‘The New Alchemists’ by Charles Handy
Charles Handy’s new book ‘The New Alchemists’ (Hutchinson, £16-99) will be published on 7 October. It is a fascinating study of 29 London based ‘alchemists’ who have, in their different ways, made something out of nothing; they have turned metaphorical base metal into gold. (They aren’t all rich so, sometimes, the gold is metaphorical too!) […]
Is time management training a waste of time?
Time management courses are everywhere. But how many of them really achieve the objectives – greater productivity, better control of work and reduced stress? New research reported in The Observer on 26 September suggests that much TM training fails because it does not address one crucial factor: “time awareness”.Naturally good time managers seem to have […]
Internet access policies
Many organisations are looking for guidance on permissible Internet usage by their staff – it’s a question that comes up frequently on the discussion lists. Websense Inc. of California now have sample policies available for download for anyone interested in developing Internet guidelines to protect their company and its assets. These are standard policies that […]
‘The Learning/Induction/Appraisal Organiser’ series from Gower
The Learning Organiser. Mike Tilling. Gower, 1999. A4 ringbinder, 339 pages, £150. ISBN 0 566 08156 3The Induction Organiser. Mike Tilling. Gower, 1999. A4 ringbinder, 276 pages, £140. ISBN 0 566 08229 2The Appraisal Organiser. Mike Tilling and Mary Birch. Gower, 1999. A4 ringbinder of 305 pages and two A4 softback wirebound binders of 73 […]
What really is ‘Knowledge Management’?
I kept hearing about this ‘Knowledge Management’ and how every trainer should make sure they are up to it. I went to the link in the last issue of LeaningWire and downloaded a copy of ‘Intellectual Capital and You’ by Jack Gordon. I have not read such a load of gobbledy gook as that for […]
Self-managing teams
From an article on the HRzone website:“Researchers found that a manager’s attitude about teams is even more important to creating self-managing teams than the first line supervisor’s attitude and that problem solving teams thrive on adversity.”To continue reading the article, click From an article on the HRzone website:”Researchers found that a manager’s attitude about teams […]
‘Work This Way’ by Bruce Tulgan
Work This WayBruce TulganCapstone Publishing, 1998, paperback 199 pages £12.99ISBN 1-900961-563This is Tulgan’s follow up to Managing Generation X and the trendy cover design makes sure we know the target audience – 20 to 30 year olds. The back page announces in the form of a memo that: “It’s all over. All of it. Not […]
Priority Management
Priority Management is a worldwide training franchise organization providing tools, techniques and training solutions to enhance productivity. Their training takes place around the world through a network of over 250 locally owned and operated training centers. All Priority Management programs are delivered by certified facilitators who are acknowledged experts in the field of productivity. The company […]
Bad manners lead to ‘office rage’
Rudeness and lack of consideration at work are, it appears, on the increase. And according to a report from staff agency Office Angels, people are becoming increasingly upset and stressed by colleagues’ bad habits.From a survey of some 1000 workers, the report suggests that “British manners” vanish as the working day starts. Colleagues who don’t […]
Skills of self-employed are valuable for employees too
Statistics confirm that self-employed people display a stronger set of work skills that helps them achieve more. That’s the claim in a new study from the USA, “How to Get Everything Done (And Still Have a Life)” by CharlesMallory. He advises: Pass these tips on at your next training session or employee meeting, and watch […]
Desks reveal workers’ personalities
Headed “Of mice and mentality”, an article in The Times of 22 September explores the ways in which desk space can reflect the user’s character. According to a report by Regus, a serviced-office provider, the contents of your desk and office – from mouse mat to the presence or absence of papers and files – […]
New research shows UK bosses have a lot to learn
New Industrial Society research out today, Thursday 23 September 1999, reveals that UK employers arefailing to encourage their employees to learn new skills. The lack of enthusiasm to learn comes from the top. Only 1 in 5 (18%) say their directors act as role models for lifelong learning and a mere 1 in 10 (12%)say […]
Forum on competencies – London, 25-28 October
The 4th International Competency Conference is described by the organisers as “an ideal learning opportunity for your entire project team”. Most organisations have an overall objective of creating an integrated competency-based HR system. Past attenders have attested to the value of bringing cross-functional teams with representatives from human resources, OD and the line. This programme […]
‘The Ultimate Business Library: 50 Books that Made Management’ by Stuart Crainer
The Ultimate Business Library: 50 Books that Made Management (1998)Stuart Crainer with commentary by Gary HamelCapstone Publishing LimitedOxford Centre for InnovationMill StreetOxford, UKOX2 OJX Visit Capstone’s home page on http://www.bookshop.co.uk/capstone/to contact the author directly or to order books.ISBN 2-900961-38-5The publishers of this natty compendium claim to be ‘an electronic clearing house for pioneering business thinking, […]
The truth about ‘teams’
A spotlight article in the current issue of the-shelf’s online magazine asks whether teams are really as effective and useful as we might believe. Read it online at: A spotlight article in the current issue of the-shelf’s online magazine asks whether teams are really as effective and useful as we might believe. Read it online […]
European Mentoring Conference, Cambridge, November
AMED, The European Mentoring Centre and Hertfordshire TEC presentThe 6th European Mentoring Conference, 25 – 26 November 1999Robinson College, Cambridge – Executive CentreThis is one of the most engaging learning events in the development calendar. The rich mixture of researchers, corporate and public sector mentoring scheme managers, and professional and voluntary mentors make this conference […]
‘Managing Virtual Teams’ by Sarah Cook
Managing Virtual TeamsSarah CookEchelon Learning Ltd., 1999. A4 ringbinder, £179. ISBN1901600 04 1This is a resource pack by LearningMatters which runs the activity information/purchase facility on the Internet extending a collection of activities into a full resource for trainers. The pack consist of two elements; 30 activities that are concerned with the skills required in […]
Anyone know ‘The Plane Game’ team activity?
Can anyone tell me the source for or supply me with instructions for “The Plane Game” a training game involving teams designing, testing and building paper planes. I used this game some years ago and would like to be able to use it with some colleagues however I have been unable to track down a […]
Facilitator for team development event
SIFT plc, the leading developer of online virtual communities, seeks a highly skilled facilitator to design and deliver a 24 hour residential team development event for its staff. Its leading products include TrainingZone, AccountingWeb, BusinessZone, EUbusiness, TravelMole, LawZone and a range of web-based technology applications.In three years, SIFT has grown from a small core to […]
‘Setting Objectives and Seeing them Through’ review
Setting Objectives and Seeing them Through. Beverley Williams. Fenman, 1999. A4 ringbinder, £195 plus carriage. ISBN 1 872483 75 5The trend for activity collections seems now to be a concentration on a specific subject in each collection rather than the more general, wider application activities of yesteryear. This collection by an experienced and skilled consultant […]