Thought Leadership on How to Activate Behavior Change at Work

5 May 2026

Copilot Enablement vs. Copilot Activation

 Enablement creates capability. Activation turns that capability into daily use. If training is done but usage is lagging, activation bridges the gap. 

7 November 2025

Three Reasons Our Clients Choose Cognician for Copilot Adoption

 Rolling out Copilot? Don't settle for passive training. Cognician makes Copilot adoption stick with immediate action, tailored experiences, and insights that show real results. 

23 October 2025

Using Gamification to Drive Copilot Adoption

Gamifying the adoption of new AI tools can boost motivation and make learning and using the tools both effective and enjoyable. Using points, challenges, and friendly competition encourages lasting behavior change. Read on for strategies to improve Copilot adoption. 

17 October 2025

What Can You Measure in Cognician That Traditional Copilot Training Misses?

Traditional one-time Copilot training sessions fail to capture how employees use the tool in their daily work, leaving leaders without insight into real adoption and impact. Cognician drives Copilot adoption by embedding generative AI  (GenAI) challenges into daily work, enabling ongoing practice and measurable behavior change.

22 September 2025

How You Can Succeed as a Leader with GenAI

Effective leadership in the Generative AI era requires fostering experimentation, developing skills, promoting ethics, and enabling quick decisions. Patrick Kayton outlines four key actions for leaders to drive GenAI success: mindset, proficiency, decisions, and activation. 

18 September 2025

Stop Buying Content, Start Investing in Outcomes

Effective organizational transformation requires focusing on desired outcomes rather than merely acquiring content. Investing in behaviors and measurable results leads to meaningful change and better return on learning and development efforts.

11 July 2025 | Fast Facts

5 Myths That Are Breaking Your Performance Reviews

Debunking performance review myths and breaking down why real-time feedback is the future of performance.

11 June 2025

Building Blocks of Learning: Harnessing the Power of Storytelling

See how we use storytelling in our Gemini Foundations Quest to make learning memorable, inspire participants to adopt new skills, and drive real change at work. 

10 June 2025

A Learning Designer's Hacks for Exceptional Onboarding

Discover how fostering relationships, delivering just-right information, and tailoring experiences to each role can turn confusion into confident action. Progression – not perfection – is the goal.

9 June 2025

Four Surprising Findings from Our Copilot Adoption Rollouts

No two teams are alike, but our Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption programs reveal clear patterns. What are the shared and unexpected experiences people encounter? Discover four key highlights from our Copilot adoption rollouts. 

27 May 2025

Common Problems from Copilot Underutilization

Many organizations underuse Microsoft Copilot, missing out on major productivity gains. Activating full Copilot use means streamlining workflows, boosting innovation, and staying ahead of the curve. Don't let your team get left behind – activate smarter ways of working now. 

22 May 2025

Cultivating a Culture of Constructive Feedback

Discover how to build a feedback culture that drives real growth – grounded in safety, strengthened by skills, and sustained by systems. 

21 May 2025

The Data Disconnect: Building Tech Without Fluency Is Costing You

You've invested in dashboards, platforms, and data pipelines. But without data-fluent people, the returns aren't showing up. Here's why.

6 May 2025

Onboarding Remote Hires: Adapting to the New Normal

Remote and hybrid work has transformed onboarding, making it difficult for new hires to learn by observing experienced team members. This leads to challenges like isolation and information overload. In this post, we discuss overcoming these issues and activating the right behaviors in new hires with tailored support.

5 May 2025

Why Aren't You Chatting with GPT?

In a world that's increasingly shaped by AI, many people are still hesitant to engage with generative AI tools like ChatGPT. This article explores the reasons behind this reluctance. 

28 April 2025

Reflections on Learning Technologies 2025

Patrick Kayton, Cognician CEO, reflects on the Learning Technologies Exhibition in London. His conclusion? AI is everywhere, but most vendors are making the same fundamental mistake. 

22 April 2025

The Qualities That Separate Great Leaders from Good Ones

What makes a good leader great? It's mindset, integrity, and the ability to develop others while leading by example.

17 April 2025

Activating Success: Thriving in Times of Uncertainty

In times of volatility and disruption, organizations face a critical choice: retreat or advance. Cognician CEO, Patrick Kayton, draws from Cognician's journey through financial crises and global pandemics to reveal a powerful truth – those who thrive don't simply weather storms, they harness them.

24 March 2025

From Silence to Success: How Regular Feedback Activates Employee Potential

Turn feedback into a daily habit and watch your workplace thrive. Activate meaningful behavior change that makes employees feel seen and valued. 

18 March 2025

Bridging the Leadership Gap: How to Turn New Managers into High-Performing Leaders

Give new managers the skills they need to become high-performing leaders – learn to bridge the leadership gap using the right mindset and real-world activation. 

