes perfect sense and yet it's rich with details of all the times business interactions and the focus on training doesn't make sense.
*The full title is Map It: "The hands-on guide to strategic training design" and it lives up to that name. It feels like a handbook, like you can actively use it while doing. I love books like that for L&D especially.
*This book does not pretend you will live in a perfect world. I never got the sense that even if I "knew" the system, everything would go well and perfectly and I could just check off my list. I love all the examples of things that will fight against you, naturally, in the system, as you try to stick to your goals and actively follow the steps. It tells you how to address obstacles, but it never pretends.
*It has voice and humor -- it's a fun read.
Who I would recommend it to: Anyone and everyone who is going to develop training, manage the development of training, measure the development of training, or engage in any way to support human performance efforts in an organization. It is not solely for "entry level" folks, but if you are moving from something like education to a corporate L&D focus, Map It can bring some purpose and business sense into your framework. Honestly, I have already re-read this book once and I will keep re-reading it!
Again, I bought one, BUT my library did have this book via loan system! If you're on a budget, check out that option!
This content is from my LinkedIn post, originally written in September, 2022. Those reviews will be originating here from now on.
