Time for a new approach to learning in business?Over the years I have looked at a number of books, blogs and articles and in various LinkedIn groups to do with training and developing people. Many of these are about management, leadership and developing people for the future.There seems to be a common theme.... new ways of doing things. A reinforcement of the message that the old ways did not get what you wanted. Here is a new, improved and better way. A new and shiny approach if you … [Read more...] about Why training fails – time for a new approach?
Game based learning vs gamification
Game based learning and gamification are the same thing? Right?No.Whilst they are based on the same origins, they are very different things. So what is Game based learning vs gamification ? Some basic definitions to get us started: Gamification definition: “Gamification takes game elements (such as points, badges, leaderboards, competition, achievements) and applies them to a non-game setting. It has the potential to turn routine, mundane tasks into refreshing, motivating … [Read more...] about Game based learning vs gamification
Business Value Realization – BVR
What is business value realization? Several sources define value realization as: “The value extracted from a process or project shown over time” A demand of businesses is the ability for organizations to generate more ‘value add’ from existing products, processes and customers. Different disciplines have in the past used different language to mean value realisation in one flavour or another. This can be seen to include the term “evaluation” in Learning and Development, ROI in capital terms. … [Read more...] about Business Value Realization – BVR
Recruiting and engaging volunteers what is your strategy
Recruiting and engaging volunteers is one thing, but how do you retain them once they are through the door and completed basic training? Having a wide diversity of volunteers brings a community and richness that adds value beyond words.For organisations that rely on volunteers, recruiting and engaging those volunteers becomes a key performance indicator for that 'business'. I say business because any organisation set up to provide services must be solvent, and that means making a profit or … [Read more...] about Recruiting and engaging volunteers what is your strategy
Why change initiatives fail to deliver
Why do change initiatives fail to deliver the expected results?It does not matter how many books you have read or how many change management projects you have been involved in. Some are successful. Some change initiatives fail. The real question is, can we identify failure early before any damage is done? And what can we do to reduce our change initiative from failing? What does research say about change initiatives failing? The HBR claims that 70% of change initiatives fail, Gallup claim … [Read more...] about Why change initiatives fail to deliver
Is training the solution? Performance Analysis Quadrant (PAQ) tool
When the performance of an individual or team is being questioned, often the first solution tried is training. But is this right? Does the approach of "train them to get better performance" hold up? Or has it been this approach which has caused the value of training to diminish in the eyes of many in business?One tool which can help us identify the appropriate solution is known as the Performance Analysis Quadrant. This should be a standard tool in the toolbox of every organizational … [Read more...] about Is training the solution? Performance Analysis Quadrant (PAQ) tool
Giving and Checking Job References
On one of the Human Resources (HR) groups I participate in online a recent question was asked: What are your views on giving job references? HR managers gave a number of comments around the difference between factual information:Job title Start & finish dates Hours worked Number or volume of sickness absenceProviding free text information on job references Many job reference requests ask for comments about attitude, performance etc. some ask referees to grade people on … [Read more...] about Giving and Checking Job References
Gamification in leadership and development
Gamification in Leading and DevelopmentGamification, the framing of an activity like a game to make it more motivating is not a new concept. The concept of gaming has been around for years – credit card companies and airline reward programs for example. (1)Gamification is not literally a game, but using game mechanics and thinking to create a game-like experience. (4) The most basic characteristics of gamification in action are: (9)Simple, recognizable cues for the next … [Read more...] about Gamification in leadership and development
Why front line customer service training fails to deliver
Cost effective customer service training Customer service training provision is often preceded by a lot of change in organizations. It’s a common situation. You have introduced a new IT system to streamline your operations. You have restructured to be as cost efficient as possible. You have implemented LEAN or other process based efficiency analysis strategies. Next step... customer service training.Many of us have seen the reduction of structured and strategic training decline over the … [Read more...] about Why front line customer service training fails to deliver
Very good to excellent – or why most customer service training fails
When it comes to customer service training, or anyone else for that matter, many people in operations and HR make a fatal mistake. They believe people “need fixing”. Over the last 10 years many organisations have reduced the level of structured training they provide. This drop in activity coincided for the majority with the financial crisis of 2007–08. Businesses looked at their costs, and due to the way much customer service training was delivered at the time and justified, it was an easy … [Read more...] about Very good to excellent – or why most customer service training fails
Primacy and Recency Effects in Learning
Recency Effect in Learning When we talk about the Primacy Effect and the Recency Effect, we are talking about the theory and application of the following: “. . . the Primacy Effect . . . you remember some things at the beginning of a list because it occurred first. There is the beginning, a long middle that blurs together, and now it is the end.” (8) The Primacy Effect is the beginning. You remember it because that is where you started. The Recency Effect is the finish. You remember the end the … [Read more...] about Primacy and Recency Effects in Learning
Freelance – Five Golden Rules to Consider as a Consultant
Thinking of going freelance as a consultant? I spend a lot of my marketing time on the LinkedIn platform. I find the groups particularly valuable. Today I commented on a group discussion, and it led me to thinking about the golden rules for freelancing or consulting. As an experienced business adviser and a freelance consultant. I consider five key golden rules for freelance success to be: 1) - never more than 20% or your turnover from one client (its too dangerous & not sustainable) 2) … [Read more...] about Freelance – Five Golden Rules to Consider as a Consultant
Have you just wasted your entire learning or training budget on a learning Library?
