Microlearnings - a wide variety of smaller sized learnings designed for Department of the Air Force (DAF) personnel. These learnings are categorized into four main functional areas: Civilian Development – Foundational, Communication and Connection – How to Communicate with my Boss and Others, Performance and Effectiveness – Bringing my Best Self to Work, and Artificial Intelligence. To access the Microlearning Library on the CLDS SharePoint, click HERE.
Foundational
Finding our Strengths - The "Maximizing Mission Success Through Foundational Strengths and Competencies" micro-learning is a developmental program designed to help individuals move away from a "fix what is wrong" mindset and instead focus on identifying and leveraging what is strong. The course is built on the premise that people who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged on the job and are generally less stressed, more resilient, and more confident.
Interpersonal Communication - The Interpersonal Communication micro-learning is a foundational program designed to help participants understand the complexities of human interaction by moving beyond simple message-sending to a deeper understanding of how meaning is created. It supports the AF Competency of Communication, which involves effectively presenting and prioritizing ideas through active listening and tailored messaging.
Engagement - This micro-learning, titled "Engagement- Giving 100%," is a seven-lesson, self-paced program designed to help participants find greater purpose and satisfaction in their roles. The course defines engagement as a sense of purpose derived from an employee's needs, values, and drivers, which serves to strengthen their emotional connection to the workplace.
IDP - The "Individual Development Plan (IDP): Crafting Your Path to Success" micro-learning, developed by the Civilian Leadership Development School, is a strategic guide designed to help personnel transition from viewing an IDP as a mandatory administrative task to utilizing it as a personalized roadmap for professional growth. It provides the framework for employees to align their personal career aspirations with the specific mission needs of the Department of the Air Force (DAF)
Supporting the Warfighter - DAF Civilians: Supporting the Warfighter" is designed to instill a sense of urgency and purpose in Department of the Air Force (DAF) employees by connecting their daily tasks to the broader mission of national defense. It moves beyond administrative onboarding to define the civilian's role as a vital contributor to the strategy of "Peace through Strength" within a complex global environment.
How to Communicate with Your Boss & Others
Pre-influencer - The "Pre-Influencer" micro-learning is a developmental resource designed to support the Air Force Competency of Communication. It teaches individuals how to move beyond routine complaining to take constructive action through the skill of influence, which is defined as the ability to affect the behavior of others toward a particular direction by connecting with and inspiring them. Unlike manipulation, which focuses on personal gain, the influence taught here focuses on what is best for the team.
Coaching Up - The "Coaching Up: A Guide to Professional Influence and Readiness" micro-learning is a developmental framework designed to help employees use coaching skills to engage with and influence those in positions of power. Rather than challenging authority, this approach focuses on a disciplined, professional method of communication that improves clarity, surfaces insight, and aligns individual effort with mission priorities.
Active Listening -This micro-learning is an instructional lesson focused on the AF Competency of Communication, specifically designed to help individuals transition from passive hearing to intentional, active listening. It defines active listening as the act of providing "full attention to what is being said for the primary purpose of understanding the speaker". The training is structured around four critical behaviors: paying attention, showing you are listening, checking for understanding, and responding appropriately
Empathy - This micro-learning program is a modular course designed to develop empathy as a core professional skill within the workplace, particularly for Department of the Air Force (DAF) and military personnel. The training frames empathy not as a "soft skill," but as a "data analytic tool" that provides essential insight into the motivations and needs of teammates and customers.
Building Pivotal Conversations- The "Building Pivotal Conversations" micro-learning is an instructional resource designed to help employees transition from routine work interactions to quality, authentic conversations with their leadership and peers. It serves as the final installment of a five-part series focused on "How to Communicate With Your Boss," specifically supporting the Air Force Foundational Competency of Communication. The program provides a structured framework of questions to "cut the ice" and build the necessary trust, respect, and understanding for a productive team.
Receiving Feedback Graciously - The micro-learning titled "Mastering the Art of Receiving Feedback Gracefully" is designed to help individuals transform their relationship with feedback, moving from a defensive posture to a growth mindset. It frames feedback not as a personal judgment, but as a "nudge" in the right direction that is essential for professional development and building stronger workplace relationships.
Bring your Best Self to Work
From to-do to Done - The "From To-Do to Done" micro-learning is a self-awareness program designed to help individuals understand the behavior patterns behind why they delay tasks and provide a structured plan to consistently finish them. Rather than treating procrastination as a time management failure, this training frames it as an emotion regulation problem, where people use delay as a coping mechanism for challenging moods like anxiety, insecurity, and frustration
Appreciating my co-workers - The "Appreciating My Co-workers" micro-learning is a self-paced, seven-lesson program designed to enhance the AF Competency of Communication by teaching the value and practice of sincere appreciation in the workplace. It moves beyond traditional recognition programs to focus on valuing individuals for who they are rather than just what they do.
Non-Judgement - The Non-judgment micro-learning is a developmental program focused on transitioning from automatic, hard-wired reactions to a fact-based, compassionate communication style. It supports the Air Force Foundational Competencies of Communication, Decision Making, and Information Seeking. The training frames non-judgment as a "pause on judgment," where individuals learn to identify automatic labels their brains create and replace them with objective descriptions of situations.
Assertive Communication - This micro-learning is a developmental resource focused on Assertive Communication, defined as the ability to speak up for one’s wants and needs in a clear, straightforward, and respectful way. It is grounded in the principle of balancing care for one's own needs with the needs and feelings of others. The training aims to move individuals away from being "at the mercy of others' desires" and toward a communication style that achieves win-win outcomes.
AI
Intro to AI - The micro-learning titled "Digital Wingman: AI Fundamentals for DAF Professionals" is a foundational resource designed to help Department of the Air Force (DAF) personnel transition from novice users to confident AI collaborators, It frames Artificial Intelligence not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as a "Digital Wingman" or assistant intended to augment human capabilities and automate complex processes.
Tone and Bias - The "Cognitive Tools for Effective Government Communication" micro-learning is an instructional resource designed to help government employees navigate the complexities of daily information and decision-making by understanding the internal mental processes that influence their work. It provides a framework for recognizing mental shortcuts, identifying systematic errors in thinking, and intentionally managing the attitude conveyed in professional interactions.
AI Nano Learning - The "Generative AI for the Department of War Nanolearning Series" is a ten-lesson, rapid-skill-building program designed to integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) into military operations. This training frames Generative AI (GenAI) as a highly advanced digital assistant that can synthesize vast amounts of data to enhance decision-making and operational effectiveness.