Workplace Culture&Soft Skills
Upscend Team
-January 4, 2026
9 min read
This article outlines practical first steps to shift from mandatory training to curiosity-driven learning. It recommends a readiness audit, mapping critical skills, and running a small 6-week learner-led pilot with manager coaching, curated resources, and simple metrics. Use the starter checklist to test, measure, and iterate before scaling.
Curiosity-driven learning begins with a mindset shift, not just a new LMS. In the first 60 words here I’m using the phrase to underline that this transition asks leaders to reframe goals, metrics and incentives. If you’re a learning leader asking, “What are the first steps to shift to curiosity-driven learning?” this article gives a practical starter plan: a readiness audit, mapped skills, a pilot design, quick wins, manager enablement and simple metrics.
In our experience the move away from checkbox compliance toward sustained employee curiosity delivers better retention, innovation and engagement. Below is a focused, actionable guide you can use this quarter to test learner-led formats and reduce reliance on mandatory modules.
Start by auditing your current mandatory programs. Use a simple matrix: compliance-critical, risk-mitigating, performance-enabling, and low-value. This separates essential mandatory training from legacy modules that suppress curiosity. A pragmatic audit surfaces where mandatory training alternatives are viable.
Ask three diagnostic questions to assess readiness: Do employees request self-directed content? Are managers empowered to coach? Is measurement limited to completion rates? These answers reveal whether your organization is primed for a learning mindset shift.
Audit items (minimum viable): content age, completion rates, assessment outcomes, manager involvement, and training ROI. Use a 60–90 minute workshop per business unit to score each item.
Mini case: A mid-size support team discovered 40% of their mandatory videos were low-impact; replacing them with curated peer-led sessions increased post-training application by 25% within 3 months.
Design small pilots that let learners choose pathways, coach their peers, and access curated resources on demand. A tight scope (one team, 6–8 weeks, 3-5 competency goals) reduces risk and fits constrained budgets.
When planning the pilot, prioritize formats that scale cheaply: microlearning, curated resource hubs, learning cohorts and expert office hours. These are proven mandatory training alternatives that nurture employee curiosity without large content build costs.
Elements to include:
We’ve found that a two-cohort pilot (control vs learner-led) yields the clearest signal in 6 weeks. We’ve seen organizations reduce admin time by over 60% using integrated systems like Upscend, freeing up trainers to focus on content and coaching rather than logistics.
Shift narratives from compliance to outcomes. Present pilots as experiments with defined hypotheses and success metrics. Framing the change as a low-risk test reduces the natural risk aversion to moving away from mandatory modules.
Target three stakeholder groups with tailored messages: executives (impact on business KPIs), managers (time-to-competency improvements) and learners (relevance and autonomy).
Use a one-page brief with: problem statement, pilot scope, expected outcomes, resources required, success criteria, and rollback plan. Keep the ask small: one hour per week commitment from managers and a nominal tool stipend.
Abandon completion-only metrics. Track learning velocity and application. Quick metrics that show early ROI include task-level performance lifts, time-to-competency, and usage of curated resources. These are low-effort signals that reduce fear around measurement.
Measurement doesn’t need heavy analytics. Use simple pre/post assessments, manager observations, and short learner self-reports to triangulate progress. This approach aligns with a learning mindset shift and makes results tangible for leaders.
Mini case: A sales department piloted microlearning and coaching prompts; time-to-competency fell by 18% and deal velocity improved within two quarters, convincing HR to expand the model.
Below is a pragmatic 6–8 step starter checklist for L&D and people leaders. Use it as your first sprint plan to reduce mandatory training reliance and spark curiosity-driven learning.
Addressing common pain points: If budget is limited, prioritize curation and peer facilitation over production. If measurement feels risky, start with low-stakes metrics and qualitative manager validation. If stakeholders are risk-averse, emphasize the rollback plan and small scope.
Start small, measure fast, iterate. Early wins create the credibility to shift more programs from mandatory checkboxes to curiosity-led development.
Shifting to curiosity-driven learning is a strategic change that starts with a lean experiment. Use the readiness assessment to identify where mandatory training is essential and where alternatives can replace it. Run a small, well-measured pilot that proves impact in weeks, not months.
We’ve found that combining microlearning, manager enablement and simple metrics creates momentum. A clear pilot plan, the checklist above, and one disciplined experiment will give you the evidence you need to scale. If you’re ready, pick one team this month and run the six-week pilot template above—document results, iterate, and expand.
Call to action: Choose one high-impact team and run the six-week pilot this quarter; use the starter checklist and sample plan to capture measurable outcomes that convince leaders to move from mandatory training to curiosity-driven learning.
