196: Training Won’t Fix Your People Problem

Not every performance problem is a training problem.

Meet Lucy. She works in learning and development at a nonprofit she believes in, yet leadership repeatedly asks for quick PDFs that rarely change behavior. She wants to stop taking orders, ask better questions, and solve the real issue.

In this episode, Jay sits down with Heather Burright, nonprofit learning and development consultant, speaker, and host of the Learning for Good podcast. Together, they explore why training alone rarely changes behavior and how leaders can design learning that produces meaningful, lasting results.

Notable Quotes

“The goal isn’t training. The goal is change.” — Heather Burright

“When you view yourself as a change agent, you’re forced to pause and ask better questions.” — Heather Burright

“Learning is uncomfortable because it’s something you’re probably not already good at.” — Heather Burright

“When we approach it as a conversation and not a debate we need to win, we’re much more likely to walk away satisfied.” — Heather Burright

About Our Guest

Heather Burright is a nonprofit learning and development consultant, speaker, and host of the Learning for Good podcast. She helps mission-driven organizations move beyond check-the-box training and build learning experiences that create measurable behavior change.

Through Skill Masters Market, Heather works with nonprofit leaders and learning professionals to identify performance barriers, strengthen internal influence, and design practical solutions that support both employees and organizational goals.

Resources & Links

Heather Burright

Skill Masters Market Website – https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-burright/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/heather.burright/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@SkillMastersMarket

Jay Abbasi

Website – https://jayabbasi.me/

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast

Join Us Next Time

On Friday, Jay explores one of the most important ingredients of influence: trust. He explains why some people earn a seat at the table while others struggle to get their ideas heard, regardless of how valuable those ideas may be. You’ll learn how to strengthen your credibility, build more meaningful relationships, and show up in a way that makes others more willing to listen, collaborate, and support your ideas.