They say everything has its time. I believe that applies not just to life events but also to words, ideas, and people. Sometimes, we hear something- a phrase, a lesson, a piece of advice—and while it resonates in the moment, its true depth only reveals itself later, when we find ourselves in a situation where it suddenly makes perfect sense.
A dear friend of mine, Pia Wendelbo, a powerhouse in driving innovation and change, once shared an insight about learning: “People can only truly take in new knowledge when they have the capacity for it. When they’re too occupied, they simply can’t absorb it fully.”
At the time, I understood this in a professional context- especially in our shared work with clients—but only recently did I experience its full truth firsthand.
The Full Capacity of Change
Some of you have moved countries for work, family, or adventure. Some of you have embraked new job adventures, new educations or a total change of life.
For me, moving abroad had been a lifelong dream, though I never imagined it would lead me to Spain—specifically, to Málaga. And yet, here I am, feeling more alive than ever. But with every bold decision comes a reality check.
In logistics, we always say you should never aim for 100% occupancy because it makes a system inflexible. The same is true for people. 😁
The Lesson for Learning & Development
This realization has a direct implication for learning programs, leadership development, and skill-building initiatives.
When we design training, we often focus on content, methods, and delivery. But we rarely ask: Do people have the capacity to take this in?
You can introduce the best AI training, the most effective soft skills coaching, or the most cutting-edge transformation program—but if employees are mentally maxed out, the impact will be limited.
The key takeaway?
Learning happens not just when the content is good, but when the timing is right. The same sentence that sparks curiosity today might ignite true understanding a year from now—when a person is truly open to receiving it.
The challenge
This also relates to how learning and development is integrated into the agenda’s of your workforce. Often it’s an add to the existing assignments. Minimal hours are assigned to personal development. Even when hours are assigned, they’re often swallowed in the daily operations.
Call to action
So, as leaders, facilitators, and trainers, we should not only provide knowledge but also create the conditions for people to absorb it. Because learning isn’t just about what we teach.
It’s about when—and how—people can take it in.
Back to the morning at the train station
What I underestimated was how much this transition would demand from me. Even though I know the city for almost three years and I have wonderful friends and acquaintances here, it’s a lot!
Between navigating bureaucracy, packing up my life in Germany, unboxing it in Spain, learning a new language, continuing building a local network, and finding love, my mental and emotional bandwidth has reached full capacity.
So, the one morning I sat at the train station, being on my way to a weekend trip to Cordoba, I heard my dear friend Pia saying “people need the capacity to take it in”. This quote popped up at the time, where I could really feel and relate to it.
What is something you can relate to?