Who was Benjamin Franklin?

Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States, scientist, inventor, and diplomat.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin

This old adage is our core challenge. Information alone doesn’t change behaviour; it fades. Instruction builds recall, but true learning only happens through involvement. For L&D, this means shifting from content delivery to experience design. Move beyond slides and lectures. Create scenarios, simulations, and real-world practice where learners must decide, do, and reflect. When we involve people, we build confidence, not just knowledge. We close the knowing-doing gap. That’s where retention becomes results, and learning transfers back to the workplace. Ask yourself: are you just telling, or are you truly involving? Design for doing, not just knowing. Start tomorrow, today.

Be honest: which session still talks at people instead of involving them?

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We would love to hear your answer in the comments.

If you have any Learning & Development quotes you’d like to share, please send them to enquiries@flmtraining.com.au.

Our Sponsors:

The Australian Learning & Development Network’s events and resources are available free of charge to our members due to the generous support of our sponsors. As such, if you’re looking for any externally provided capability development services, we kindly ask that you contact them to discuss your needs.

• Frontline Management Training Australia – Purpose-Built Leadership and Management Training for Frontline Managers and Staff
• Australian Public Sector Training – Leadership and Management Training Specifically for People Working in Public Sector Organisations
• Executive Development Australia – Inspiring Executive Excellence