Learning and development strategy, not again!
The topic of this post reflects how I feel about writing on the subject of learning and development strategy, not because so much has already been written about it, but about how disappointed I am with myself. A couple of years ago I started writing a series of posts about this subject, but never completed […]
3 ways to increase the quality of sales training
When salespeople finish employee onboarding and enter the field, mistakes will be made – that’s a given. While these mistakes are part of the overall learning process, training that is effective and efficient can help those individuals address and learn from those mistakes in a timely manner. So how can we organize training that helps […]
L&D and Google: searching for success?
Robin Hoyle is a writer, trainer and consultant. He is the author of Complete Training: from recruitment to retirement and Informal Learning in Organizations; how to create a continuous learning culture both published by Kogan Page. For 13 years, Towards Maturity has been comparing the performance of those they describe as ‘Top Deck’ learning organisations with other employers who may […]
The Road to Innovation, or bust
One of the great things about Christmas is the reappearance on the TV of all those old films which you first enjoyed as a child. The Sound of Music, The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery, Monty Carlo or Bust; whatever your personal favourites, the chances are that a bit of channel hopping will bring at […]
Do sweets help evaluate training?
One wet Friday I delivered an interpersonal skills training course. The manager who hired me popped into the training room at 5pm whilst I was clearing down and said: “Bryan, good job done. I’ve just had a quick word with some of the participants and they were over the moon about the training. They really enjoyed it and loved […]
Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed – book review
This is an excellent, highly readable, book with much relevance for those engaged in management learning. The key message is that ‘Black Box Thinkers’ are not afraid to face up to their mistakes. In fact, they see failure as the very best way to learn. The book begins with a tragic story of how a 37 […]
How much information do we need to know in advance about our learners?
This was the question from @LndConnect during one of their #ldinsight discussions on Twitter. An excellent question that encouraged a great debate from all angles. Sadly, I could not participate fully due to a meeting, but it certainly got me thinking enough to write this article! My first thought was, “Enough information so that whatever the […]
Coaching for leadership – how to make it work
What are the building blocks for confident, focussed and trusted leadership? This series, 'Building great leadership' covers everything you need to know, from identifying and developing leaders, to giving effective feedback and measuring success. When does the leadership journey start? Is there some sort of magic mirror that we pass through on our way from […]
Giving feedback to promote confidence and learning
What are the building blocks for confident, focussed and trusted leadership? This series, 'Building great leadership' covers everything you need to know, from identifying and developing leaders, to giving effective feedback and measuring success. “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Aristotle’s words may be a wake-up […]
Measuring leadership: how can we do it effectively?
What are the building blocks for confident, focussed and trusted leadership? This series covers everything you need to know, from identifying and developing leaders, to giving effective feedback and measuring success. How do you measure leadership? Analysts may look at purely financial outcomes or the longevity of a company. Marketeers may instead concentrate on strength […]
How to Invest in Training like Team GB
At the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Team GB finished 36th in the medals table, between Ethiopia and Belarus. Twenty years later, and Team GB arrive back from Rio having finished 2nd in the medals table – behind only the USA. The extent and rate of the change has been remarkable. The athletic talent […]
Training budgets for employees
Hi all, I am currently developing a training budget protocol. We want to provide every employee from a certain level a individual training budget. I am not sure how this is working in other companies, but I am curious to know a few things: 1. What would be the requirements for an employee to get […]
Your strangest piece of course feedback
Have you ever received some odd feedback following the delivery of one on your courses? I mean, you've tried your utmost to pander to every learning style. You've kept the programme fun and interactive. You've recognised when your audience are "glazing over" and changed the pace. Your evaluation form attempts to capture quality information and […]
“The Smiling Assassin”
You've had an amazing day's training. All your fears, doubts and apprehension around whether the session would go well are unfounded. Fifteen happy learners, fully engaged. They've loved the content, enjoyed the activities and even laughed at your jokes! Fifteen happy learners filling out evaluation forms – or so you thought! <Cue scary laughter> You […]
Evaluating sales training with Brinkerhoff’s Success Case Method
If you've been involved in commissioning or delivering training programmes, then you will hopefully have thought about their evaluation. Has the training made a difference? Did the participants find it useful? Did they learn anything? What was the return on investment (ROI)? When we evaluate training solutions we have to do more than answer the […]
Merging cultures
Why do so many seemingly rock solid mergers end in failure? Did the figures simply not stack up or were identified synergies simply not there to be had. Perhaps the merger was a last ditch attempt to recapture the market which had already moved beyond reach or maybe what looked like a good fit turned […]
Setting clear goals
What do you hope the outcome of your training programme will be? Are you just going through the motions, ticking the boxes in order to fulfil some kind of internal agenda; or do you see training as the conduit through which your employees become so skilled and energised that they will transform the organisation? Pessimist […]
tighter regulations on psychotherapists
I have noticed articles both online and in newspapers arguing for tighter regulation of therapists. As we all know anyone can sign up for a few courses, read a few choice books and it is within the law to set up shop as a psychotherapist for example. I have some concerns about this due to […]
Innovation; where are we?
From join the dots to cryptic crosswords via word searches and those pictures which contain one anomalous object, it’s a rare newspaper or magazine that doesn’t contain a puzzle in some form or another. And if they aren’t to your taste then there is always the latest TV detective drama to mull over, or even […]
It’s my 25th Anniversary!
Well, well, well… It dawned on me today that I've been in the "training zone" (see what I did there?!) for 25 years. Training children, young people and adult clients – and the staff who work with them – for a quarter of a century! What is it that keeps you "hooked" about learning and development? […]
