L&D Trends: Lunch and Learn Topics for Employees

Lunch and learn sessions are in high demand. Food is social! So are good learning experiences. And we know that people want to learn and grow at work. If you're interested in implementing or improving your Lunch & Learn offering, here are some best practices, along with some topic ideas from our team.

The Rise of Lunch and Learns

It certainly feels like Lunch & Learn sessions are taking offices by storm! They are a great way to improve the employee experience. And, personally, we love creating and facilitating them.

A happy medium between an employee gathering and learning and development event, Lunch and Learn session combine a yummy lunch, an hour or 90 minutes of learning, usually with the opportunity to talk, reflect, and practice built in. Leadership Lunch and Learns topics for employees can be an effective way to engage employees in subjects related to their career development.

The topics can vary widely (we'll share some ideas later) and can be presented by anyone in the company, including employees, managers, or outside speakers. Plus everyone gets to enjoy a tasty lunch while they learn. What's not to love?

But why are Lunch and Learn events becoming so popular? Lunch and Learns are events with a short time commitment and can provide a wide range of topics to interest a diverse employee audience. They help companies stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices, which can lead to increased innovation and competitiveness. Plus, they are an opportunity for employees to learn from their peers and share their own knowledge and experiences. By providing opportunities for employees to learn and grow, companies can improve employee satisfaction and retention. Plus, when you make lunch and learn topics for employees a habit, it’s a great way to build camaraderie and strengthen team bonds.

What do you need to do?

1. The first step is to decide on a topic. You can choose something related to your industry, like a new software program or sales technique, or something more general, like time management or wellness. Or contact our team and we'll send you a "menu" of topics.
2. Choose a presenter. This can be anyone in your company who has expertise on the topic, or you can bring in an outside speaker, like one of the facilitators at Get Courageous. Be sure your presenter is willing to include interactive discussions, to keep employees engaged.
3. Set a date, time, and menu. Lunch and Learn events typically last around an hour, so make sure you schedule it during lunchtime. You'll also need to decide on a location. Depending on the size of your company, you can hold the event in a conference room, break room, or even outside if the weather permits. Finally, you'll need to coordinate the food. You can order in food from a local restaurant or caterer, or you can have employees bring in their own lunch.
4. Promote the event. Send out an email to all employees with the details, including the topic, presenter, date, time, and location. Use your other digital channels to send reminders. You can also create posters and put them around the office.

Start with these 7 Lunch and Learn ideas

Ready to organize a Lunch and Learn event? Start by laying out some exciting topics. Here are some Lunch and Learn ideas for employees to get you started:

1. Time management: Time management is a crucial skill in the workplace. Teach your team valuable strategies for prioritizing tasks, staying focused, and managing their time effectively.
2. Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a technique that can help your team reduce stress, increase productivity, and improve their overall well-being. Let your team practice breathing exercises, mindful eating (it's lunchtime, after all!), meditation techniques, and other mindfulness practices.
3. Financial literacy: Financial literacy is a critical skill that can help your team manage their personal finances better and make informed decisions at work. A Lunch and Learn event focused on financial literacy may cover topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and retirement planning.
4. Effective communication: Effective communication is critical in any workplace. There are so many topics within communication that can be the topic of your L&L event. Active listening, emotional intelligence, feedback, presenting to stakeholders... the list goes on!
5. Public speaking: Public speaking is a valuable skill in any workplace. A public speaking Lunch and Learn can teach your team how to overcome nerves, structure a speech, use body language effectively, and engage with the audience.
6. Health and wellness: Health and wellness are essential for a happy and productive workforce. Give your employees a new look at health and wellness can cover topics such as healthy eating, exercise, stress management, and mental health.
7. Leadership: Leadership is a crucial skill for anyone who wants to advance in their career. Teach your team how to inspire and motivate others, build trust and credibility, and make effective decisions.

Want more ideas? Get in touch with us. We can share some of our favorite topics or set up a survey to ask your employees what they'd like to learn about and develop the right programs for you.

Lunch and Learns are short time commitments for employees, give employees to gather in one place, live or remotely, and learn about a range of topics of personal and professional interest.