colleague-led learning

Measuring Workplace Confidence – What happens when you teach self-belief?

Does workplace confidence training genuinely change how people feel and work, or does the impact fade the moment the session ends? That’s the question Northumbria University set out to answer when it evaluated the Workplace Confidence Training delivered by Bit Famous to the College of Policing.

To understand what really happens after a session like this, the researchers followed participants over time. They gathered data before the workshop, immediately afterwards and again three months later. This gave them something rare in workplace training: a clear view of both the immediate uplift and the longer-term effects.

The survey results showed measurable shifts in confidence, job satisfaction, peer support and people’s understanding of the tools they’d learned.

The study blended two types of evidence. Alongside the numbers were written comments from participants. These qualitative reflections revealed the human side of the experience: what people remembered, how they used the ideas and what difference it made in day-to-day policing roles.

Mastermind groups in police leadership

Inside the study: what we’ve learned from mastermind groups in police leadership

Inside the study: what we’ve learned from mastermind groups in police leadership.

Study into the success of mastermind groups and peer-led learning. At Bit Famous, we’ve seen first-hand how powerful peer learning can be. When colleagues come together to talk openly about their challenges, swap ideas and hold each other accountable, something clicks. Confidence grows. Problems get solved. People stop waiting for permission and start making things happen.

In May 2025, our award-nominated training with the College of Policing (Finalists: Personnel Today Learning and Development Supplier of the Year 2025) became the focus of an independent evaluation by Northumbria University. The study explored the impact of our Workplace Mastermind Groups programme, which introduces leaders to a practical, peer-led approach to problem-solving and professional development.

The research ran for six months, tracking more than 80 senior police leaders across England and Wales before their training, immediately after, and again three months later.

The findings are fascinating. Participants showed big jumps in understanding how to set up and run mastermind groups, and most felt better supported by colleagues and managers. Job satisfaction and collaboration improved too. Confidence stayed consistently high, suggesting these sessions help people put their self-belief to work rather than simply talk about it.

In short, the research confirms what we’ve always known from experience: when people are given space to learn from each other, they don’t just gain knowledge — they build stronger, more confident workplaces.

Let’s take a look at what the data tells us.

colleague-led learning

The power of colleague-led learning

Colleague-led learning. What if I told you some of the best learning and development in your workplace doesn’t need a big budget, a slick platform or an outside trainer on speed dial?
Sounds unlikely, right? But it’s happening. I’ve just been working with a group at Beazley, a global insurance firm. They didn’t wait around for the “perfect” training course on presentations. Instead, they built their own. A colleague-led club, now 100 members strong, where people practise speaking, swap feedback and support each other to go from “just about okay” to truly compelling.

Workplace confidence resources

The value of val-yous: why reflecting on personal values can boost your colleagues confidence and sharpen decision making

Have you ever dithered over making a final decision on something? Perhaps choosing one candidate over another, or what to do about the kitchen cupboards falling apart!

Maybe you said yes to something, then quickly regretted not saying a firm no. Or you held back when you meant to speak up.

Well, all these moments, internal wobbles, are signs you’ve drifted from your values, the things that really matter to you, that make you you.

Or, more likely, you’ve never had an opportunity to pin down your values..

Now , imagine what happens when a whole team is out of step with their own personal values. It’s not just the odd regret or misstep here and there, it’s multiple people being slower to make decisions, second-guessing why they’re going in a certain direction, not really leaning into being themselves and being brave.

Everyone needs a North Star – and that’s why it’s worth doing a values check-in.

Town hall meeting

Is your town hall meeting in trouble?

Is your town hall meeting in trouble?

Why your town hall meeting might be turning people off.
You’ve got everyone in the business together. The slides are ready. The execs are lined up. You’re streaming to hundreds of screens. So why does it still feel like a bit of a flop?

Town halls should be a highlight – a chance to bring people together, share progress, spark ideas and build momentum. But too often, they miss the mark.

Instead of being energising, they’re predictable. Instead of creating a connection, they reinforce a divide. Instead of landing messages, they lose the room.

We’ve all been there. Cameras off, minds wandering. A speaker droning through 30 bullet points while you mentally reorganise your weekend. And if you’re the one organising it? It can be disheartening to watch the effort go nowhere.

Workplace mastermind groups - Solving problems and building networks from Penny Haslam on Vimeo.

Workplace mastermind groups

Introduction: What is a workplace mastermind group?

I want to share an idea with you that’s commonly associated with business owners. Actually, I think it’s something that should be more regularly used in the workplace. That is, mastermind groups at work so your people can solve their problems confidently and build wider networks across the organisation. 

There are loads of reasons why they’re brilliant, and often their outcomes are phenomenal in a way that you’d never expect. I’ll go into those in a little more detail in a minute, but a mastermind group is sometimes also known as an action learning set or peer-to-peer mentoring. 

Outperform and impress: 5 Meeting hosting hacks that will set you apart

We delve into the art of hosting a meeting, a crucial skill that can significantly impact your career progression. We discuss the difference between just holding a meeting and truly hosting one, and explore various strategies to engage attendees, manage time effectively, and drive productive discussions. This guide will arm you with the tools you need to turn any meeting into a platform for meaningful communication and collaboration.