What the Kirkpatrick Model Was Never Supposed to Be—and Why That Matters Now
Mon Feb 02 2026
For decades, many organizations have believed they were "doing Kirkpatrick." In reality, they were completing forms.
In this episode, we challenge one of the most persistent misconceptions in learning and performance: that the Kirkpatrick Model is a linear, post-training evaluation checklist. That version of the model may be familiar, but it was never the intent. And more importantly, it limits the impact learning can have on real performance.
The Kirkpatrick Model was designed to help organizations understand what is changing, what is not, and why. It was meant to guide inquiry, conversation, and decision-making—not validate activity after the fact. Yet over time, in the name of scalability and efficiency, the model was oversimplified. Levels became boxes. Questions became surveys. Evaluation became something we completed, not something we used.
When that happens, learning teams shift from improving performance to defending programs. We measure satisfaction instead of capability. We report outputs instead of outcomes. And we miss the very insights that would allow us to design better solutions in the first place.
In this episode, we explore what the Kirkpatrick Model was never meant to be—and how reclaiming its original intent can fundamentally change how we approach learning, leadership, and performance.
Takeaways:
Stop treating evaluation as a post-event requirement and start using it as a performance diagnostic.
Replace standardized tools with intentional questions tied to real business decisions.
Shift from validating effort to understanding behavior, environment, and results.
Recognize that discomfort in evaluation often signals where the most valuable insights live.
Use the Kirkpatrick Model as a tool for influence, not just reporting.
If you've ever felt constrained by how the Kirkpatrick Model is typically taught, this conversation will feel both clarifying and freeing.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe to the Kirkpatrick Podcast for deeper conversations on evaluation, leadership, and organizational performance.
Learn more about the Kirkpatrick Model
Watch the Show on YouTube!
Submit your Questions/Stories: Do you have a question you would like us to answer on the Kirkpatrick Podcast? Have a story about how the Kirkpatrick Podcast or other Kirkpatrick events/programs have positively impacted your career? We would love to hear from you! Follow this link to submit your questions and/or stories, and we may just share them on the next episode of the Kirkpatrick Podcast.
#KirkpatrickPodcast #LearningImpact #PerformanceImprovement #TrainingEvaluation #CultureOfEvaluation #KirkpatrickModel
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For decades, many organizations have believed they were "doing Kirkpatrick." In reality, they were completing forms. In this episode, we challenge one of the most persistent misconceptions in learning and performance: that the Kirkpatrick Model is a linear, post-training evaluation checklist. That version of the model may be familiar, but it was never the intent. And more importantly, it limits the impact learning can have on real performance. The Kirkpatrick Model was designed to help organizations understand what is changing, what is not, and why. It was meant to guide inquiry, conversation, and decision-making—not validate activity after the fact. Yet over time, in the name of scalability and efficiency, the model was oversimplified. Levels became boxes. Questions became surveys. Evaluation became something we completed, not something we used. When that happens, learning teams shift from improving performance to defending programs. We measure satisfaction instead of capability. We report outputs instead of outcomes. And we miss the very insights that would allow us to design better solutions in the first place. In this episode, we explore what the Kirkpatrick Model was never meant to be—and how reclaiming its original intent can fundamentally change how we approach learning, leadership, and performance. Takeaways: Stop treating evaluation as a post-event requirement and start using it as a performance diagnostic. Replace standardized tools with intentional questions tied to real business decisions. Shift from validating effort to understanding behavior, environment, and results. Recognize that discomfort in evaluation often signals where the most valuable insights live. Use the Kirkpatrick Model as a tool for influence, not just reporting. If you've ever felt constrained by how the Kirkpatrick Model is typically taught, this conversation will feel both clarifying and freeing. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe to the Kirkpatrick Podcast for deeper conversations on evaluation, leadership, and organizational performance. Learn more about the Kirkpatrick Model Watch the Show on YouTube! Submit your Questions/Stories: Do you have a question you would like us to answer on the Kirkpatrick Podcast? Have a story about how the Kirkpatrick Podcast or other Kirkpatrick events/programs have positively impacted your career? We would love to hear from you! Follow this link to submit your questions and/or stories, and we may just share them on the next episode of the Kirkpatrick Podcast. #KirkpatrickPodcast #LearningImpact #PerformanceImprovement #TrainingEvaluation #CultureOfEvaluation #KirkpatrickModel