One of the great ways to develop your staff is to have a learning portal, or learning academy site. A resource which contains lots of information and self-development activities for leaders, coaches and change agents in business. These learning libraries or virtual academies can be expensive to compile and maintain, so many organisations choose to buy these services for their employees. It can be a cost effective strategy for the provision of learning materials. Are Learning Library's all they … [Read more...] about Have you just wasted your entire learning or training budget on a learning Library?
Leaders cannot be nice all the time
Being a leader is not about being hard, aggressive or overly “macho”. It is about doing things through others, often for their reasons. The goal of the leader is to get things done on the journey to a set destination. Of course often the leader is setting the destination, other times it is set by another leader in the business and we need to deliver our elements in our own way.Individuals cannot have their own way all the time When one of the team is used to getting their view accepted all … [Read more...] about Leaders cannot be nice all the time
The best training should always be led by your manager
Being a manager is a journey, from our first days as team leader or supervisor through middle and senior roles to director level. The more senior we become, the more of our time should be spend on developing our people. It is easy when we get promoted to keep doing the things we used to do, but as we can see from the graphic below, we should be spending time on our people not just “doing things”. As a team leader we start to take on people development activities, and as we progress, we do less … [Read more...] about The best training should always be led by your manager
The Ultimate Benchmarking Tool?
Benchmarking is talked about in many industries and for many it is seen as necessary but expensive. Last week I came across an open source concept for benchmarking which has a lot of opportunities for organizations of all sizes. The ultimate question a single measure for business growth? History In 2006 author Fried Reichheld published a book – The Ultimate Question (The Ultimate Question 2.0 (Revised and Expanded Edition): How Net Promoter Companies Thrive in a Customer-Driven World) How … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Benchmarking Tool?
Kurt Lewin Change Theory Three Step Model – unfreeze, change, freeze
The Kurt Lewin three-step model change theory, Unfreeze the current behaviours and processes, make the changes you need, then practice and freeze the new behaviours and practices into everyday actions. Introduction to the change model The Kurt Lewin, change theory model, is based around a 3-step process (Unfreeze-Change-Freeze) that provides a high-level approach to improvement. It gives a manager or other change agent a framework to implement a change effort, which is always very sensitive … [Read more...] about Kurt Lewin Change Theory Three Step Model – unfreeze, change, freeze
Social media in HR Infographic
The CIPD have recently published an infographic on the use of social media at work. The graphic is based on some research they have completed looking at our usage (or not) of these powerful collaboration tools.What is interesting to me is that 61% of employers that responded to the survey do not use any form of collaborative or social platform within the business.From experience I know that even the firms that have them are struggling to make them work, but when they are used, they … [Read more...] about Social media in HR Infographic
Why not to trust an "independent" business adviser or mentor
Is a universal or multi tool as good at performing as individual specialist tools? Convenient yes, a long term solution... no It is true that no man is an island. When starting out in business as well as running and growing your business, quite simply you cannot do it on your own. You need trusted business advisers. But there is a problem. No one is truly "independent" no matter what their beliefs of education. Once a banker... always a banker Some years ago when I was working as a specialist … [Read more...] about Why not to trust an "independent" business adviser or mentor
What is Soft Skills Training?
What is Soft Skills Training? In the past, Soft skills training and learning was used to refer to manager, leader, influencing, and other interpersonal skills. In recent years the term soft skills is being increasingly used to refer to EQ or Emotional Quotient based training and development. Can you live on Soft Skills alone? Hard skills, or technical skills are all very well on their own, but it is widely recognised that to use hard skills effectively, an individual needs finely tuned soft … [Read more...] about What is Soft Skills Training?