11 March 2025

Activating AI Adoption: The Path to Maximum Value

Explore a transformative approach to AI adoption using the Three Horizons model. Learn how to overcome challenges and leverage GenAI Agents within your organization.

21 January 2025

The Illusion of the Inspiring Workshop

Discover why the 'one-and-done' workshop approach might be holding back your organization's change initiatives. Drawing from real client experiences and research on spaced practice, Patrick Kayton reveals why sustained activation programs are crucial for successful GenAI adoption and meaningful workplace transformation. 

23 December 2024

Three Components of Data Storytelling

Whether you're new to data or a seasoned expert, we'll explore how you can use powerful narratives to make your next data story even better.  

28 October 2024

Combating Cyber Threats: Engaging Methods for Today's Challenges

To defend against cyber threats, practical and continuous training is essential. Explore how Cognician's Security Maturity Quest cultivates secure habits and delivers measurable progress in combating cyber threats. 

4 October 2024

Boosting Microsoft Copilot Adoption: Transformation through Practical Guidance and Community Engagement

Learn how to increase Copilot for Microsoft 365 adoption through practical guidance, real-world examples, and fostering a community of practice. 

24 September 2024

Sharing Transformation Tactics with KPMG's C-Suite Leadership Programme Delegates

5 September 2024

Accelerating Transformation: How to Activate Change at Speed Using Behavioral Tactics

Discover how to drive rapid change with behavioral tactics. Learn about actions that can boost transformation outcomes by as much as 400% in just four weeks.

23 February 2024

How do you shape a GenAI mindset?

To realise the value of GenAI it's not enough to create experiences that build adoption. Organizations should also focus on developing a GenAI mindset.

19 October 2023

ChatGPT - What you should do next

As the conversation around ChatGPT reaches new heights, organizations are seeking ways to adopt this tool safely and ethically. Our Chief Strategy Officer, Colin Sloman, delves into how Cognician can assist in this vital transition.

18 July 2023

Change Made Easy

In his thought-provoking blog post, our Chief Strategy Officer, Colin Sloman, explores the complexities of change and offers insights on how to simplify it. Drawing from his expertise in change management, transformational change, and behavioral science, Colin shares compelling stories of both failures and successes. He examines the evolution of change and its ongoing impact on organizations. 

17 March 2023

It's as Simple as A, B, ... (and C)

"How do you know when real change has occurred?" This is a question our Chief Strategy Officer, Colin Sloman, has asked many times. Colin shares his thoughts on using A/B Testing and data to deliver meaningful results that track change in large organizations. 

24 January 2023

Change Is a Doing Sport

In the realm of organizational change, practice is the key to progress, making change an active endeavor. Colin Sloman suggests that true learning involves more than just acquiring knowledge—it requires understanding, reflecting, and practicing to create lasting change. 

13 December 2022

2020s, the Coming of Age of HR. No, Really!

As we enter the new decade, Human Resources is poised to undergo a significant transformation. Colin Sloman explores the future 'Decade of HR', focusing on the shift from administrative functions to talent management, recruitment, and retention. What does today's workforce need, and how will HR address these requirements moving forward? 

15 November 2022

Cloud Adoption: Change Their Behavior or Change Your Mind

Change begins with planning and processes, but its success hinges on people. Colin Sloman examines what is essential for individuals to adapt to and embrace cloud technology migration. 

25 October 2022

​​Delivering Transformative Change – Engaging One Mind at a Time

Is transformative change just another buzzword losing its buzz? Colin Sloman discusses how transformative change becomes more than just a phrase, but a reality.

6 September 2022

Change Hearts, Minds, and Actions Through Activation. Here's How:

Cognician co-founder Patrick Kayton discusses our unique approach to behavior change. And how it can improve your change initiatives.

18 August 2022

Hybrid Workplace Success: Empowering Leaders for the Future

Hybrid working is the future. It's crucial to equip leaders to get it right. Colin Sloman discusses how Cognician can help.

2 August 2022

Data is Everywhere. Does Your Organization Know What to Do With It?

Data fluency is increasingly important for today’s organizations. Colin Sloman discusses why and how Cognican can help.

29 June 2022

Your Approach to Onboarding Acquired Hires Can Make or Break Your M&A

How you engage and onboard acquired hires can make or break a merger or acquisition. Colin Sloman discusses why and how Cognican can help.

3 May 2022

Sustainability Is No Longer an Option but the Only Way Forward for Businesses

The transition to sustainability doesn't have to be impossible. Our Chief Strategy Officer explains why and how Cognician can help.

5 April 2022 | Feature

Designing for Evidence Using Mechanistic Explanations

Mechanistic explanations are one way we provide reliable evidence of behavior change. The following article discusses how.

