Topic: Trusted?

• The 4 Pillars of Trust–Building Trust at Work (Workshifting blog)
  6m video of Chris Brogan interviewing Charlie Green plus a blog post summarizing the 4 pillars of trust

• The 9 Skills Needed to Be a Super-Connector (TechCrunch)
• The Right Learning Culture Helps a Company Compete (Chief Learning Officer)
• Focus HR on Process Improvement (Harvard Business Review blog)
• 5 Things Angry Birds Has Taught Me About Life (WiseBread)
• Everything You Thought You Knew About Learning is Wrong (Wired)
• Engaging Employees Pays Off (Human Resource Executive Online)

Tip of the Week:

Rather than provide fictitious scenarios for in-class exercises, let students use a real-life situation as the basis for the exercise.

We love to hear your feedback–leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: The SME as Trainer?

• SMEs as Trainers – Great Idea or Potential Problem?
• Turning subject matter experts into trainers – Chief Learning Officer forum discussion
• How to convert the toughest SME
• Working with SMEs to develop training

• Conscious Competence Learning Model (Businessballs website)

• MIT’s New Free Courses May Threaten (and Improve) the Traditional Model, Program’s Leader Says (Chronicle of Higher Education’s Wired Campus)
• Finding Joy in Failure (Gradhacker)
• Transform Your Employees into Passionate Advocates (Harvard Business Review blog network)
• Social Learning: What exactly is it? (Learning in the Social Workplace, Jane Hart)
• How to Have Meaningful Conversations at Work (Bamboo project blog)
• 15 Tips for a Better Work-Life Balance (WiseBread)

Tip of the Week:

Index cards for two: one for me and one for you.  After each section or modules have participants jot down a key learning or insights on one index card and copy it to the second index card.  At the end of the session, participants take one index card with them to highlight key learnings, and leave the other (identical) card for the facilitator so s/he knows what was important to participants.

One more thing: Lady Gaga “Poker Face” video

We love to hear your feedback–leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: End Goal: Learning or Performance?

• Performance Improvement: An alternative to training?
• Performance Goals vs Learning Goals: Are we learning or looking good?
• Learning Goals or Performance Goals? Is it the journey or the destination?

• A few posts on Apple’s education event (iBook, iAuthor, iTunes U)
• Apple Education Event (iBook) Keynote, full video 60m (Apple, official press release)
• Highlights of Apple Education Event, 2m (CNET TV)
• Reflections on the Apple Education Event (ProfHacker)
• Campus Reactions to Apple’s Entry into the E-Textbook Market (Wired Campus)
• Apple Shines with iBook Author (Mac Observer)

• How to Create Your Own Textbook–With or Without Apple (Mindshift)
• Leadership 2030 Report (Hay Group)
• How Sitting All Day is Damaging Your Body and How You Can Counteract it (Lifehacker)
• Twitter Chats for Learning Professionals (Misadventures in Learning) — it’s a bit buried in the first paragraph, don’t forget to take a look at #lrnchat!

Tip of the Week:

When facilitating, remember to WOMP!

W ater

O xygen

M arch

P raise

We love to hear your feedback–including ideas for show topics for 2012!

Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Learning from failure

You Must Fail to Succeed–The Virtues of Intrinsic Failure (Kevin Jones blog)

• Resources to Learn How to Use Twitter (Misadventures in Learning)
• Give the Ultimate Gift in 2012: Coaching (Bersin & Associates)
• Pros in Different Area Codes: How to Train a Remote Employee, infographic (Mindflash)
• 5 Keys to Building a Learning Organization (Forbes)
• Prisoners of Our Mindsets (Human Resource Executive Online)
• Are You Looking Out for Your Skills? Part 1 and Part 2 (Learning Solutions, Patti Shank)

Tip of the Week:

If you want to make changes in the behavior toward failure with others in your organizations, consider starting with your own team.  Recognize it’s a process and will take time for your team to develop the trust and habits of learning from failure, but then you’ll have the first-hand experiences and data to share with others!  A good first step: when you make a mistake–don’t hide it–share it and what you’ve learned!

We love to hear your feedback–including ideas for show topics for 2012!

Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Image of blank blackboard by Scottchan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Topic: Technology tools for learning

For this week’s podcast we each picked a technology from the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies list of Top 100 Technology Tools for Learning for 2011

• Voicethread
• Storybird
• Diigo homepage

Here are another 50 Tools that didn’t quite make the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2011 list

Also take a look at the Higher Learning Now podcast where each week we discuss a technology and how it can be used to support learning.

