Most smaller businesses have a web presence of some kind. We have to. In 2016 it is a key part of the marketing mix. But is it secure? Would you trust a stranger with access to your bank account? Internet security for small businesses I like to think that I am security conscious. I am aware of my online security (even this site is SSL). I only grant access to my accounts with great caution. Change passwords often. Not using the same passwords in lots of different places.But today whilst … [Read more...] about Do you trust strangers with your bank account? Internet security for small businesses
Mental Health, HR and Training #HRBlog
Mental health issues impact on 1 in 4 adults. If you are not personally affected, then the chances are people around you are. Some years ago I had an interesting experience on a training course. I have mentioned this to a few people in the past but never written publicly before. Talking therapies in the workplace are on the rise. They certainly have their place, but are people aware of the dangers as well as the opportunities.Some of my readers know that I have been a long term … [Read more...] about Mental Health, HR and Training #HRBlog
Have your team leaders lost their grip? Time to train managers #hrblog
Have your team leaders lost their grip?It's a straight forward question: Have your team leaders lost their grip?Managers, most of us have one. They are not always called managers of course. Sometimes they are called supervisors, team leaders, deputy manager, leader, VP, Boss. Whatever we call them or their official job title, they are our “line manager”.We rely on them for guidance in our jobs. For support when things are not going well. For praise when things go well. For many … [Read more...] about Have your team leaders lost their grip? Time to train managers #hrblog
NATO Phonetic Alphabet – SIA & Call Centre Training
Security and customer care teams. The NATO phonetic alphabet is a requirement of the SIA training for security staff. It is highly valuable for all customer service and call centre employees How do you communicate with your customers?We have all had the call centre experience. On a phone call to a call centre and trying to make sure that the spelling of a name or address etc is correct. Then the person in the call centre starts saying things like "A for apple" or "T for tree". Great, … [Read more...] about NATO Phonetic Alphabet – SIA & Call Centre Training
Can you trust a LinkedIn profile? Will recruiters trust yours?
For many of us our LinkedIn profile is our CV or resume. Can you trust a LinkedIn profile? We need people to trust what we have on the screen. It's our sales page. Unfortunately some people seem to treat it as a game of the worst kind. Our Skills One of the features that LinkedIn have introduced is skills endorsements. These can only be given by first connections. That is people that 'know us'. They are supposed to be endorsements that we can do certain things or that we know about certain … [Read more...] about Can you trust a LinkedIn profile? Will recruiters trust yours?
Disruptive innovators – Can your organization cope?
Wanting change is one thing but can your organization cope with disruptive innovators? We often hear that businesses and organizations of all sizes crave to be more innovative. They certainly do not want to be 'out of date', and want to keep providing customers with the products and services they need. But do we really understand innovation and the costs? Do we really want innovative companies? Are we prepared to disruptive our whole industry, and put some of our cash cows to bed?There … [Read more...] about Disruptive innovators – Can your organization cope?
Leadership Competences – how effective are you?
Leadership Competence, just how effective are you in managing tasks and people? Leadership and management competencies are often used by larger organizations to identify peoples strengths and development needs. Often these frameworks are expensive and complex. One framework we have used in the past is this simple 55 item competence framework. It is based on 3 key factors:Managing yourself, Managing tasks, and Managing others.You can use this list to look at the statements, rate … [Read more...] about Leadership Competences – how effective are you?
Corporate values and behaviours – Dangers of not walking the talk #hrblog #linkedin
Corporate values or core values as some call them, have been in management texts for many years. As more and more business leaders complete education and training, so more and more firms have written value statements. But are these statements just marketing puff or is it really a tool to run a business by? Hit the self-destruct button! In this piece we look at one business that has hit the self destruct button by saying one value is important, but employees clearly have not got the … [Read more...] about Corporate values and behaviours – Dangers of not walking the talk #hrblog #linkedin
So Much Training, So Little to Show for It
So much training, so little to show for it in our organizations. Why is this often the case?Back in 2012 the Wall Street Journal published a piece looking at this. They concluded that businesses needed to do:Better training needs analysis (TNA) - not just what but who Design - what where how follow up - testing to see if people have learnt. Are they applying the new ways?Research from the The American Society for Training and Development claimed that only 10% of learning goes … [Read more...] about So Much Training, So Little to Show for It
Learning, are we evolving or regressing – Things Trainers wont tell you! #hrblog
How we learn – and making learning work for us With regards to learning are we evolving or regressingSome years ago I was asked to speak at an international conference on e-learning. What I was talking about is not relevant, but what I learnt from the keynote speaker has changed my approach to training and learning and development.The speaker concerned was Professor Heinz Wolf from Brunel University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz_Wolff). What follows is not ‘word for … [Read more...] about Learning, are we evolving or regressing – Things Trainers wont tell you! #hrblog