29 March 2022

Exploring the Role of Discovery in the Development of Our Learning Programs

How do we activate behavior change? This article discusses our discovery process for creating our custom programs.

22 March 2022

Why Diversity and Inclusion Are Important for Problem-Solving

What happens when we bring in new perspectives? This article explores this and how to activate inclusive problem-solving.

15 March 2022

How the Great Resignation Must Lead to the Great Onboarding

Good onboarding can ease the effects of the Great Resignation. Our CSO, Colin Sloman, explains why and how Cognician can help.

15 March 2022

By Becoming Aware of Your Unconscious Bias You Can Activate Behavior Change

Using one powerful idea, we show you how to become aware of your unconscious biases that reinforce negative stereotypes.

8 March 2022

Leaders Who Listen: How to Collaborate in Diverse Teams

Nothing says "collaboration" quite like the launch of a space rocket.

1 March 2022

How Mentoring Can Activate a Commitment to Lifelong Learning

"Wax on! Wax off!" As mentoring goes, who can forget the powerful lessons learned in the iconic movie The Karate Kid?

22 February 2022

Activate an Innovation Culture by Adopting These Four Habits

Successful companies continuously embrace new ways of thinking. In this article, we will show managers how to make innovation a habit.

15 February 2022

Three Ways Mentoring Can Activate Teams Success [For Leaders]

How do you become an effective mentor to your team? This article discusses three actions you can take as a leader.

8 February 2022

How Reverse Mentoring Activates Organizational Success

By turning the tables on traditional peer mentoring, reverse mentoring can activate new perspectives and lessons in the workplace.

1 February 2022 | Feature

Has The 'Great Crew Change' Finally Arrived?

Cognician CSO, Colin Sloman, discusses the challenges and importance of reskilling oil and gas workers for a sustainable future.

11 January 2022 | Feature

Find Your Next Big Idea with Insight Analysis

Ever wanted to understand how your employees feel about specific topics? With Insight Analysis, you can do just that.

4 January 2022

What Termites Teach Us about Activating Change

Using a termite colony as an example, we discuss the power of collective action when activating behavior change at scale. 

28 December 2021

Does Social Interaction Improve Learning Outcomes?

We review the work of  Zhang et al. (2017) to show that social engagement is vital in completing online learning programs. 

21 December 2021

Why Don't Team Building Activities Work?

Team building can feel like a chore. This article explores how we can make these activities more meaningful and effective.

14 December 2021

The Powerful Role of Reflection in Activating Behavior Change

What is the best way to learn? This article explores the crucial importance of reflection in learning outcomes.

8 December 2021 | Feature

This Is Not a Drill: How Should WPC Rise to the Challenge of a Net-Zero Future?

Will the most significant contributor to climate change rise to the challenge of a net-zero carbon future? 

25 November 2021

How to Track the Impact of a Cybersecurity Training Program

Tracking the impact of a training program comes back to the fundamentals of learning: Does the program activate behavior change within your teams?

22 November 2021 | Feature

How Do Diversity and Inclusion Enhance Organizations?

We know intuitively that diversity matters. It’s also increasingly clear that it makes sense in purely business terms.

18 November 2021 | Feature

How Much Does Cybersecurity Training Cost?

In this article, we'll show you the most cost-effective ways to activate security behaviors that defend your organization. 

15 November 2021 | Feature

COP26: What Comes Next?

We discuss what is next for organizations in the wake of COP26 and how they can rapidly adopt a sustainability agenda.

10 November 2021 | Feature

The Big Question about COP26 and Why It's Important to Start Small

COP26 preparation is in full flow! So it is not surprising that many clients are asking how to drive a mindset shift within their organizations on climate, carbon, and a sustainable future for the planet.

4 November 2021 | Feature

How Long Does It Take to Develop Security Maturity?

In this article, we discuss how to develop security maturity in 30 days or less using an activation approach.

26 October 2021 | Feature

Leveraging the Zone of Proximal Development in Cybersecurity Training

Understanding the skill level of your team is essential when designing InfoSec training experiences.

12 October 2021 | Feature

The Four Failures of Cybersecurity Training

Could your information security training be better? Here’s how you can improve it.

6 October 2021 | Feature

The Role of Discovery in Building Award-Winning Learning Programs

Discovery is key to building relevant and valuable behavior-change programs that are measurably effective.

4 October 2021 | Feature

How Cognician Builds Gamification into Learning to Activate Behavior Change

Wondering how to leverage gamification? Here’s how we trigger powerful emotions and maximize engagement in our change programs.

14 September 2021 | Feature

Why Cybersecurity Training Is Failing Employees and How You Can Win

Quality training needs to activate behavior change, develop a cybersecurity mindset in employees and cultivate good habits.

13 August 2021

What Makes a Leader Successful at Activating Change?

