Behavioral Science SIG Identity-Based Learning, with Jay Johnson

September Topic: Identity-Based Learning

Location: Zoom Online Virtual Platform (link provided after registration)

Cost: Free for ATD Detroit and other local Chapter Members &

$10.00 for Guest

Note: This session will be on September 10,2026 the second Thursday.

Description:  Join us for Identity-Based Learning. People do not just learn new skills. They carry stories about who they are, what they are good at, what they avoid, and what “people like me” do or do not do. Those identity stories quietly shape whether learners engage, resist, practice, or retreat back to old habits.

In this Behavioral Science SIG session, we will explore the power of identity-based learning: how self-concept, belonging, labels, confidence, and personal narrative influence behavior change. Instead of designing learning only around what people need to know or do, we will look at how trainers, coaches, and instructional designers can help learners shift the story behind the behavior.

Participants will learn how to recognize identity language, reduce identity threat, and design learning experiences that help people become the kind of leader, teammate, communicator, or professional they are trying to grow into. This session will move beyond skill-building and into one of the deeper questions of development: “Who am I becoming through this learning?”

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain how identity and self-concept influence learning, resistance, and behavior change.
• Recognize identity-based language that may support or block growth.
• Design learning experiences that reinforce new behaviors through small, visible wins.
• Use reframing strategies that help learners see change as an evolution of who they are, not a threat to who they have been.

Jay's Bio

Jay Johnson works with people and organizations to empower teams, grow profits, and elevate leadership. He is a Co-Founder of Behavioral Elements®, a two-time TEDx speaker, and a designated Master Trainer by the Association for Talent Development. With a focus on behavioral intelligence, Jay has delivered transformational workshops to accelerate high-performance teams and cultures in more than 30 countries across four continents.

For more information about the ID SIG or the upcoming Meet-up, contact SIG Organizer Jay Johnson at jay@behavioralelements.com 

Note: SIGs are an exclusive member benefit for ATD Detroit and other local ATD chapter members. 

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What's a SIG?

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are small groups of members who share an affinity for a particular aspect of Talent Development. Whether it's a specific approach, a certain skill, or a common role in the industry, a SIG helps bring chapter members together to share in an interest.  

Anyone can start a SIG - all it takes is a shared interest and a meeting place! To learn more, contact the Chapter President, president@detroitatd.org.