Diagnostics Development Series:

Developing stronger diagnostic Practice for L&D & HR Professionals

From Training Requests to Performance Solutions

Developing stronger diagnostic practice for HR & L&D professionals

A practical practitioner development series for L&D and HR professionals who want to strengthen how they diagnose performance challenges, have more meaningful conversations with stakeholders, and move beyond the assumption that training is always the answer.

What if the training request isn't really a training need?

L&D and HR are often approached with a solution already in mind: “We need some training.” But before jumping to a solution, it’s worth asking: what is really happening here?

This series helps you step back, explore what’s driving the performance challenge, and develop a more confident, diagnostic approach to deciding what might actually help.

A different way of approaching performance challenges

This isn't about designing better training or proving that training isn't the answer. It’s about developing the thinking, questioning and judgement to understand what’s really driving a performance challenge before deciding what might help.

Drawing on organisational psychology, performance improvement and coaching principles, the series introduces a practical approach to diagnostic thinking that you can apply to real conversations and challenges in your work.

A three-part practitioner development series

The series combines learning, application and reflection so that you have an opportunity to take the approach beyond the workshop and into your own practice.

Part 1: Virtual Group Diagnostic Workshop (3 hours)

Explore a practical diagnostic approach to understanding performance challenges. We’ll look at how to define the challenge, ask better questions, explore the wider system and distinguish capability gaps from other factors affecting performance.

Part 2: Applied Practice

Take the approach into your own work and apply it to a real performance challenge, stakeholder request or client conversation. Test your thinking, explore what you uncover and consider what might help.

Part 3: Virtual Group Reflection Session (1.5 hours)

Come back together to reflect on your experience of applying the approach. Share insights, challenges and learning with the group, and consider how you can build diagnostic thinking into your everyday practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • This series is designed for L&D and HR professionals who have a role in understanding performance challenges and shaping development solutions.

    It may be particularly useful for:

    • L&D Practitioners/Managers/BPs

    • HR Business Partners

    • Talent and Organisational Development professionals

    • Anyone looking to strengthen their performance consulting and diagnostic practice.

  • To get the most from the series, you'll be encouraged to bring:

    • A real performance challenge, stakeholder request or client situation to explore.

    • An openness to question your initial assumptions about the problem.

    • Willingness to apply the approach between sessions.

    • Time to reflect on what you notice in practice.

    There is no requirement to have a particular type of challenge. The value comes from working with something real and relevant to your role.

  • There are plenty of tools for diagnosing performance.

    The challenge is knowing how to think with them. This series focuses not just on a diagnostic framework, but on the mindset behind effective diagnosis.

    You'll learn a practical five-step framework, but the aim is to go beyond the framework and developing the thinking and judgement to approach performance challenges more confidently and diagnostically.

Ready to strengthen your diagnostic practice?

If you're ready to move beyond responding to training requests and develop a more thoughtful, structured approach to understanding performance challenges, I'd love you to join me.

Investment
£195 for self-funded individuals
£295 for organisation-funded places

Next programme dates

  • Live Diagnostic Workshop
    Tuesday 13 October 2026 | 10:00am–1:00pm

  • Group Reflection Session
    Tuesday 24 November 2026 | 1:00pm-2:30pm

 Let’s talk

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