Free resource: Coaching readiness assessment tool
It's coaching month and Susie Finch, once of this parish and now part of the Corporate Elearning Consortium, has pointed us in the direction of this great coaching assessment tool. For more info on the Toolkit for Managers click here It's coaching month and Susie Finch, once of this parish and now part of the […]
Why your business needs a managed LMS
Paul Service of Comms Learning examines how organisations can gain relatively quick, inexpensive entry into sophisticated learning technology using a managed service. What is a managed LMS? A managed LMS is when a third party provides and manages your learning management system for you. Users of managed LMSs fall into one of two categories. Either […]
Is your business training its graduates out the door?
Naysan Firoozmand gives a few pointers on how businesses can hang onto their young talent. Graduate recruitment has – at least for the graduates – been a difficult area in recent years, but there are signs that optimism is increasing, with The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has recently predicting a 10% rise in graduate opportunities this […]
Leadership is not just for the boardroom
With the rise in ExecEd, it could be easy to forget that leadership is a skill set for every part of the business, writes Erica Sosna, Author of Your Life Plan. The proliferation of material concerning leadership theory over the last 20 years, could lead one to believe that it is the exclusive concern of […]
Failure: A training manager’s perspective
Training managers are increasingly faced with a need to justify L&D initiatives or hold their own against critical scrutiny from the higher levels. Kerry Bellamy questions, shares insight and invites debate around some possible failings of the training manager function. In a climate of reduced resources, increased targets and failing frontlines, there is little tolerance […]
Challenging leadership: The uncomfortable debate zone
Ian Day and John Blakey continue their series on challenging leadership. This time the focus is on conflict. John Donne wrote the poem 'No Man Is An Island' which represents the truth of our connectedness. This is equally the case for leadership; the quality of relationships is crucial for individual and organisational effectiveness; we have […]
Future leaders: Are you sure you know how to pick them?
Naysan Firoozmand looks at how businesses can develop – and retain – future leaders. Accurately identifying talented individuals, particularly those with leadership potential, is key to the long-term success of any business. What’s more, identifying staff members’ potential and working actively towards developing it, fosters higher levels of engagement and encourages greater loyalty. But all […]
The return of the manager [infographic]
We recently received this infographic from L&D experts Mind Gym, underlining the importance of a good manager. To download a copy of the accompanying whitepaper click here We recently received this infographic from L&D experts Mind Gym, underlining the importance of a good manager. To download a copy of the accompanying whitepaper click here
10 Influencing and Communication Quotations
Use on training handouts, noticeboards, newsletters and campaigns. Here's our top 10 favourite influencing and leadership quotations………. “The most important thing in life is sincerity. If you can fake that, you have it made” WOODY ALLEN "I know that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what […]
The talent exodus: Why now is the time to protect your business
Every business wants to keep its best people, right? David Smith assesses the best way to make this happen. Have companies become complacent about talent retention in the last few years? Yes there will always be those technical specialists or company superstars that are wrapped in cotton wool, but what about the others – are […]
Top 10 Inspirational Leadership Quotes
Use on training handouts, noticeboards, newsletters and campaigns. Here's our top 10 favourite leadership quotations………. “It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulder when you are trying to lead – and find no one there” FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when […]
What next for management training?
Stephen Walker takes a look at the development of management and the new skills needed in the immediate post-recession future. The art or science of management has developed over the last 200 years. Sun Tzu’s writing on how to manage a war is often included as an early example of management theory in 500BC, and […]
Knowledge management pt2: Can Big Learning Data bridge the gap?
The companies that will succeed in future are the ones that understand big data. But how will it impact on knowledge management and innovation? Janet Garcia concludes her feature. This growing capability of firms to derive meaning from data means that knowledge management systems can provide the platform for which knowledge-based companies can improve their […]
Knowledge management and innovation: Can Big Learning Data bridge the gap?
The companies that will succeed in future are the ones that understand big data. But how will it impact on knowledge management and innovation? Janet Garcia tells us more. The convergence of knowledge management systems and big data will see the emergence of big learning data as a key element of competition, innovation and growth […]
Successful leadership thinking: Eliminate targets
In the final part of this three-part series, John Wenger discusses the merits of John Seddon's 'successful systems thinking' from a leadership perspective. So what is the leadership stuff? In my old workplace, the senior managers managed like systems thinkers (working on the system, not on the people) and they also role modelled leadership stuff. Leadership is […]
How to set goals and achieve them
If you want to be a great project manager, you’ll need to be extremely good at setting goals and achieving them. Every project has a defined delivery date, so you need to be goal-oriented if you want to deliver your project on time. Taylor Williams tells us how. Identify what’s important In projects, everything is a priority. Take […]
Successful management thinking: Eliminate targets
In the second of this three-part series, John Wenger discusses the merits of John Seddon's 'successful systems thinking' from a management perspective. Management My understanding is that when people like Deming and Seddon advocate for the elimination of targets and performance appraisals, they are not suggesting that we eliminate management. It can be confusing sometimes because […]
A great sales team depends on a strong first-line sales manager
Graham Scrivener looks at the precarious perch of a first-line sales manager and the importance of leadership development to help them to balance the complexities and demands of their role and turn them into high-performing bosses. The role of a first-line sales manager is a juggling act. They have to close sales, coach and motivate […]
Disciplinary – it’s all in the preparation
The Employment Act 2008 places greater emphasis on the employer to ensure disciplinary issues are dealt with in accordance with new statutory procedures and guidelines. A.C.A.S. says: "Those responsible for using and operating the disciplinary rules, including managers at all levels, should be trained for the task". Prepare effectively and the manager is well on their […]
Is it time for managers to face reality?
Or shall we leave it till tomorrow? Tim Hawkes muses about the qualities of the genuine manager. Have you ever noticed how some people live two separate lives? They have a 'work' them and a 'home' them. Some people are also proud to tell you of their separate lifestyles, how they are an adrenalin junkie […]
