Building Your Professional Learning Community

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Much has been written about the mysterious powers of elves. Quiet, clever tricksters who somehow work together to make the impossible happen. I should know. I’m lucky enough to be one.

Much has been written about the mysterious powers of elves. Quiet, clever tricksters who somehow work together to make the impossible happen. I should know. I’m lucky enough to be one.

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This is a story about community, learning, and the unseen magic that happens when people come together to grow. Growing not just as professionals, but together as people. (Cue eyeroll and LinkedIn cringe.)

This is a story about community, learning, and the unseen magic that happens when people come together to grow. Growing not just as professionals, but together as people. (Cue eyeroll and LinkedIn cringe.)

My Learning Community Journey

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Let’s go back to 2018. I’d been in instructional design for about four years. I’d steadily been building a list of online connections, but they were just names and profile pictures up to this point. I hadn’t been able to connect with people on a deeper level where I was able to talk about the work I was doing, what my challenges were, and how it was meaningful to me.

Let’s go back to 2018. I’d been in instructional design for about four years. I’d steadily been building a list of online connections, but they were just names and profile pictures up to this point. I hadn’t been able to connect with people on a deeper level where I was able to talk about the work I was doing, what my challenges were, and how it was meaningful to me.

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I was looking for people doing the same kind of work, facing similar challenges.

I was looking for people doing the same kind of work, facing similar challenges.

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Every Friday, a group of instructional designers gathered on a popular social media app (I won’t name names, but let’s just say I was all a-twitter for it.) During one of these chats, someone mentioned the idea of an accountability buddy. I thought to myself, hot dog… that sounds like the cat’s pajamas! (Hey, it was a different time). That’s how it started. Bianca Woods, Valary Olinik, and I decided to set up a monthly chat. The plan was simple: talk about our projects, share our goals, and support each other’s professional growth. But here’s the twist—we actually did it. Each month, we showed up. We talked shop: conference presentations, tech challenges, design ideas.

Every Friday, a group of instructional designers gathered on a popular social media app (I won’t name names, but let’s just say I was all a-twitter for it.) During one of these chats, someone mentioned the idea of an accountability buddy. I thought to myself, hot dog… that sounds like the cat’s pajamas! (Hey, it was a different time). That’s how it started. Bianca Woods, Valary Olinik, and I decided to set up a monthly chat. The plan was simple: talk about our projects, share our goals, and support each other’s professional growth. But here’s the twist—we actually did it. Each month, we showed up. We talked shop: conference presentations, tech challenges, design ideas.

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For example, at one point I was exploring xAPI to solve some learning data issues. The technical side? I had that. But explaining it to others in an engaging way? That’s where I got stuck. Talking it through with Bianca and Valary, though, helped me find the heart of my work. They noticed what lit me up, helping teams get visibility, sharing the hidden value in what we do. Once I understood that was my passion, I could speak with clarity and fire. Every time I presented, I wasn’t just explaining data; I was inviting others to shine a light on their own invisible impact. That’s the magic of community: it helps you see what you can’t always see yourself.

For example, at one point I was exploring xAPI to solve some learning data issues. The technical side? I had that. But explaining it to others in an engaging way? That’s where I got stuck. Talking it through with Bianca and Valary, though, helped me find the heart of my work. They noticed what lit me up, helping teams get visibility, sharing the hidden value in what we do. Once I understood that was my passion, I could speak with clarity and fire. Every time I presented, I wasn’t just explaining data; I was inviting others to shine a light on their own invisible impact. That’s the magic of community: it helps you see what you can’t always see yourself.

Becoming L&D Elves

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Of course, not every chat was a celebration. One month, I was venting (rare, but it happens). I had just received the classic “make it look pretty” assignment. Visual designers, you know the one. Someone hands you a bland document and asks you to wave a wand and beautify it. I enjoy flexing my visual design muscles, but this kind of task often feels… hollow. Not because it’s beneath me, but because it highlights a bigger issue: the invisible work we do. The work that’s taken for granted. The work no one sees. That’s when someone said it: “We’re the elves. We come in the night and make the magic happen.” And just like that, the metaphor stuck.

Of course, not every chat was a celebration. One month, I was venting (rare, but it happens). I had just received the classic “make it look pretty” assignment. Visual designers, you know the one. Someone hands you a bland document and asks you to wave a wand and beautify it. I enjoy flexing my visual design muscles, but this kind of task often feels… hollow. Not because it’s beneath me, but because it highlights a bigger issue: the invisible work we do. The work that’s taken for granted. The work no one sees. That’s when someone said it: “We’re the elves. We come in the night and make the magic happen.” And just like that, the metaphor stuck.

How to Make Your Connections Stick

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So, what are some things that you can do when you find your group (elves or otherwise) to make sure that the connections stick and that the time is meaningful? Here are a few I’ve found work well:

So, what are some things that you can do when you find your group (elves or otherwise) to make sure that the connections stick and that the time is meaningful? Here are a few I’ve found work well:

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  Talk as a group about what you hope to accomplish by meeting.

