In business it is not only training team members that develop training materials, but local experts and specialists.Often I hear a subject specialist say things like "we need to educate users to do things differently, it wont take long, it is only 40 slides"On its own 40 slides as a framework is not significant, but we need to look at things from the learners perspective.When using a slide deck it is not unreasonable to expect each slide to take 1 to 2 minutes to explain. So a 40 … [Read more...] about But it’s only 40 slides – a common training mistake
Name and Shame – a new leadership trend
One of the risks of promoting people into team leader and management roles without appropriate education, training and support is that they will do their own research and take the headlines from article and approaches and they risk miss-applying the approach or method.Name and shame is one such approach.Often used in projects and close knit team environments, “name and shame” is best used in association with “fame awards” as a part of long term engagement and team building. The concept … [Read more...] about Name and Shame – a new leadership trend
LinkedIn Groups, why they don’t work for you
To answer this we can gain some insight with a tale of two LinkedIn groups. But before we look at this lets have some context. You do use LinkedIn for more than just job search…. Don’t you? LinkedIn groups are often formal or informal communities focussed on a sector, industry or profession. With the right selection of LinkedIn group memberships you can keep up to date with industry news, ask and answer questions (building your credibility), make business connections and friends, as will as … [Read more...] about LinkedIn Groups, why they don’t work for you
Using keyboards reduces learning shows new study – death of the Ipad
Do you believe that taking notes using a laptop or keyboard in learning events helps you learn better? Well research published in Psychological Science suggests not. The authors Mueller and Oppenheimer conducted memory research after a self realisation that taking notes in different ways had a very different impact on recall. Long hand vs typed In the research the authors looks at how people took notes and compared those that used a laptop and types notes, and those that wrote their notes in … [Read more...] about Using keyboards reduces learning shows new study – death of the Ipad
Macro, Micro and Global approaches to learning using the 70-20-10 model – have we got it wrong?
In the move from training activity being classroom centric to a more balanced approach, much has been written about the 70-20-10 approach to learning and development, but have we thrown out the baby with the bath water?Let’s get some common understanding: 70-20-10 70 percent of learning should happen on the job – macro – step by step, words in a sentence if you like20 percent of learning should be from coaching – micro – the role, paragraphs if you like10 percent of learning should … [Read more...] about Macro, Micro and Global approaches to learning using the 70-20-10 model – have we got it wrong?
Who owns training in your organization?
This is a perennial question, and from time to time the ownership and drive moves from one area to another. As a Training Manager I have operated within HR and Operations. And without doubt the best impact comes when Operations owns and indeed demands training.This does not mean to say that HR or a Training function should not be involved in the process, and could help to develop standards and help operations look to the long term, not just a "quick fix". Why in operations? When operations … [Read more...] about Who owns training in your organization?
30 Behaviours for Effective Learning
Using researched based learning and instructional design Based on research from the fields of cognitive science and neuroscience, Ewell* suggests that there are 30 behaviours which when adopted lead to effective learning. For those of us responsible for workplace learning and development activity, we should consider these behaviours and build our development strategies towards harnessing them in our learning and instructional design. Whether we use the outdated 70:20:10 or the 3-33, there … [Read more...] about 30 Behaviours for Effective Learning
Motivating difficult trainees during training
It is said there is no such thing as a “difficult trainee”, just the unknown and our reactions to that. Not everyone is like a spring lamb or an inquisitive 3 year old! We have all been there, seen it and done it before, indeed many have the T-Shirt. Often, when things are new and we believe passionately about it, on occasions we can seem a “little” too over enthusiastic. J This can happen in your training too. As trainers we can appear to be “too full on” or almost as a disciple for the … [Read more...] about Motivating difficult trainees during training
70:20:10 – has the model had its day?
The 70:20:10 model was developed by Michael Lombardo and Robert Eichinger whilst at the Center for Creative Leadership in 2000. Jay Cross says that “The 70-20-10 model is more prescriptive. It builds upon how people internalize and apply what they learn based on how they acquire the knowledge.” The 70:20:10 in context Based upon research that took place in the 1980s and 1990s, the 70:20:10 was the summary of activities in the process of developing leadership (then management) skills. In the … [Read more...] about 70:20:10 – has the model had its day?