• How to Improve Learning Outcomes with Performance Support (Social Learning blog)
• Is Employee Engagement Still a Myth? (ELSUA blog)
• 15 Tips to Get Your Adult Learners Talking (Busy Teacher blog)
• Enterprise mLearning Trends for 2012 (mLearning Trends blog)
• 28 Ways to Stop Complicating Your Life (Marc and Angel Hack Life)
• Effective Pay for Performance Strategies (HR Executive Online via ASTD blog)

Tip of the Week:

When bringing on a new employee, consider starting the onboarding a few days before they start with a phone call (or email) telling them what the first few days will be like, logistics (parking, start time, etc.), and reminding them that you are all exciting they will be joining your team!

We love to hear your feedback–including ideas for show topics for 2012!

Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Embedding learning on the job

• On-the-job learning: Professional development that works
• Tips for structured OJT
• The manager as coach
• 7 steps to coaching your employees to success

Tip of the Week:

• Draw attention to a specific part of the screen during screensharing and webinars by pressing the control-key (pc). This briefly displays a circle at the location of your mouse pointer.

Set up is similar (but probably a little different) on each computer.  For Windows 7:

• Click to open the Start Menu
• Select the Control Panel
• Select Hardware and Sound
• Select Mouse
• There are tabs at the top of the dialogue box; select Pointer Options
• At the bottom of the dialogue box is a check box for “show location of pointer when I press control”. Check this option and click Done.

Now each time you press the control-key a circle briefly displays around your mouse pointer.

We love to hear your feedback–including ideas for show topics for 2012!

Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Designing for Learning Transfer

• How to Increase Learning Transfer
• Can They Do It in the Real World? Designing for Transfer of Learning
• Designed for Learning – Transfer of Learning Theories and Implications

Articles for this Week:

Tip of the Week:

• Take inspiration for your instructional design from everywhere! TV commercials, jingles, movies, people you see in the grocery store…everything has the potential to inspire you and your design!

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Best  Companies for Leaders

• Fortune’s Top 25 Companies for Leaders (CNN Money)
• How Do Great Companies Groom Talent (CNN Money)
• The 20% Leadership Challenge (TrainingWreck)

Tip of the Week:

• Use journaling (paper, electronic, audio, or any other format) to capture your thoughts, questions, and experiences so you can learn from them!

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Feedback–It’s Great to Give AND Receive

• ‘Tis the Season to Deliver and Receive Feedback Effectively (Chief Learning Officer blog)
• Why Constructive Feedback Doesn’t Improve Employee Performance (Financial Post)

Tip of the Week:

• Get out your calendar now and schedule one-on-one meetings with your direct reports (or your boss!) before your 201 calendar gets too full!

Other Resources Mentioned During the Show:

• Ladder of Inference (MindSpring)
• Higher Learning Now Podcast (Robin, Ben and Kevin pick a tech tool and talk about how to use it to support learning in higher ed, corporate ed, adult ed or K-12 ed)

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: The Future of Learning?

• The Future of Learning (Chief Learning Officer)
• Understanding Informal and Social Learning (Center for Learning & performance Technologies)
• The Ubiquity of Informal Learning: Beyond the 70/20/10 Model (Ben Bett’s Stoatly Different blog)

Tip of the Week:

• Use this month to look back on 2011, see what you’ve learned, and how you will move those learnings into 2012.

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Creating a Collaborative Environment

• 3 Secrets to Creating Your Desired Collaborative Environment (Leadership Solutions)
• Creating the Collaborative Environment (The Revolutionary Assistant)
• The Impact of Ego on Collaboration (Blanchard International)
• Building a Collaborative Culture (Social Business Expert blog)

• Six Tips for Enhancing Workplace Talent (Business Wire, via ASTD blog)
• 13 Tips for Setting Performance Measures (Great Leadership blog)
• Social Media: If you Build it, They Won’t Come (aconventional)
• How to Start Freelancing When You Work Fulltime (Work Awesome blog)

Tip of the Week:

• Two free tools for real-time online collaboration: Google docs and Scriblink.

