Don’t just scale learning – help it spread!

In most organisations today, the first question we ask about learning is: Can it scale?

Can we push it globally?
Can we track it on a dashboard?
Can it reach 10,000 employees overnight?

But here’s the honest insight: the most powerful learning moments don’t live in metrics alone.

They show up in a hallway conversation.
In a risky idea shared out loud.
In a moment when someone says, “Hey, let me show you something.”

Great learning doesn’t stop at scale.
It spreads.

✨ Ask: “Would Someone Want to Share This?”

If a learning experience isn’t remarkable, it won’t be remembered and definitely not shared.

So instead of asking, Can we scale this?
Ask, Would someone want to talk about this?

Share-worthy learning is:

• Emotional
• Surprising
• Reflective
• Human

You’re not just delivering content, you’re creating moments people want to pass on.

At Abracademy, we see this in action. In our Spellbinding Storytelling workshop with Scriberia, people didn’t just learn new skills they discovered how to create moments of connection, surprise and meaning. It felt real, human, even a little magical, that’s what spreads.

🎭 Design for delight – not just delivery

People don’t pass on what’s ordinary.

They pass on what moves them.

If a learning experience doesn’t make someone feel something, it’s unlikely to stick, let alone spread.

Design learning that surprises. That inspires. That invites people in.

This isn’t about flashy gimmicks, it’s about sparking curiosity, reflection and joy.

At Abracademy, we use a unique methodology that combines psychology, professional development and magic.

Not magic as performance, but as a tool to create wonder, shift perspectives, and open minds.

It’s this emotional spark, this sense of “something different”, that helps learning not just land, but linger and spread.

🌟 Focus on the few to influence the many

Widespread impact often begins with a small spark.

Start with the curious ones – the people who are open, energised and ready to explore something new.
These early adopters naturally lead by example. When they try something and talk about it, others lean in.

Nurture their enthusiasm. Support their growth.
They’re not just learning for themselves, they're lighting the way for others.

Early adopters don’t just take part - they help learning take off.

At Abracademy, we’ve seen this in action. When SumUp needed to align their Design Leadership team, we crafted a bespoke journey to help them connect, clarify purpose, and unite around shared goals. That small group momentum creates the spark for wider cultural cohesion across teams.

🤝 Build peer-to-peer momentum. 

Learning sticks when people pass it on, peer-to-peer, moment by moment.

It happens in:

• A quick “Have you seen this?”
• A Slack message with a reflection
• A chat over coffee that sparks an idea

This is how culture shifts, not in courses, but in conversations.

But for this to happen, people need a place to share.

A space – physical or digital – where reflections are welcomed, ideas are exchanged, and curiosity is encouraged.

Whether it’s a team channel, a community of practice, or a shared ritual, these touchpoints make informal learning visible and valued.

At Abracademy, we’ve helped teams design the shared rituals that foster this kind of momentum. With Siemens DDX across our 2 year team development journey we helped them to create new and impactful rituals that work in the day to day. 

❤️ Make it feel personal 

People connect with people – not policies.

If your learning feels like corporate speak, it loses life.

But when it’s rooted in real voices, real stories and real challenges – it breathes.

The language you choose matters.

Use words that sound like your people – not like a manual.

Avoid jargon. Speak human. Keep it clear, warm and real.

At Abracademy, we welcome the language of magic – where the impossible becomes possible, the invisible is made visible, and the ordinary turns extraordinary.

This kind of language doesn’t just describe learning, it enchants it, inviting people to see the world (and themselves) in new ways.

Make sure people can see themselves in the learning.

Let them feel like it’s theirs.

Magic also taps into deep-rooted ways we learn and make meaning. As Dr Gustav Kuhn, Director of the MAGIC Lab, puts it:

“Experiencing magic connects us with an adaptive cognitive process that encourages us to keep learning – and see the world from new angles.”

🌀 Create conditions for informal learning

Learning doesn’t happen just because we scheduled it.

It happens because we created the space for it:

• Reflection time
• Post-session conversations
• Internal storytelling channels
• Unstructured follow-ups

These aren’t “nice to haves”, they’re where meaning takes shape and learning becomes part of everyday life.

This is especially important in online settings, where spontaneous “water cooler” moments don’t happen by chance.

To elevate virtual learning, we need to design for those moments, by creating intentional space for connection, playful prompts and curiosity-led chats.

At Abracademy, we create learning journeys across multiple platforms, blending live sessions with digital adventures, asynchronous activities and moments of magic.

We use tools like Quests – short, purposeful challenges that bring learning to life between sessions – and Perspective Pods, small peer groups that encourage reflection, conversation and fresh insights.

Together, these elements turn learning into an ongoing journey not just a one-off event.

🧪 Embrace the mess. 

Real learning isn’t tidy. That’s a good thing.

People will take what they’ve learned, adapt it, remix it, and shape it to fit their team, their context, their language.

That’s not a flaw – that’s ownership.

The most powerful learning rarely follows a straight line.

There are false starts, unexpected turns, aha moments and even a bit of chaos.

It’s in this messiness that people test ideas, ask questions, take risks and discover what really works for them.

So let go of the need for everything to look the same.

Don’t aim for neat rows and polished reflections – aim for movement, for action, for change.

At Abracademy, we celebrate the creative chaos. Our sessions invite experimentation and curiosity. We use magical metaphors, group rituals and playful frameworks that encourage people to explore, stumble, laugh – and try again.

Because the mess is where the magic lives.

It’s where people grow.

It’s where learning becomes real.

Say yes to the mess – that’s where the transformation begins.

🔮 Measure the ripple, not just the reach. 

Dashboards are useful – but they don’t tell the whole story.

It’s not just about who showed up, but what’s shifted since.

Ask:

• What behaviours are changing?
• What language is showing up in meetings?
• Who’s telling new stories or trying new things?

The real signs of learning are often subtle – confidence, curiosity, connection.

That’s the ripple effect. Look for that.

At Abracademy, we measure movement through reflections, story-based feedback and signals of change that go beyond the spreadsheet.

Because the real impact of learning?

It spreads quietly, but powerfully.

🔚 Don’t just scale learning – help it spread

As a learning leader, you’re not just delivering knowledge.
You’re shaping how it moves.

Learning spreads when it feels personal. When it feels shared.
When it feels like something someone would say, “Hey, you need to hear this.”

So go beyond the dashboard.
Design moments worth passing on.

Because in the end, the goal isn’t just to land content.

It’s to let insight travel.

Ready to create learning that spreads?

Start with one remarkable experience that people can't help but talk about.

At Abracademy, we've helped organisations like SumUp, MURAL, Siemens, Civicus and others create these moments of magic. We specialise in designing learning experiences that don't just inform - they transform, inspire, and most importantly, spread.

Whether you're looking to:

• Revitalise an existing skills development program
• Create bespoke learning journeys for leadership development programmes
• Build peer-to-peer learning momentum across your organisation

We'd love to explore what's possible for your team.

Book a discovery call to discuss how we can help your learning spread - not just scale.

Read more insights on learning that sticks:

Democracy in Learning: Designing Experiences That Design Themselves

Case Study: Frontline staff embrace a digital role

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