Learning in the Flow of Work

What is learning in the flow of work?

Learning in the flow of work is development that happens within everyday work, in the moment of need, rather than being separated out into courses or events away from the job. The idea, popularised by industry analyst Josh Bersin, is to make learning easy to access exactly when and where people need it, so it fits into the natural rhythm of work.

It reflects the reality that most development happens on the job, in line with the 70-20-10 model, and it is reshaping modern learning and development.

Why it matters

People are busy, and learning that requires stepping away from work often does not happen or does not stick. Bringing learning into the flow of work makes it timely, relevant, and immediately applicable, which improves both uptake and impact. It also supports continuous upskilling as work changes.

How to enable it

Make it accessible. Resources and support available at the point of need, not buried in a system.
Keep it bite-sized. Short, focused content that fits into real workflows.
Include coaching and feedback. On-the-job coaching is learning in the flow of work at its most powerful.
Encourage reflection. Small moments to apply and reflect turn experience into learning.

Coaching in the moment of need

Coachello brings coaching into the flow of work, with on-demand AI coaching and human coaches available when a real challenge arises, so development happens where the work is.

Put development where the work happens. Book a demo.

FAQs

Who coined "learning in the flow of work"?

The phrase was popularised by industry analyst Josh Bersin to describe development that happens within everyday work rather than away from it.

How is it different from traditional training?

Traditional training pulls people away from work into courses. Learning in the flow of work delivers development in the moment of need, inside the job itself.

How does coaching fit in?

On-demand coaching, including AI coaching, is a strong example: it gives people help exactly when a real situation arises, rather than in a scheduled session weeks later.