The future of learning at work part 4 – performance support

In the fourth of this series, Donald H Taylor looks at the key challenge for L&D: providing performance support. How should learning and development (L&D) practitioners adapt themselves to the changing world of twenty-first century work? In a series of articles I’m working my way through four areas of change described in the series opening […]
‘See inside manufacturing’ launched to improve automotive industry

More than 35 automotive organisations have signed up to the coalition government’s ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ initiative, which is intended to try and improve the sector’s image in a bid to tackle Europe-wide skills shortages. Business Secretary Vince Cable, speaking during a visit to the Mini factory in Oxfordshire yesterday, said that the reason why […]
Learning providers call for joined up approach on skills

If the UK is to create a sustainable jobs market, the coalition government must develop joined up policies around welfare-to-work and apprenticeship-focused skills provision, learning providers have warned. Martin Dunford, chairman of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers, formerly known as the Association of Learning Providers, told the organisation’s annual conference in London yesterday […]
Appraisals don’t work: Regular ‘catch-ups’ do!

Do you dread your annual performance appraisal? Is it stressful for you? Do you find that you have to spend time gathering evidence to prove your worth? Does your annual performance appraisal add or detract from your relationship with your line manager? Ok – a lot of questions to start off with, but they’re the […]
The future of learning at work: part 1 – setting the scene

Donald H Taylor suggests four things learning and development must do to remain relevant in today’s changing world of work. The world of learning at work is changing and we need to change with it. This is not a matter of adopting some new, hyped technology nor of championing the latest fad in training […]
Going for gold – five lessons from sports psychology

Harriet Beveridge and Ben Hunt-Davis look at how sport psychologies translate into the commercial arena. With the first tranche of tickets released and the opening ceremony only just over a year away, Olympic hype is well and truly starting. But aside from the sales and sponsorship opportunities the games present, what relevance do the games […]
How I learn: David Mascord

As part of TrainingZone’s CPD month we are asking training professionals to share how they learn. Here David Mascord shares how he keeps up-to-date with the latest thinking in learning and development. Learning from delegates I find out – or remind myself of – useful lessons every time I run a learning event, whether […]
Free resource: learning spend analysis template

Jessica Adair of Eden Tree provides the community with another great free resource. Read on for more… To ensure a worthwhile return on investment, it’s essential that an organisation’s learning and development budget is spent appropriately. Learning spend analysis is a technique that allows you to perform a retrospective audit of an organisation’s spend, while […]
How I learn: Claire Walsh

As part of TrainingZone’s CPD month we are asking training professionals to share how they learn. Here Claire Walsh shares how she keeps up-to-date with the latest thinking in learning and development. As people who earn a living sharing and transferring knowledge it is essential that trainers and other learning and development professionals keep up-to-date […]
Trainers: the classroom is not dead

Although the use of technology-based learning and development tools is continuing to rise steadily, classroom-based activities remain the most popular training format. According to a survey undertaken among 2,500 employees at companies in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain by learning and development provider Cegos Group, nine out of 10 still receive training in […]
How to set goals and meet them

First set the goal, then create and plan for achieving it and then execute the action points. Robert Kelsey has a strategy for all of this. Read on… Not so fast. Each area requires proper thought if it’s to provide effective support for the others. This is even the case for the objectives. For instance, […]
Top ten tips to motivate yourself

Stephen Walker sympathises with the providers in the training sector struggling with the challenging business conditions. Here he gives his top ten tips for keeping focused, optimistic and motivated. There is no doubt that business conditions in the training sector are tough today. Business is there to be won but it is […]
How L&D professionals and social search technology can work together

Simeon Stewart discusses a new social technology, social search, and looks at how L&D professionals can harness it in order to further differentiate their offering and provide greater benefits to their clients. In the first article of this series we looked at how search and L&D face the common problems of information overload and an […]
Social Search: A technology match for L&D?

Simeon Stewart discusses a new social technology, social search, and looks at why it might be an appropriate tool for learning and development. Several commentators point to the challenges information overload and the increasing rate of change present to formal training, something that was referred to just recently when we interviewed Charles Jennings, ex CLO […]
20% of staff receive no training evaluation

Although nearly three quarters of staff consider learning and development opportunities to be as important as salary when choosing their next job, more than half are currently receiving no training from their employer. According to a survey of 700 learning and development managers and staff within both commercial and IT departments undertaken by training provider […]
Reed Learning partners with ASTD to deliver training certification

Reed Learning has launched its UK partnership with the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD). Although the official announcement will not come until next month, a breakfast briefing held in London on 17 February confirmed the move, which has been interpreted by some as a challenge to the CIPD for their members who work […]
How mobile learning can boost performance

Performance support is a term that’s been around for decades. You’ve almost certainly experienced it first hand at work and in everyday life, but still you may not be quite sure what it is. Andrew Jackson explains. This article helps answer several questions: What is performance support, exactly? How does it fit in with existing […]
The seven facets of leadership pt 6: Motivation

In part 6 of a series, Spencer Holmes describes a new approach to the development of project managers to meet the current challenges of organisations in all sectors. This week: Motivation. This week we look at the topic of motivation as it relates to project leadership. Maybe it’s the difference, ultimately, between project management and […]
Reward/Recognition Schemes for Trainers

Granted a ‘Well Done’ works well for majority of people, especially in the tiring and often hectic world of training. I am looking for ideas on a reward/recognition scheme for a team of trainers. Historically recognition has come in the form of appraisals resulting in a potential bonus payment. This is based upon a number […]
Searching for the perfect boss

Millions of Brits are on the hunt for the ideal boss and are prepared to change jobs and even switch careers in their drive to find perfection. New research from First Direct reveals almost seven million (28%) workers have moved jobs in an attempt to find a better boss and improved working environment. So elusive is […]