TED Talks, the popular conference and video lecture series, has a cardinal rule that all presenters must follow: No talk can exceed 18 minutes. As TED curator Chris Anderson puts it, 18 minutes is “short enough to hold people’s attention,…
Training, Learning & Development
5 Options For Helping Your Workforce Cope With Automation
It’s inevitable. As your organization unveils a driverless vehicle program (or just about any automation or AI platform) designed to promote efficiency and safety, you will hear the same chorus from your workforce: “Are we going to lose our jobs…
As Demand For Blue Collar Workers Grows, You Need to Be Proactive
You might be surprised to learn that the demand for blue-collar workers is increasing. In fact, among the 20 fastest growing occupations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists solar photovoltaic installers, wind turbine service technicians and bicycle repairers. Our society, however,…
If You Had to Weave a Hammock, How Would You Learn?
Let’s say you were tasked with learning how to weave a hammock. Which way would you prefer to learn? An in-person classroom setting, a podcast that explains weaving steps, an instructional video so you can see what’s happening, or a…
How to Help Managers Develop Their Emotional Intelligence
Although it’s now widely accepted that emotional intelligence (EI) is vital for managers, people still tend to assume that two of the most fundamental EI competencies, self-awareness and empathy, are deeply ingrained and not amenable to change. The idea is…
Analytics Can Play a Key Role In Career Planning Conversations
Careers used to progress linearly. You’d start at the bottom and climb up the rungs of a clearly defined ladder until you retired, but the world of work has changed so much. Many organizations don’t have defined career tracks anymore,…
What It Takes to Be a Leader in the Digital Age
Progressive organizations consistently lament the dearth of capable leaders who can take up the reins at the top and sustain a robust stride toward continued prosperity. One of the reasons for this is the changing role and skill set of…
If You Have to Force People to Train, You’re Doing It Wrong
What’s wrong with the way we train? Too much text, too few images, formulaic presentations that are so much based on rules that it’s a wonder there’s any life left in the training room at all. “We’ve dehumanized learning,” Clint…
What Toys R Us Teaches Us About Leadership Cultivation
The demise of Toys R Us — the toy store that captivated every elementary schoolkid’s daydreams — was ultimately just another illustration of management gone wrong. It can be easy to point fingers at big box and online competitors as…
How To Design And Deliver Training That Matters
As more organizations focus on return on investment (ROI), implementing an effective learning and development (L&D) strategy to aid engagement and retention has never been more important. Employers that place a high value on equal opportunity and continuous learning are…
3 Steps to Strategic Learning For the Age of Automation
They always show up, even during World Cup games. They can work 12-hour shifts without displaying any signs of fatigue. And they never linger around the break room long after they are due back on the floor. In many ways,…
With the Right Attitude, Losing Can Be a Win
“Ron, thank you so much for facilitation of today’s event. I learned so much. And even though I lost the competition, I think I learned more by losing as opposed to winning.” That line stopped me…”I learned so much from…
Futureproof Your Organization by Hiring From Within
The war for talent is heating up this summer with the recent news that there are more job openings than unemployed job seekers. In many ways, it’s a job seeker’s market. This is not only putting more pressure on employers…
5 Must-Do Steps Before Rolling Out a Corporate LMS
Corporate learning management systems have become an essential component in every stage of the employment cycle, including the recruitment of top talent. The ability to complete training exercises at any time and on any device can help you entice qualified…
Why Are Latinos Leaving Corporate America?
Latinos in America are currently facing huge challenges. Latino children have been separated from their parents at the border and anti-Latino speech has been on the rise. With these stories in the news, it is easy to forget another area…
How SMBs Benefit From Training and Development
For many years, learning and development programs were thought to be exclusively for larger employers with big budgets. Thanks to the rise of HR technology, and specifically L&D software, this perception has changed. Now, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have…
Every Manager Should Have a Leadership Coach
From athletes to actors, everyone improves with a good coach. More companies should invest in their potential future leaders, not just the lucky few who break through to the corner office. Will was a young up-and-coming director at a brand-name…
4 Cross-Training Strategies to Future Proof Your Workforce
Today’s workforce is uneasy about their futures. And for good reason – some estimate that nearly 40% of U.S. jobs could be lost to automation in the next 15 years. This fear of automation has left employees scrambling for ways…
How Companies Can Develop Anti-Bias Strategies that Work
It was the video seen round the world: Two black men in a Philadelphia Starbucks being arrested. Their crime? Sitting in the coffee shop without so much as buying a nitro cold brew or smoked-turkey protein box. A manager had asked…
What to Look For In an E-learning System
Once a corporate training alternative, e-learning services have become the new norm. Managers appreciate the way they streamline coaching; employees like educating themselves in the most convenient way possible. It’s no wonder global e-learning has grown by more than 900% since…