John Tomlinson
@johnrtomlinson.bsky.social
Learning & Development person, change manager, coach, writer, podcaster, overthinker. I want to help all people have a good time at work and reach their potential.
Christmas in Spain is tomorrow (6th of Jan) - well, Christmas is 25th December, but I mean "Kings Day" is the big deal, well, they're both big deals, but it's the more traditional big deal ... anyway, the point being that I am still not back at work ...
January 5, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Christmas in Spain is tomorrow (6th of Jan) - well, Christmas is 25th December, but I mean "Kings Day" is the big deal, well, they're both big deals, but it's the more traditional big deal ... anyway, the point being that I am still not back at work ...
The problem is that there are simply too many books I want to read
January 5, 2026 at 9:39 AM
The problem is that there are simply too many books I want to read
I have realised that I am very bad proof-reading
January 3, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I have realised that I am very bad proof-reading
Fruit news: someone brought me some dates from Abu Dhabi and they have raised the bar on what is possible in the fruit department. Other fruits need to up their game.
January 2, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Fruit news: someone brought me some dates from Abu Dhabi and they have raised the bar on what is possible in the fruit department. Other fruits need to up their game.
If you find yourself responding to somebody else's idea with "yes but, the problem with that is...." just stop talking.
December 27, 2025 at 11:59 AM
If you find yourself responding to somebody else's idea with "yes but, the problem with that is...." just stop talking.
Just made a cup of tea but forgot to boil the water, turns out that's an important part of the process #AlwaysLearning
December 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Just made a cup of tea but forgot to boil the water, turns out that's an important part of the process #AlwaysLearning
Clocked off for Christmas yesterday, so today I have been idly checking my work phone for messages, it takes a few days to fully disengage - then there's about 10 days of proper leave before my life feels empty and devoid of purpose and I itch to get back to work
December 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Clocked off for Christmas yesterday, so today I have been idly checking my work phone for messages, it takes a few days to fully disengage - then there's about 10 days of proper leave before my life feels empty and devoid of purpose and I itch to get back to work
Something I use in learning is the idea of "Schrödinger's opinion" whereby you don't really know your own opinion on something until you are forced to articulate it (hence the importance of including space for conversation in learning experiences) #learning
December 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Something I use in learning is the idea of "Schrödinger's opinion" whereby you don't really know your own opinion on something until you are forced to articulate it (hence the importance of including space for conversation in learning experiences) #learning
Learning is not the passive consumption of content, it's a process that happens in your own head when you think, reflect, discuss, write etc. #learning
December 17, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Learning is not the passive consumption of content, it's a process that happens in your own head when you think, reflect, discuss, write etc. #learning
There is something about the action of clicking Send that suddenly endows me with excellent proofreading skills.
December 14, 2025 at 6:29 AM
There is something about the action of clicking Send that suddenly endows me with excellent proofreading skills.
Leadership means your decisions will have a bigger impact, but unfortunately leadership positions don't come with more knowledge & more wisdom. This means it becomes even more important to develop decision-making skills & listen to others - some leaders think the opposite is true #leadership
December 13, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Leadership means your decisions will have a bigger impact, but unfortunately leadership positions don't come with more knowledge & more wisdom. This means it becomes even more important to develop decision-making skills & listen to others - some leaders think the opposite is true #leadership
Most L&D people know this already, but a training course is not the same things as a PPT slide deck.
December 12, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Most L&D people know this already, but a training course is not the same things as a PPT slide deck.
That people think it's okay to watch crap on their phones without using headphones on public transport is a minor point in the grand scheme of things, but it's a tell that civilisation is fracturing - in the end it wasn't an asteroid that finished us off, it was TikTok
December 11, 2025 at 6:08 AM
That people think it's okay to watch crap on their phones without using headphones on public transport is a minor point in the grand scheme of things, but it's a tell that civilisation is fracturing - in the end it wasn't an asteroid that finished us off, it was TikTok
I still think they should remake The A Team
December 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I still think they should remake The A Team
Learning to have good conversations is one of the most important skills we can learn, and one of the most kind and generous acts we can perform. Too many conversations are really just one person broadcasting to a captive audience of one.
December 10, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Learning to have good conversations is one of the most important skills we can learn, and one of the most kind and generous acts we can perform. Too many conversations are really just one person broadcasting to a captive audience of one.
I'm surprised how many training models are still based on the idea that an all-knowing teacher will tell people stuff for a few days in order to give them a certificate.
December 9, 2025 at 6:08 AM
I'm surprised how many training models are still based on the idea that an all-knowing teacher will tell people stuff for a few days in order to give them a certificate.
I have the day off today! I plan to make the most of it by spending the day feeling guilty for not working.
December 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
I have the day off today! I plan to make the most of it by spending the day feeling guilty for not working.
Like a boss? Maybe, but there are other words I'd use to describe a good leader
December 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Like a boss? Maybe, but there are other words I'd use to describe a good leader
Just read this fun quote from George Orwell: "every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it"
December 7, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Just read this fun quote from George Orwell: "every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it"
It is surprising how much content is closed off to me because I am - like many men of my age - colour blind. If people use a coloured map or graph in a presentation or report, I am so used to it being meaningless to me, I just wait politely until we can move on.
December 6, 2025 at 7:13 AM
It is surprising how much content is closed off to me because I am - like many men of my age - colour blind. If people use a coloured map or graph in a presentation or report, I am so used to it being meaningless to me, I just wait politely until we can move on.
I made an unusual (but also very mature) (some might even say "impressive") decision last night to stop reading a novel I was not enjoying. I'm still feeling guilty about it.
December 4, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I made an unusual (but also very mature) (some might even say "impressive") decision last night to stop reading a novel I was not enjoying. I'm still feeling guilty about it.
Lifts don't need the "><" (close door) button, it's just confusing. We just need the "<>" button but clearly marked as"OPEN" so there's no excuse for not opening the doors for people
December 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Lifts don't need the "><" (close door) button, it's just confusing. We just need the "<>" button but clearly marked as"OPEN" so there's no excuse for not opening the doors for people
I don't know if this is right, I only just thought of it in a wistful moment earlier, but If I could give my younger self any advice it'd be to work out how to make a living that fits who you want to be as your top priority, everything else can flow from that.
December 4, 2025 at 6:18 AM
I don't know if this is right, I only just thought of it in a wistful moment earlier, but If I could give my younger self any advice it'd be to work out how to make a living that fits who you want to be as your top priority, everything else can flow from that.
One thing social media has shown me is that humans are far funnier than they are rational
December 3, 2025 at 5:37 AM
One thing social media has shown me is that humans are far funnier than they are rational
One of my favourite LinkedIn things is when I get the "I looked at your webpage and love what your company is doing" message. I don't work for a company and we haven't got a webpage, but sure ... whatever
December 3, 2025 at 5:31 AM
One of my favourite LinkedIn things is when I get the "I looked at your webpage and love what your company is doing" message. I don't work for a company and we haven't got a webpage, but sure ... whatever