In a recent episode of "Conversations in the Future of Work," Mike Vaughan, CEO of The Regis Company, shared transformative insights about the evolution of skills development and corporate training with host Rachel Cossar, co-founder and CEO of Virtual Sapiens.
In this post, you'll discover:
- How mental models shape team performance and why strategic overlap of models drives success
- Why traditional training fails and how skills validation changes the game for L&D
- The convergence of L&D and talent management—and what it means for your organization
- How to leverage AI to do more with less while maintaining quality learning experiences
- Why teaching "how to think" matters more than "what to think" in today's workplace
The conversation revealed how AI-powered platforms are reshaping the learning and development landscape by focusing on what truly matters: teaching people how to think, not just what to think.
Rewiring Mental Models Through Skills Practice
Drawing from his background in neuroscience, Vaughan explained how mental models—our frameworks for decision-making and problem-solving—fundamentally shape workplace performance. He revealed that teams with overlapping mental models, but not complete uniformity, perform at higher levels. The key is creating learning experiences that surface flawed mental models and allow learners to explore new approaches through simulation-based skills practice.
"Being able to put people into a simulation where they can practice skills and become aware that the way they were looking at something was flawed—that's when real learning happens," Vaughan explained. This approach transforms abstract knowledge into practical capability through hands-on application in realistic, low-risk scenarios.
Skills Validation: The Missing Piece in Traditional Training
One of the podcast's most compelling discussions centered on why corporate training often fails to deliver results. Vaughan identified a critical gap: traditional L&D has focused heavily on teaching foundational knowledge—the "what to think"—while neglecting the crucial "how to think" component.
The future lies in the convergence of skills development and skills validation. As L&D departments increasingly merge with talent management functions, organizations need platforms that not only develop skills but also validate them through performance in realistic scenarios. This shift provides richer data to HR systems and gives individuals deeper insights into their capabilities and gaps.
Corporate Training Trends: Doing More with Less
The conversation revealed significant trends reshaping corporate learning. With flat budgets becoming the norm, L&D professionals face mounting pressure to demonstrate ROI while delivering high-quality learning experiences faster. Vaughan predicts that within a year, organizations will demand that L&D teams leverage AI to automate needs analysis, design, content creation, and development—all while reducing subject matter expert time and accelerating the overall learning lifecycle.
Encouragingly, the narrative around AI in learning is shifting from fear to partnership. As Vaughan noted, "Even mainstream magazines now feature covers asking 'How do you partner with AI?' This language change is making it easier for L&D professionals and organizations to embrace AI's benefits."
The Power of Practice in Action
Throughout the discussion, Mike and Rachel both emphasized how AI should support, not replace, higher-order thinking skills development. Their platforms create opportunities for learners to discover insights through practice rather than simply receiving answers—a crucial distinction in an era of rapid technological change.
Ready to transform your organization's approach to skills development? If you're interested in diving deeper into how practice-based learning impacts skills development, download the Power of Practice Strategy Brief, created by The Regis Company in collaboration with Brandon Hall Group. This comprehensive guide explores how leading organizations are using practice-based learning to develop enduring skills that increase enterprise agility.