Training & Development

Training & Development

5 Reasons You May Not Be the Best Person to Train Your Employees

by on May 13, 2013, 11:30 AM  |  2 Comments
Training

OK, so you should onboard new employees, make sure that they understand the mission and goals of your department, review policies and procedures, go over the performance management process you will be using …

I guess that sounds a little like teaching. But, could it be that maybe you’re not the best person to teach your employees everything?

Maybe you also have a responsibility to provide an opportunity for them to learn from others and in other situations too. If you’re fortunate enough to work in a company that formalizes some of these approaches for your employees, great.

If not, step up. Read more…

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Training & Development

Beyond Words: How Generation Y is Redefining Learning For Everyone

by on May 6, 2013, 9:12 AM  |  2 Comments
Photo by istockphoto.com

Gen Y, those in their 20s now, are born of bits and bytes. They hardly read. They watch play computer games, watch movies on the Internet, have made YouTube their favorite destination.

This generation is the one that will redefine learning. And because of them book-based learning, lectures, stand-up teaching, grades, honor rolls, and all the other paraphernalia of the 20th century will fade away faster than we image.

As I travel around the world I see cheap Internet access everywhere. Mobile data plans are getting more and more affordable and a data-enabled Sim card costs just a few dollars. Every young traveler has at a minimum a smart phone and often also has a laptop or tablet as well.

Being connected is as important to them as having electricity or running water. Read more…

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Global HR, Training & Development

10 Tips to Help Deliver Successful Training Programs Overseas

by on Apr 25, 2013, 8:10 AM  |  2 Comments
123RF Stock Photo

Do people learn differently around the world? Does culture affect learning style?

The answer to both questions is “yes.”

If so, how do global companies deliver the same training program and consistent message on a worldwide basis while taking into account these differences?

Here are some tips to keep in mind: Read more…

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Legal Issues, Training & Development

Why Discipline Is Essential For a Credible Workforce Safety Program

by on Apr 23, 2013, 11:27 AM  |  No comments yet
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By Howard Mavity

An effective safety process requires consistent discipline to support other company safety efforts, but it doesn’t happen.

OSHA is aggressively suing employers for allegedly using safety rules to terminate employees for reporting workplace injuries. And in fact, it often turns out that almost the only employees terminated for safety violations were those terminated for unsafe behavior after an injury.

Why? The employer was sloppy about disciplining employees for unsafe behavior, and the only time the employers “caught” employees acting unsafely was … investigating the injury. Read more…

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HR News & Trends, Training & Development

Think We Have Skills Shortages Now? Just Wait Until We Get to 2020

by on Apr 17, 2013, 8:05 AM  |  3 Comments
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Skills shortages in 2020 will rise to an entirely new level.

And I’m not talking about STEM skills, although they’re critical. Or the ability to speak multiple languages, which needs to be more common in the U.S. Or even the readiness of college graduates to take a place in the economy, which a majority of employers report is lacking.

I’m talking about the skills that the globally-connected, superstructured, computationally focused, smart-machine powered organizations of the future staffed by longer living and working, new media-using employees will require.

We’re all thinking about that right? We’re re-writing job descriptions and re-wording job postings to incorporate the emerging skills we know we’ll need. Aren’t we? Read more…

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Talent Management, Training & Development

Staying Relevant: Either We Continually Adapt, or We End Up Obsolete

by on Apr 15, 2013, 8:10 AM  |  No comments yet
phone-books

The headline in USA Today blared Columbia flunks relevancy test.

Columbia University’s Journalism School just appointed a new dean. The uproar was astounding, to say the least.

The new dean’s “alleged crime” is that he comes from a background of print [think newspapers and magazines] and he is taking over the training ground for the next generation of journalists whose skill set has changed.

This new dean (his name is Steve Coll, an author and former Washington Post managing editor), and while having impeccable credentials, he is not versed in social media and reportedly does not have a Twitter account. Read more…

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HR Management, Training & Development

Workforce Analytics: 4 Hiring and Promotion Mistakes to Avoid

by on Mar 29, 2013, 10:10 AM  |  1 comment
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All HR departments strive to make smarter, more informed hiring and promotion decisions.

That need is especially salient in an era where a majority of U.S. companies say they are struggling to attract both critical-skill and high-potential employees, according to a Fall 2012 study from WorldatWork.

Collecting and aggregating workforce analytics is one way HR pros can arm themselves with the information to tackle workforce planning concerns head-on. Among many business planning functions, workforce analytics enable HR departments to get a deeper look at where talent and skill gaps lie, which departments are on track to be most vulnerable or most robust in the future and how company leaders’ decisions impact employees’ decisions. Read more…

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Talent Management, Training & Development

Developing Female Leaders: The Key is Showcasing Diversity in Leadership

by on Mar 27, 2013, 12:29 PM  |  No comments yet
Female women leaders

In pursuit of gender diversity, it’s not enough for an organization to focus only on hiring practices to attract women.

Far more impactful for the long-term — including future recruitment — is retention and development of female leaders.

This two-fold approach brings together diversity, attracting a broad pool of candidates from which to hire, and inclusion, with management practices and environmental influences that support the engagement and development of all employees, including women. Read more…

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Training & Development

How Tony Roma’s Encourages Workers to Use Smart Phones at Work

by on Feb 21, 2013, 11:25 AM  |  1 comment
Smartphone

There is an epic war being fought along the front lines of every business in the world.

Business owners and managers across all industries are engaged in heavy conflict with employees who aren’t able to get through a shift without checking the screen on their smart phones, many of whom check it every couple of minutes.

To the manager, the almost ubiquitous smart phone has become a distraction that limits performance and interferes with customer service. To a young employee, being separated from their phone is like having an arm or leg amputated. Read more…

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Talent Management, Training & Development

Developing Young Leaders: The Key Is Bridging the Education Gap

by on Feb 18, 2013, 11:40 AM  |  No comments yet
123RF Stock Photo

I am about developing young leaders. Students who see beyond surviving school and getting a job.

At Growing Leaders, we want to equip students to lead the way into the future; students who solve problems and serve people. The time has never been more ripe for this mission.

A large employer of young people recently spoke with a representative from the Georgia Department of Education. In essence, he said, “We are not asking grads about their GPA or their SAT. We are hunting for soft skills, communication skills and leadership skills. And we are not finding them.”

But is it the kids’ fault? Read more…

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