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Welcome
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The DesignWise Blog shares best practices for designing transformative programs, expanding human capacity, and navigating complex organizational challenges - along with honest reviews of popular leadership training solutions.
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Vision: DesignWise
ENGAGE in what's possible, to TRANSFORM into your potential, and EXPAND into who you are meant to be. For years I have imagined creating a company that embodies the belief we all have great gifts to give to the world, to elevate what is possible for ourselves and others , and do it in a way that is financially viable. My vision is to set a gold standard of those who wish to bring impactful development solutions that are grounded in a rigor and holistic thinking to ensure t
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


Expand Leadership Capacity: The Competitive Advantage
Leadership training alone doesn't change behavior. Leaders need both the skills to know what to do and the capacity to do it when the stakes are high. Discover why horizontal and vertical development work together to build stronger leaders, healthier teams, and thriving organizations. Read the latest on the DesignWise blog.
Hanna Richards-James
3 min read


Why Everything DiSC® Is One of the Most Valuable Investments You Can Make in Your People
Everything DiSC® helps people communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and work better together by increasing self-awareness and understanding of others. As a Certified Everything DiSC® Facilitator through Wiley, I go beyond the assessment to help leaders and teams turn insight into lasting behavior change through practical, engaging learning experiences that improve collaboration, trust, and leadership effectiveness.
Hanna Richards-James
4 min read


The Leadership Skill That Changes Everything: Mastering Crucial Conversations
The Standard in Effective Communication. Backed by 30 years of research, Crucial Conversations skills represent the standard in effective communication and the marker of high performance individuals and organizations.
Communication Training that Transforms Business Results
Hanna Richards-James
2 min read


Create Engaging, Intentional, Impactful Learning Engagements
n this video, I walk you through Phase 2 of my Transformative Design Framework and show you how I use Red Thread Learning Objectives to design highly effective leadership development and learning experiences.
You’ll learn how to:
Create learning objectives that drive program excellence
Design learning experiences with clear alignment and cohesion
Build measurable outcomes into your programs from the beginning Improve learning transfer from the classroom into
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


How to Design Learning That Actually Works
In this article, I share the core principles behind my Transformative Design Framework, a practical approach to designing leadership and learning programs that align with organizational reality, build stakeholder commitment, and deliver measurable impact.
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


Free Learning Design Workbook
Download our free learning design workbook based in our Red Thread Learning Objectives process. To watch the complimentary video that walks through the process.
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


This Listening Habit Will Change Your Relationships
Leadership doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most transformational shift starts with one habit — truly listening. Listening may sound simple — but it’s one of the most powerful leadership skills you can build. In this video, leadership development designer and coach Hanna shares two practical listening formulas you can start using today to strengthen relationships, build trust, and increase engagement on your team.
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


Free Learning Objectives Job Aid
Download our free learning objectives job aid adapted from Bloom's Taxonomy based in our Red Thread Learning Objectives process. To watch the complimentary video that walks through the process.
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


Coaching Explained: How You Unlock Clarity, Purpose & Growth
Coaching creates space for deep reflection, powerful questions, and new awareness. With the right support, you can see more, understand more, and make intentional choices that move you forward. Your brain is wired for growth. The right questions unlock it. If you’re ready to access greater clarity, creativity, and capacity—this is where it begins.
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read


Learning Ladder Tool To Create Impactful Learning Engagements
In this video I've gone through the learning ladder tool used to support thoughtful design. This tool explains how people learn and what techniques you can use along the way to get the best outcomes of your learning programs.
Hanna Richards-James
1 min read
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