In this new episode of The Human Advantage podcast series, we welcome Jocelyn Phelps, formerly Program Director of Leadership and Organization Development at Société Générale.
Jocelyn has been a catalyst for leadership development at Société Générale. Her pioneering co-development programs have empowered hundreds of leaders to refine their skills, foster collaboration, and navigate complex challenges. By securing the support of senior leadership, she has cultivated a culture of continuous learning and growth within the organization.
Beyond co-development, Jocelyn has championed initiatives to strengthen Société Générale’s performance culture. Her focus on behavioral skills and leadership models has equipped leaders with the tools they need to excel in their roles and drive positive change. Additionally, she has been instrumental in preparing future leaders for their next challenges, including leading Société Générale agencies in Europe and Africa.
In this episode, we’ll explore how to build learning communities that deliver tangible results and drive lasting organizational change.
3 key insights from Jocelyn Phelps
Overcoming the challenge of time commitment
Jocelyn notes that while leaders value learning communities, time commitment is a major challenge. She emphasizes the need for strong support from upper management to showcase the long-term benefits. With this backing, leaders can better prioritize personal growth and collaborative development.
Essential steps to building effective learning communities
Jocelyn outlines the key steps for building effective learning communities:
- Define a clear strategy and secure strong sponsorship to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
- Clarify the community’s purpose so members understand their roles and the value of participation.
- Plan the community’s structure and logistics, including meeting frequency, duration, and format.
- Allocate enough Senior leadership time to support the community’s activities.
- Ensure careful planning for the launch and closure of the community to create a positive experience for all participants.
Setting ambitious goals lead to meaningful impact
Jocelyn emphasizes the power of setting ambitious goals for learning communities to drive meaningful change. She shares a success story from Société Générale, where a learning community connected high-potential individuals with senior leadership. Participants gained a clearer understanding of the company’s strategy, leading to greater engagement and a desire to explore new internal opportunities.
Resources
- As Jocelyn highlighted, one of the biggest challenges in creating effective learning communities is securing time for learning.
- Explore our Skill Paths on Productivity, crafted in collaboration with renowned authors such as Dominique Chalvin, François Délivré, and Maura Thomas.
These programs are designed to help your teams master time management, enhance productivity, and overcome the obstacles to continuous learning. - CrossKnowledge helps you design capability academies for every target group, designed to meet their individual needs and support the achievement of your strategic goals.
Show notes
(00:01) Introduction to the Human Advantage series
(02:10) Magali welcomes Jocelyn Phelps, Program Director, Leadership and Organization Development at Société Générale
(04:45) Challenges in maintaining learning communities effective and engaging
(06:48) Essential steps to building effective learning communities
(10:30) Examples of successful learning communities at Société Générale
(14:23) Understanding what co-development groups are
(17:30) Advice for creating learning communities
(20:16) Conclusion of the podcast
Jocelyn Phelps is an expert in HR and organizational development, focusing on unlocking potential and driving transformation. With a deep understanding of human resources and organizational development processes, she empowers individuals, teams, and groups to achieve their goals. Jocelyn is committed to continuous learning and aligns learning initiatives with core business strategies. Her extensive experience spans consulting and corporate human resources, addressing challenges like performance management, talent management, leadership development, engagement, diversity, and competency development.
Magali Finet-Perdu, with over 12 years of experience in human resources and learning, is known for her deep passion for driving skill development and enhancing employee knowledge within organizations. As a recognized expert in digital and facilitated learning, she leads the Learning & Development community at CrossKnowledge, where she shares her expertise on the latest training trends and best practices in the field.
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The Human Advantage: Insights from Business Leaders series is dedicated to exploring the pivotal role of humans in driving organizational success. Each episode features candid conversations with prominent business leaders who have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering a thriving workplace environment.