In focus: Research, reports and publications
Each month Dr Andrew Dean of the Marchmont Observatory summarises the research, reports and publications that are shaping the field of learning. September’s round-up includes developing a dialogue on skills in the workplace, benefits of elearning, science skills and Facebook. It’s time to talk training: how to develop a dialogue on skills at the workplace […]
Ten tips for everyday leadership
It’s not the qualifications, the distinguished CV or the title that makes the leader, but what they do every day. David Kesby sets out the ten behaviours of a wise manager. Leadership is an aspiration. To be a leader is a mark of merit – not just a job title. Leaders are all around us. […]
A week in training: L&D budget fears
This week, as shock-waves from the collapse of the Lehman Brothers and the take over of Merrill Lynch are felt in the UK, learning professionals in all industries fear the cuts about to hit their departments. There’s also an inquiry into apprenticeships, a CBI task force on higher education, new downloadable resources and a round […]
Stuck in the middle
Sandwiched between those starting out on the first rungs of management and those at the top of the ladder, it’s easy for middle managers to loose out when it comes to development. In this article Andrew Clayson argues that ignoring the training needs of this often over-looked group could cost a company dear. Ensuring middle […]
Agenda: Cutting it
Cuts seem common parlance in these credit crunch days, so how can training professionals make sure that they are not victims of the economic downturn? Mike Morrison argues that targeted training and development that delivers the skills employers need is now more valuable than ever. Where ever you look in the training and HR press […]
A week in training: Apprenticeships, awards and the credit crunch
This week’s round up of training news includes a wage rise for apprentices, positive noises about Time to Train proposals and a round up of industry awards. ApprenticeshipsThe minimum wage for apprentices is set to rise by £15 to £95 next year, Skills Secretary John Denham anounced this week. The rise, set to affect 10% […]
Agenda: Charm and charisma in the race for the White House
Leadership races don’t come much bigger than the US president elections. With both Republicans and Democrats heading into the ring with a mixture of hard-won experience and fresh-faced enthusiasm, leadership expert John Fay assesses the contenders and decides who gets his vote. John McCain’s main criticism of Barak Obama throughout this election campaign has been […]
Spotlight: We shine the light this week on Jean Llewellyn
Jean Llewellyn, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, talks to TrainingZone.co.uk about her 10-year career break to raise a family, which helped to motivate her when she returned to work, and the great advice that her father gave her that continues to inspire her. Name: Jean LlewellynAge: 51 Job title: Chief executive […]
Troublesome talent… is it worth it?
Should you develop the wilfully independent, the hugely talented but difficult to manage maverick, and if so, how? Loved by customers, they may complete their work with ease… but leave enormous problems for other colleagues in their wake. So can managers, whose patience may be worn very thin, ever tame these tigers? Judith Germain has […]
Comment: Stop beating up the public sector
It’s easy to knock the public sector for poor leadership, development and a lack of encouragement for talent and innovation, says Nigel Paine. But before you start throwing stones, make sure your own house is in order first. Virtually all the headlines about training innovation appear to come from the private sector. A scan of […]
Generation Y ‘need management training’
Younger employees are likely to be in need of management training, according to new research.A study from Talent Q reveals that people born after 1980 – Generation Y – can struggle with organisation in the workplace and need support from their employers to gain any career development.However, the study found that staff from Generation Y […]
Developing leadership skills
In times of economic turbulence, strong leadership is vital. John Fay advises how leaders can boost their skills with effective training. Leadership is key to how an organisation and its staff operate but even at the highest level, leaders can always benefit from additional training to boost their business and personal skills. Those at the […]
How to: Stop fear getting in the way of speaking in public
Did you know that more people are scared of speaking in public than are afraid of dying? If you’re one of them, don’t worry, with these 10 tips you’ll soon have them eating out of your hand, giving you a standing ovation and demanding an encore. It’s true – standing up and speaking in public […]
Dragon backs entrepreneurial degree
Dragons Den celebrity and retail millionaire Theo Paphitis is lending his support to a new degree aimed at budding entrrepreneurs.Huddersfield University’s new BA Honours degree in Enterprise Development has been designed to help young entrepreneurs start and run their own business whilst studying for a degree. Over the three-year period of their studies they will […]
Trainer’s tip: Match, pace and lead exercise
This quick pairs’ exercise, from Barbara Babcock, reinforces matching and pacing and demonstrates the effects of mis-matching on rapport building. It’s done in two parts:For the first two minutes person A talks about something they are passionate about (or a previous holiday etc) for two minutes. Person B listens attentively and matches and paces Person […]
Testing questions for presidential hopefuls
While America’s prospective 44th presidents have spent upwards of half a billion dollars trying to make the case that they alone are worthy of votes, Ken Blanchard Companies contend that little is known about their leadership credentials. Along with The Centre for Public Leadership (CPL) at Harvard Kennedy School, the company asked 200 leadership academics, […]
News round-up: A-levels, skills plan and birthday congratulations
Lost somewhere in a pile of dirty nappies and sleep-deprivation I was sad not to be here for TrainingZone’s 10th birthday, but I was cheered on to find out that this site is not the only L&D institution to hit double figures this year. The Training Foundation (I know it was officially last month, but […]
Born to lead?
As much as training can develop the skills of the business person, research this week shows a number of traits that entrepreneurs often have in common.According to the study, by Alliance and Leceister Commercial Bank, six in ten (60%) business owners are the first born child, while more than four in five (85%) have one […]
Can managers become coaches?
Can a manager change his spots, stop being directional and tune into his listening skills to coach his staff? Bob Selden examines the tough challenges which managers face if they also decide to take on the role of coach. As a trainer, turning managers into coaches is a real challenge. We’d probably all like to […]
How to: Develop passive people
This checklist, kindly provided by the Chartered Management Institute, is for line managers handling individuals who are too compliant, too conciliatory or too self-effacing to make a positive impact. Read on for some tips on helping passive staff progress towards a more assertive and confident approach. DefinitionPassive people are often pleasant and eager to please […]