Other Resources:

• Robin, Ben and Kevin’s technology and learning podcast: Higher Learning Now

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Topic: Collaborating with Colleagues

• How to Collaborate – a Working Definition of Collaboration
• How to Collaborate Without Killing Someone (Forbes article)
• Collaboration in Training and Staff Development , pdf
• Transforming Training Through Collaboration
• Six Ways to Make Collaboration Work | You’re Not the Boss of Me

• How to Pitch an Idea to Your Boss, Colleagues and Customers (Work Awesome blog)
• 10 Ways to Select Participants for a Leadership Development Program (Great Leadership blog)
• 7 Compelling Arguments for Peer Learning (Donald Clark Plan B blog)
• A Practical Guide to Creating Reference Information Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 (Onlignment)
• 5 Places to Get Work Done When You’re Traveling (American Express OPEN Forum)

Tip of the Week:

• If you are out of town (or in town!) and looking for a wifi hotspot…consider MacDonalds!

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Roles of a Trainer

• Roles of a Trainer (Achieve Global Training Edge Q+A)

• Constructing Leadership Experiments (Bamboo Project)
• Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership (Leadership Now’s Leading)
• 9 Ways to Make Training More Engaging (Mindflash)
• Learn to Adapt (Leading Effectively blog from CCL)
• 10 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Outlook (Business Hacks)

Tip of the Week:

•  Use a computer reminder or timer to make sure you are working on your key priorities.

We love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: New-Hire Training and On-boarding

• Transforming Perceptions: 10 Steps to Managing the Way You Are Perceived at Work (Great Leadership blog)
• 5 Ways to Retain Your Top Talent (Michael Hyatt)
• 15 Ways to Fight Fair (Leadership Freak)
• 9 Tips to Help Freelancers Prepare for a Vacation (DesignM.ag)
• How to Be a Really Useful Coach in 5 Minutes or less (Eblin Group)

Tip of the Week:

• Put Your Contact Info in a QR Code (ppt, handouts, etc.)
  Some of my favorite QR generators: Kaywa, Delivr, Qurify

We’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Distraction-Free Writing Tools

• Employee Turnover Expected to Rise in the Next 10 Years (PR Web via ASTD blog)
• 6 Ways Training Sucks the Life Out of Employees (Ragan.com)
• Getting a Job as an Instructional Designer (Cammy Bean’s LearningVisions) and a little more help: 10 Psychological Techniquest o Help You Ge ta New Job (PsyBlog)
• New Business Traveler Tool: Bing Airport Maps (BNET’s Business Hacks)

Tip of the Week:

• Consider renaming “soft” skills to “core” skills.

We’d love to hear your feedback!  Leave a comment on the blog or send us an email! 

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Let’s Talk about Dialogue

Tip of the Week:

• Tips for using the World Cafe Method (World Cafe website,  The World Cafe Community )

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Dealing with Other’s Failure

• Dealing with Other’s Failure, video 2:24m, 4 questions to use for discussion (Kevin Jone blog)

• Talent Management Lessons from Apple: A Case Study of the World’s Most Valuable Firm, part 1 of a 4-part series (ere.net via ASTD blog, part 2 of the article)
• The U.S. Market for Mobile Learning Products and Services: 2010-2015 Forecast and Analysis, executive summary of the report (Ambient Insight Research)
• Mobilize: Three Steps for Developing Content for Mobile Delivery (Learning Solutions blog)
• Freelancers: How to start a Social Media Marketing Strategy (CollaborationIdeas.com)
• 4 Components of a Compelling Elevator Pitch (Michael Hyatt Intentional Leadership blog)

Tip of the Week:

• Boost learners’ readiness to learn by communicating wtih learners prior to the training session.

Other Resources Mentioned in the Show:

• If you are a regular listener of this show you know Robin is a big fan of the cartoons of artist Hugh MacLeod.  Check out his his website and his art. (here are a few of Robin’s favorite cartoons–among many–to whet your appetite!: Fail, I Work Very Hard, What People Say, All Good Ideas, Permission, )

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Is Customer Service Different with Public Organizations?

• Customer Service Standards for Rockville, Maryland
• Executive Order–Streamlining Service Delivery And Improving Customer Service
• Survey:  Federal Government Customer Service Improves but Remains Low

• Social Learning Doesn’t Mean What You Think it Does, Part 1 (C4PLT blog, Jane Hart)
• The Agile Model comes to Management, Learning, and Human Resources (Josh Bersin’s blog)
• Negotiating with Stakeholders and How to Handle Specific Challenges in Negotiating with Stakeholders (Chief Learning Officer blog)
• Master Word and Excel with Handy Step-by-Step Videos (Business Hacks)

Tip of the Week:

• (no tip this week)

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Topic: Warning–Toxic Manager

• Toxic Organizations – Welcome to the Fire of an Unhealthy Workplace
• Are you in a Negative Work Environment? 5 Tips to Change It
• Detoxifying a Toxic Leader
• Toxic Managers
• 7 Signs You May Be a Bad Manager
• Transforming Toxic Leaders

• The Future of Work (Learnstreaming)
• Is Your Professional Development a Cost or an Investment? (Bamboo Project) also Learning From the “Bubble Boys”
• Six Keys to Being Good at Anything (Fast Company)

Tip of the Week:

• Use a communication model to make sure you are communicating as completely and effectively as possible! 