Training is like PPE – A lack of budget does not mean no training
We have all been there at one time or another. Budgets are tighter than expected. Often external spend is reduced to a minimum.A lack of budget should not mean training stops. It means we need to start thinking differently. Its innovation time! Attending courses are not the only way to train and develop people. Sometimes we need to focus on the end result, the learning needed and not the journey – how that knowledge of skill should be achieved.When as part of a Personal Development … [Read more...] about Training is like PPE – A lack of budget does not mean no training
Repetition – the neglected L&D tool with declining attention spans
Are our attentions spans declining? To learn new things, do we need to practice for 1000s of hours, or can we just learn in bite sized pieces? Are our attention spans declining or reducing with social media and the connected world? Can we really learn all we need in just a fw short minutes, or are we tied to investing time and resources to developing people?Lets start with a popular set of beliefs which have become popular in recent years. The 10,000 hour rule - of practice to create … [Read more...] about Repetition – the neglected L&D tool with declining attention spans
Key Performance Indicators – Sample KPI’s
Key Performance Indicators - Some Sample KPI's Human Resource Key performance Indicators - KPI examplesEmployee Development Key performance Indicators - KPI examplesFinance and Business Key performance Indicators - KPI examplesHealth and Safety Key performance Indicators - KPI examplesEnvironmental Key performance Indicators - KPI examplesKey performance Indicator - KPI overviewGo to our main Key Performance Indicator (KPI) page KPI's in action- Example Key Performance … [Read more...] about Key Performance Indicators – Sample KPI’s
If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen
Picture this scene.You are asked to be a witness in court about an unfortunate incident that happened some time ago. You believe you can recall what happened, to who and when.The date of the case arises. You are sitting on the witness bench outside the court. People are walking backwards and forwards to different parts of the building. As each person walks past you hear their footsteps echo around the large hall, heavy boots to heels, clipping. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.Every … [Read more...] about If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen
How to Build a Competency Matrix (Skills Matrix)
All businesses having competent people is important. The more competent our people, the better they perform.In safety critical environments, more than almost any other business environment, it is critical to understand who knows what. Having competency maps or competency matrices can help. What is a competency or skill? The UK based CIPD (professional body for Human Resource professional) says: Competence or competency?'Competency' and ‘competencies’ may be defined as the behaviours … [Read more...] about How to Build a Competency Matrix (Skills Matrix)
Is the 90 9 1 dead? Is this relevant in 2015 and beyond? Do people still lurk?
2015 update on 90-9-1 & 70-20-10 Is the 90-9-1 rule for online community engagement dead? Is it dead, different or a distraction? Crystal in her blog starts exploring the 90-9-1 rule based on the 2012 BBC research which suggests that 77% of people are creators. I will come back to this later. Certainly it can be a distraction if you apply the 90-9-1 with any weight. Certainly it is different, but dead..? Let's explore things a little. Setting the scene - why write this update on 90-9-1 … [Read more...] about Is the 90 9 1 dead? Is this relevant in 2015 and beyond? Do people still lurk?
From customer service training to great customer experience
Customer service excellence and customer service training is about more than just being polite!One of the challenges in many businesses today is improving “customer services”.We need to look at how organizations set up and manage their customer service teams. Often people that are customer facing are the most junior in the business. They have the least amount of job or life experience. They are often the lowest paid.Of course these are massive generalisations. But you get the … [Read more...] about From customer service training to great customer experience
Toolism – 5 management tools that are past their sell by date
Toolism - 5 management tools we rely on that are past their sell by date Unlike the food we buy in the shops which come with Sell by, Use by and Best before dates, the management tools we use come with no such context or advice. We believe the hype with which they are sold to us.What do Human Resources, Change Management, Learning & Development and Consulting have in common? All professionals in this arena rely on tools or processes. Many of these tools and processes have been around … [Read more...] about Toolism – 5 management tools that are past their sell by date
Strategic or operational business functions, is there an option?
For a long time professions such as Human Resources and Marketing have aimed to be strategic players. Often some functions are sub contracted, with the “strategic stuff” retained in house.Is this sustainable?What might be operational one day is strategic the next! IT is a great example of this.Can everything be outsourced? How do we know what can and cannot be outsourced effectively? Strategic or Operational What do Businesses need? Well they need both, operational and strategy. … [Read more...] about Strategic or operational business functions, is there an option?
Gamification to Increase Employee Motivation and Engagement
Can you really use gamification to increase employee motivation and engagement?Is gamification just the latest management fad?As organizations have become more focused on business objectives, gamification has increased because it can help the workplace become more engaging and productive.Gamification changes the rules of engagement and inspires employees to change behaviors as a result. The prediction is that by 2015, 40 percent of Global 1000 organizations will use gamification as … [Read more...] about Gamification to Increase Employee Motivation and Engagement