It takes a great leader to change behaviors in any organization. But what are the qualities of a leader who successfully activates change?

6 July 2021 | Feature

What Are the Three Steps to Successful Behavior Change?

Successful behavior change can be simple, if done correctly. Here, we cover three steps needed to activate behavior change.

20 May 2021 | Feature

What is an Agile Leader?

Agility is an important characteristic for businesses —and leaders too. But what makes a leader 'agile'?

18 May 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Ways Transformational Conversations can Activate Behavior Change

At Cognician, we understand that conversation is key to activating behavior change. Find out why here...

6 May 2021 | Feature

How to Measure the Impact of a Behavior Change Program: Why Cause Matters

Once a behavior change program has been put in place, how can you measure its effectiveness? Here, we explain the process.

4 May 2021 | Fast Facts

3 More Power Skills Needed to Develop in the “New Normal”

In our previous blog, we looked at the need for enhancing communication skills, adaptability and analytical thinking in employees to meet the demands of the “New Normal”.

27 April 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Power Skills HR and Change Managers Need to Develop in the “New Normal”

It’s no secret that the way businesses operate has been disrupted forever. As the R.E.M. song goes, “It’s the end of the world as we know it… and I feel fine!”

22 April 2021 | Feature

What Are Soft Skills and Why Are They Important?

Soft skills are just as important as hard skills in the workplace, but what exactly are they?

20 April 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Ways Habit Formation Can Transform Teams

Whether it’s being negative, missing deadlines or showing up late for meetings, bad habits can have a bad impact on your team.

8 April 2021 | Feature

4 Ways to Build a Feedback Culture at Work

Giving and receiving feedback is critical for business success, but how do you develop a feedback culture at work?

6 April 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Ways Simplicity Can Activate Behavior Change

There’s something to be said for simplicity. Especially when it comes to learning programs that claim to drive behavior change. As the saying goes, all that glitters is not gold. 

1 April 2021 | Opinion Piece

Why Manners are Key to Driving Change at Work

Manners play an important role in building trust, and trust is instrumental when it comes to driving behavior change at work.

29 March 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Facts about Fostering Teamwork that Change Managers Should Know

These fast facts explore how change managers can develop more effective, productive, and cohesive teams, improve communication, and foster harmony.

24 March 2021 | Expert Q&A

The Quest for Change: Why Replicating Excellence is Key

When it comes to behavior change, should you be fixing issues or trying to replicate success? Find out in this Q&A with Dr Mark Houghton.

15 March 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Ways to Develop People at Work

Talent management isn’t only about recruiting and retaining the best employees you can find. It’s also about helping them become the best they can be at what they do and how they do it.

8 March 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Reasons Why Women Make a Positive Impact in the Workplace

Today, as we celebrate International Women's Day, we pay respect to all women who have been driving change in the workplace.

4 March 2021 | Opinion Piece

How Problem-Based Learning Can Activate Behavior Change

Problem-based learning can activate behavior change in organizations far more effectively than micro-learning.

2 March 2021 | Opinion Piece

Why Inspiration Is a Great Enabler of Change—and How You Can Inspire

To activate behavior change within a team or organization, you need to enable inspiration to come from anyone, anywhere.

1 March 2021 | Fast Facts

5 Lessons Change Managers Can Learn from Seymour Papert

Seymour Papert's constructionist theory has played a key role in learning efforts. What can change managers learn from him?

25 February 2021 | Feature

Why Content Isn't Always the Answer for Change Management Practices

Content-heavy solutions are not always the answer when it comes to creating behavior change. Here's why...

22 February 2021 | Fast Facts

4 Essential Skills for the Workforce of the Future—and How to Instill Them

Creativity, complex reasoning, and profound socio-emotional intelligence are fast becoming essential skills. 

18 February 2021 | Opinion Piece

How Reflection Helps Us Learn, According to Science

When it comes to learning, simply memorizing content isn't the most effective strategy. Reflection is a necessary element.

16 February 2021 | Opinion Piece

How to Get Your Team Rowing to the Same Rhythm and Boost Results

A team that works together will be effective, but one that can achieve a state of flow will achieve a huge boost in results. 

15 February 2021 | Fast Facts

3 Reasons Change Management Plans Fail—and How to Avoid Them

For organizational change to take hold effectively, one vital element must be present: reflection. Here's why...

27 January 2021 | Feature

7 Lessons 2020 Taught Us About Change Management

2020 was nothing short of disruptive, but in hindsight, we have gleaned some important lessons. Here are some insights...

21 October 2020 | Feature

How to Activate Behavior Change at Work

How do you drive behavior change at work and make it stick? This framework explains the impact of digital learning experiences.

20 October 2020

7 Reasons Reviewers Say Cognician Activates Behavior Change

From learning that sticks to enabling growth, activating impactful behavior change is crucial to successful change management.