David F. Hoff and W. Warner Burke
“I’d argue that learning agility is one of the most exciting, game-changing concepts in the field of talent management today… Those of us who want to stretch ourselves at work can examine our strengths and take concrete action to develop our weaker skills. By doing so, we can reach our untapped potential.” David F. Hoff
About The Book
The war for talent is more fierce than ever before. The world is changing rapidly and organizations must adapt to compete. Every organization wants to know who its future executives will be, even 10 to 20 years before they are ready for those roles.
Of course, organizations can’t spend the money budgeted for talent development on everyone. So, if you work in human resources, who do you bet on? There is a growing belief that the people who have the highest potential are also your most agile learners. But defining learning agility, and determining who has more of it, has remained a challenge until recently. This book will walk you through what learning agility is, as well as how to measure and apply it in practical organizational settings.
Learning agility is not a new concept, but it took years of research to prove that it really does exist, and can be quantified on an individual level. Out of that research came the introduction of the Burke Learning Agility Inventory™ (Burke LAI), which gave us the first reliable, theoretically grounded way to measure learning agility. Now that learning agility can be measured, individuals and organizations need to know how to develop it.

“There is an overall level of learning agility that everyone possesses. Learning agility can be likened to a reservoir of energy, and some of our reservoirs are fuller than others. Fullness equates to an energy or inclination to put yourself in situations that require you to do something you haven’t done before. ”David F. Hoff
What Others Are Saying
“Finally, a book on learning agility grounded in theory, supported by research and user friendly for HR practitioners.”
– Gary Latham, Secretary of State Professor of Organizational Effectiveness, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
“What is learning agility? Surprisingly, it may be the single biggest determinant of career success. This is the first book to really explain the why, what, and how of learning agility. If you’re looking for a competitive advantage, read this book.”
– Steve Arneson, Ph.D., President, Arneson Leadership Consulting
“Learning agility is one of the hottest topics in talent management and leadership development today. Hoff and Burke’s book on learning agility provides a new framework and way of thinking about the construct that is just what the good doctor ordered. Whatever your interest in learning agility, this is a must-have resource and represents a leap forward for the field.”
– Allan H. Church, Ph.D. SVP Global Talent Assessment & Development PepsiCo SIOP, APA, APS Fellow
“Learning agility is critical for today¹s leaders: if leaders can’t learn from experience and acknowledge past mistakes to avoid repeating them, they will become a liability. This book, by true experts in the field, is an authoritative volume that will help both scholars and practitioners understand the importance of learning agility in the workplace and how we should assess and develop it. A must-read for anyone interested in gaining real expertise on this topic.”
– Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, CEO, Hogan Assessments, Professor of Business Psychology, University College London and Columbia University, NYC
David Hoff
David Hoff is Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Leadership Development at EASI Consult, a position he has held since 2003. David leads organization transformation projects utilizing assessment and development expertise. David spent 17 years at Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. as Director of International Human Resources, Director of Human Resource Development and Selection, Manager of Management Development and Training and Organization Development Consultant. He’s held corporate positions such as Vice President of Human Resources for Dimension Data, Inc. and Managing Director of International Human Resources for Proxicom, Inc. In addition to a deep background in management and organization development, David has 10 years of international experience in Asia, Latin America and Europe. David has over 25 years of experience in the identification and application of competencies, starting in the late 70’s working with David McClelland at McBer and Company. He did his graduate work at Teachers College, Columbia University earning an M.A. and M.Ed. He lives in Wilmington, N.C. with his wife Susan.
W. Warner Burke
W. Warner Burke is the E. L. Thorndike Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University where he has been since 1979. Dr. Burke has authored or edited 20 books and written over 150 articles and book chapters. He has served as Editor of Organizational Dynamics, Academy of Management Executive, and the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Management, Association of Psychological Science, the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a Diplomate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has received several lifetime achievement awards, including NASA’s Public Service Medal and The Outstanding Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Army.
Purchase
About Hogan
Hogan Assessment Systems is the global leader in providing comprehensive, research-based personality assessment and consulting. Grounded in decades of science, Hogan helps businesses dramatically reduce turnover and increase productivity by hiring the right people, developing key talent, and evaluating leadership potential. Hogan’s assessments are available in more than 60 countries and 50 languages, and are used by more than half of Fortune 500 companies.