  Talk as a group about what you hope to accomplish by meeting.

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  Build accountability by reviewing goals for the month, quarter, or year that you want to have an ongoing conversation around.

  Build accountability by reviewing goals for the month, quarter, or year that you want to have an ongoing conversation around.

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  Be willing to share what is exciting for you at the moment and what you are dreading.

  Be willing to share what is exciting for you at the moment and what you are dreading.

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  Ask for help on specific topics or challenges that play to the strength of your group.

  Ask for help on specific topics or challenges that play to the strength of your group.

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  Most importantly, end every meeting with a plan for when you will meet again.

  Most importantly, end every meeting with a plan for when you will meet again.

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As with all advice, results may vary. Find out what works best for your group and work to define it with clear communication and intentions.

As with all advice, results may vary. Find out what works best for your group and work to define it with clear communication and intentions.

Remote Work Makes Community Building Even More Important

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Before remote work became the norm, learning moments happened casually. I remember mornings in the office parking lot, sipping coffee and thinking through my day. I’d have a coworker pull up next to me, and we’d walk in together. “Morning, Andrew,” they’d say, and just like that, we’d be in conversation about life, about work, about that cool animation trick they used in a course. A spontaneous learning moment, born of proximity.

Before remote work became the norm, learning moments happened casually. I remember mornings in the office parking lot, sipping coffee and thinking through my day. I’d have a coworker pull up next to me, and we’d walk in together. “Morning, Andrew,” they’d say, and just like that, we’d be in conversation about life, about work, about that cool animation trick they used in a course. A spontaneous learning moment, born of proximity.

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Fast-forward seven years. I’m in my home office, 509 miles from my nearest coworker. Now, we rely on video calls, stand-ups, and cross-trainings. We still talk about life. We still share tips and challenges. But those impromptu “Hey, can you show me how you did that” moments require intention now.

Fast-forward seven years. I’m in my home office, 509 miles from my nearest coworker. Now, we rely on video calls, stand-ups, and cross-trainings. We still talk about life. We still share tips and challenges. But those impromptu “Hey, can you show me how you did that” moments require intention now.

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If you want to be great at what you do, really great, not just good, community is essential. Because excellence doesn’t happen in isolation. Breakthrough ideas, creative problem solving, and meaningful innovation are all things that thrive when we connect, collaborate, and challenge each other.

If you want to be great at what you do, really great, not just good, community is essential. Because excellence doesn’t happen in isolation. Breakthrough ideas, creative problem solving, and meaningful innovation are all things that thrive when we connect, collaborate, and challenge each other.

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When we build a learning community, we give ourselves access to a wider lens. We see what others are trying. We hear new questions. We get feedback that sharpens our instincts. And maybe most importantly, we remember we’re not in this alone.

When we build a learning community, we give ourselves access to a wider lens. We see what others are trying. We hear new questions. We get feedback that sharpens our instincts. And maybe most importantly, we remember we’re not in this alone.

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No matter how good you are at your craft, there’s someone out there who can help you see it from a different angle, push your thinking, or simply say, “Yes, I’ve been there too.” That kind of support? It doesn’t just make you feel better. It makes you better. The truth is, those learning moments are still all around us. They’re in DMs, chat threads, Slack channels, virtual coffees, and yes, even in X (Twitter) threads. The challenge—and the opportunity—is to be intentional.

No matter how good you are at your craft, there’s someone out there who can help you see it from a different angle, push your thinking, or simply say, “Yes, I’ve been there too.” That kind of support? It doesn’t just make you feel better. It makes you better. The truth is, those learning moments are still all around us. They’re in DMs, chat threads, Slack channels, virtual coffees, and yes, even in X (Twitter) threads. The challenge—and the opportunity—is to be intentional.

This Is Your Invitation

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Build your learning community. Not to get promoted. Not to reduce stress. Not even to level up your skills (though that might happen too). Do it to connect. Do it to grow. Do it to be the best version of yourself, not in spite of others, but because of them. My former coworkers and I didn’t need to ask each other about the details of our work. But we could. Now, I don’t have to connect with a coworker I’ve never met. But I get to. And so do you. Here’s to all those elves out there. And here’s to you, wherever you are, it is truly my hope that you get the opportunity to build something meaningful with others.

Build your learning community. Not to get promoted. Not to reduce stress. Not even to level up your skills (though that might happen too). Do it to connect. Do it to grow. Do it to be the best version of yourself, not in spite of others, but because of them. My former coworkers and I didn’t need to ask each other about the details of our work. But we could. Now, I don’t have to connect with a coworker I’ve never met. But I get to. And so do you. Here’s to all those elves out there. And here’s to you, wherever you are, it is truly my hope that you get the opportunity to build something meaningful with others.

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Join a community of peers for an upcoming ATD Instructional Design Certificate . Enroll today to develop core design skills and collaborate in a focused learning environment.

Join a community of peers for an upcoming ATD Instructional Design Certificate. Enroll today to develop core design skills and collaborate in a focused learning environment.