Tyneside develops online system for generating a personal development plan
Alison Bell and Roger Candy of North Tyneside College have been in touch with TrainingZONE to tell us of their online system for creating a Personal Development Plan, aimed specifically at the small and medium sized enterprise manager in their area.“We have set up an ESF funded web site to provide online Development Needs Analysis […]
Management advice from Jesus, Atilla the Hun and Don Corleone….
Last weeks Personnel Today magazine carried a lighthearted look at management books. By all accounts, to gain gravitas in the world of management theorising, the best thing to do is to die, leaving behind a portfolio of revered management theory.Personnel Today cites the likes of Attilla the Hun (Victory Secrets of Attilla the Hun, Wess […]
New virus warning for HR people
Extract from the recruitment page on hr-today.comBy Barbara Ling Remember a few weeks ago when the Love Bug was sent inadvertently all over the Internet? It was a supreme example of human manipulation (the title, I LOVE YOU, apparently struck a chord in many of the recipients, lulling them into a false sense of security), […]
Harvard ManageMentor resources for managers
Xebec-McGraw Hill have recently published a series of 24 online ‘Management Mentor’ resources covering such topics as Assessing Performance, Leading a Team, Negotiating, Coaching and Working with a Virtual Team.The resources are meant to be ‘immediately available’ but we were disappointed at the absence of an obvious pay-per-view facility on the page which would enable […]
Useful comments for appraisers who are short of words!
USA-based Zigon Performance Group have some interesting suggestions recommended for that section on evaluation/appraisal forms set aside for additional comments which is often left blank.You might like to try using the following:‘this young lady has delusions of adequacy’‘works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap’‘some drink from the fountain […]
Increased emphasis on management training reaps benefits
A survey published by the Institute of Management suggests that more UK managers than ever are taking part in both formal training courses and informal learning, and that this is having a positive effect on financial performance of organisations.Achieving Management Excellence follows up research undertaken in 1996 and 1994, which aimed to assess progress made […]
Has casual dressing gone too far?
‘Dressing down’ at work is a popular inducement when recruiting and retaining staff. But a growing number of employees are taking dress-down Friday a bit too literally, according to a recent survey of executives.While the majority (55%) of those polled said they feel employees dress appropriately on relaxed attire days, 39% of managers believe workers […]
Corporate bonding or corporate humiliation?
Would you care to risk a fine of £275,000? Hardly. So perhaps it’s time for a close and thoughtful look at the kinds of activity some companies force their employees to undertake in the name of “corporate bonding” or “team building”.A few weeks ago, such an exercise went badly wrong. In a bout of mock […]
LearnCom, Inc. launches new e-learning business
As companies search for more cost-effective solutions for delivering training to their global workforces, LearnCom, Inc. has announced the launch of its newest business and the first e-learning course, Jack Cade’s Nightmare. LearnCom, Inc.’s business units, including BNA Communications, have been providing human resource, management and safety training courseware, workshops and consulting for more than […]
`The art of getting things done’
In the June edition of Fast Company magazine, USA-based adviser and coach Larry Smith advises on `the art of getting things done’.Smith outlines six stumbling blocks to be overcome in order for an idea to be taken through to its conclusion:1. The idea may be great, but often it can’t be actioned.“Often, managers don’t stop […]
‘Learning from without’
From the MCB University Press ‘Action Learner’ column today:Members of the National Society for Quality through Teamwork (NSQT) who operate in the Eastern region of the UK met last week to explore the theme “we learn from without not from within”. Among points that emerged: – if you look at the normal problem solving tools […]
Interview techniques – is this the way forward?
Everyone has a favourite way of interviewing, but few have yet adopted the approach favoured by Ali G. This humourous WebWatch sighting was recently brought to our attention, and for connoisseurs of the art of interviewing, it deserves close study!Ali G decides it’s time to learn how the venture capital market works and reports verbatim […]
Outsourcing a full HR function
HR-dept.com, founded last year, is an interesting example of how HR services can be provided from outside the organisation. The list of “products” seems to cover every aspect, all provided through secure websites and entirely tailored to the client’s requirements. Worth a look… but bear in mind that it’s Canada-based so the legal (and some […]
‘Easing e-mail’
EASING E-MAIL By: Dr Donald E. WetmoreIt’s interesting. Technology is often heralded as a servant for us yet frequently we become a servant to it. E-mail was trumpeted as the new communications tool that would surely put first class “snail mail” out of business. Last year, the U. S. Post Office delivered more pieces of […]
‘All together now’ for Beatles-themed teamwork training
Liverpool-based Maverick Training have come up with a novel approach to team working training – ‘with a little help from their friends’ at the Cavern Club.The Beatles are being used as a role model in a new training programme based around their phenomenal success. The programme will draw on Beatles-related examples to examine topics such […]
Work perks – the US leads the way again…
“Whilst the nineties were synonymous with down-sizing and an overall reduction in employee benefits, the buoyant economy is leading to a return to work perks to help attract and retain quality staff. This is becoming increasingly important to the bottom line as the cost of recruiting and training new staff escalates. And from HR-today: “As […]
360 degree feedback
Proceedings from the TrainingZONE Online workshop run here on 18 April, and led by experienced tutor, Andie Reeves:-Andie Reeves: Hello – I’m Andie Hemming, Management Development Consultant. Our subject for today’s workshop is ‘Using 360 degree feedback in personal development’. 360 degree feedback is a process by which an individual gets feedback on their performance […]
IIP launches new Standard
After a lengthy period of consultation, Investors in People have re-launched their Standard in an effort to make it more user-friendly, more up-to-date, and more distanced from government.The new standard adopts a much simpler form, which should make it easier to understand. The 12 indicators to be met are grouped within the three areas of […]
Poor performers at work – workshop report
Report from the TrainingZONE online workshop on the issue of Poor Performers at Work held here on 11 April and led by Penny Sharland, a management consultant with the Framework network:-penny sharland: Hi. I’m Penny Sharland – the workshop leader for today. Our subject is managing poor performers. I’m a feelance management consultant working in […]
Best practice leadership development, coaching and mentoring case studies
The Linkage website has prepared two highly detailed and exceptional case studies from its best practice handbooks for your purchase. These case studies based on Motorola and Dow Corning follow the essential ‘phased approach’ for the successful design, implementation and evaluation of a best practice leadership development and/or coaching and mentoring program. They cover:1. Business […]