What is the difference between community managers and sports referees? #cmgr
What is the difference between community managers and sports referees?.....About $200,000....Some of the readers of my blog know that I also moderate and manage a small number of communities. This week has culminated in me reluctantly removing some members from one group. This action, along with the run-up of events has caused me to reflect on the role, and how group members perceive it. What makes a "community"? There are several definitions, including: the condition of sharing or having … [Read more...] about What is the difference between community managers and sports referees? #cmgr
Feedback Sandwich Technique or How not to give feedback, Sh*t Sandwich
Feedback Sandwich Technique What is the feedback sandwich technique, and its relevance in the workplace today?This morning while looking up some policies for an organization I do some work with I discovered an interesting set of "visual aids" for training trainers.This method has also been given in training in the past to managers in many, many organizations around the world.The actual wording on the visual aid was: Giving feedback- KISSStart with a positive response - … [Read more...] about Feedback Sandwich Technique or How not to give feedback, Sh*t Sandwich
The Role of Social Collaboration in Knowledge & Document Management #socialbiz
Social business is a real buzzword, but what does it mean, and will it impact your business or organization? In organizations there is often confusion between terms such as Knowledge Management, Document Management, Social networking or communications (Lync, Yammer etc) and more recently Social Business or Social Collaboration. Whilst preparing for a presentation on using Social business tools, I came across this excellent blog … [Read more...] about The Role of Social Collaboration in Knowledge & Document Management #socialbiz
Breaking News… It’s Performance Review Time
Appraisals.. I thought it time I mentioned... In thousands of companies around the world its performance review and appraisal time again. That annual ritual where the objectives are often dig out deep from in a draw, the dust blown off, and the one-to-one meeting held to review recent history. Strange…but true... There is something strange about most performance reviews or appraisals, no matter how well you know your boss or team member there is a certain nervousness or anticipation about the … [Read more...] about Breaking News… It’s Performance Review Time
70:20:10 an effective learning strategy?
In recent years the 70:20:10 approach to workplace learning has become increasingly popular. But is it about more than just blending on and off the job training?Common descriptions say that it is 70% on the job, 20% coaching and 10% from courses, but is that really the case? And is it a universal tool? History of the model The 70:20;10 model is usually credited with developing or popularizing this approach were Morgan McCall and his colleagues working at the Center for Creative Leadership … [Read more...] about 70:20:10 an effective learning strategy?
If you think training is expensive
"“If you think training is expensive, try ignorance”. Peter Drucker" Training can be in many forms, on-the-job, off-the-job etc. But not doing that training can have costs that as a manager and business we could be paying for many years. For example, if you have a small team, having one person trained to help and support people, may be all that is needed. But what happens when that person is sick or worse, they leave! How do you train your people then? If you do not train, then using systems … [Read more...] about If you think training is expensive
Aligning HR to the Organization
We have a perception problem in HR the world over. We are often seen as the function internally that is used to “outsource” the hiring and firing of people from the operations side of the business. Some would say doing the dirty work of managers. Human Resources is supposed to add value to an organization. Sure undertaking tasks that one manager may not do very often can help improve consistency, but it's about much more than that. If a manager hires their own people, they have a vested … [Read more...] about Aligning HR to the Organization
Crowdsourcing, risk and the new rules required
or what to do when crowdfunding goes wrong?If anyone has seen the news over the last 12 months, there has been a raise in a new phenomenon – crowd sourcing. This is where the power of the crowd is used to help fund projects, that often conventional funding would not support, or for people without the connections to conventional funding. Definition of CROWDSOURCING : the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of … [Read more...] about Crowdsourcing, risk and the new rules required
Tip for Trainers – a recent compendium #trainingtip
Over the last few months I have been putting short tips for trainers up on twitter, I thought it was about time I collated them here. Not in any particular order, there I hope will provide some reflection in your training practice: #trainingtip Tips to be a more effective trainer http://sfy.co/tJPn #storify #trainingtip #greatlearning #trainingtip when covering technical material:regularly stop, ask specific questions to named participants to confirm understanding #trainingtip … [Read more...] about Tip for Trainers – a recent compendium #trainingtip
They’ll Eat Out of Your Hand – Book Review #Leadership
They'll Eat Out of Your Hand If You Know What to Feed Them, is a new book by Dr. Laura Hills This book looks at what the author says are the "30 Essential Communication Skills that Give Highly Successful Career Professionals Their Edge". Split in to six parts, following a 6 point communications mode, Hills provides a well documented journey for developing professionals. Taking a holistic approach Hills takes the reader on a journey through not just one area of communications skills, but and … [Read more...] about They’ll Eat Out of Your Hand – Book Review #Leadership
Leadership – reality or smoke and mirrors?
Leadership does it exist in the way HR and business aspires, or is it just smoke and mirrors? Let me start by saying that I do believe that leadership is different from management. That there are many Leaders in the world, and they make a big difference to people around them. That in almost every business and organization there are undoubtedly leaders... jut not where business owners, shareholders, HR and others expect them. What do I mean? In politics and public life there are leaders, … [Read more...] about Leadership – reality or smoke and mirrors?