• Diversity Training Since 9/11
• Why 9/11 Didn’t Change the Workplace (Need to complete a free registration to read this article.)

• You Are What You Think (Leading Effectively e-Newsletter, CCL)
• 5 Leadership Milestones to Set and Reach (Leadership & Learning)
• The Genius Hour: How 60 Minutes a Week Can Electrify Your Job (Dan Pink blog
• Free Training to Upgrade Your Powerpoint Skills (Business Hacks) also, 10 Rules for Smart Looking Presentations

Tip of the Week:

• Whether traveling or in your own home town, consider using Loosecubes to find space for working…with others!  

• What is Reflective Writing?
• Writing to Reflect:  Mindful Leadership
• The Value of Keeping a Leadership Journal

• Think You’re An Auditory Or Visual Learner? Scientists Say It’s Unlikely. (NPR)
• Back to Basics: When Training is the Answer (Learning Solutions)
• How to Prioritize Learning (Chief Learning Officer blog)
• Top Resources for Instructional Designers (Cammy Bean’s Learning Visions)
• Blooms Taxonomy and iPad Apps (Langwitches)

Tip of the Week:

• Be sure to talk with your clients about their expectations for success. 

photo credit: Markus Rödder

• 4 Ways to Spark Your Creativity
• 7 Dazzling Ways to Ignite Your Creative Spark
• Develop Your Creativity for Maximum Success
• Can You Train People to be Creative?
• Boost Your Creativity at the Workplace
• Audio Podcast: Stimulating Innovation and Creativity in the Workplace (56 min) (Robert Sutton, Co-Director of the Center for Work, Technology, and Organization at Stanford University)

• Marcus Buckingham’s 1st Annual “Top Ten Management and Leadership Blogs” (TMBC Inside Strengths blog)
• 20 Low Cost Rewards That Fuel Performance (Leadership Freak)
• More Than 30 PowerPoint Tips From The PowerPoint Pros (The Rapid E-Learning blog)
• iPhone App: Instructional Design Guru (Designing an iPhone App: Instructional Design Guru, eLearning Coach blog)
• iPhone App: Kineo Top Tips (Kineo Top Tips iPhone App, Cammy Bean’s Learning Visions)

• Consider using free or open source alternatives to commercial software.
  Here are a few of my favorites:

Topic: Results of our 30-day project!

• We started our projects in episode #52
• Share your 30-day project results (or your future plans) in the comment section!

Articles for this Week:

• Finding the Right Learning Mix (Chief Learning Officer
  magazine)
• 3 Underrated Productivity Improvement Tools (Work Awesome blog)
• Prioritization: What to do When Everyone Wants Your Help (Chief Learning Officer blog)
• How Mobile Computing and the Semantic Web Will Change Learning Forever (Learning Solutions Magazine. NOTE: you must subscribe–free–to read the entire article.  It’s worth it…there are a lot of great
  articles in this online journal!)
• Five Practical Mobile Learning Tips (Upside Learning blog)

Tip of the Week:

• Be prepared to be flexible. When things go awry, you hopefully have a “plan B” but you definitely need to go with the flow!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 56–Some Thoughts on Instructional Design

Topic: Instructional Design

• ISD Practices and Principles (ASTD’s IN PRACTICE, July 2011. This brief article is available to ASTD members only–SORRY!–we are just using it as a jumping off point for our discussion.)

Articles for this Week:

• 30-Day Experiment: Appreciating Team Members (The Bamboo Project)
• Lead Your Organization Through Major Change (Performance Xpress)
• The Upsurge of Informal Learning (Chief Learning Officer blog)
• 6 Ways to Kill Creativity (PsyBlog)
• LinkedIn Tips You Should Take Into Account (Collaboration Ideas blog)

Tip of the Week:

• Plan and practice giving instructions for activities.  Instructions should include four parts: why,
  what, how & who

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 55–We’ve All Faced Difficult Situations…

Topic: What was your most difficult person or session?  And what did you do?

Articles for this Week:

• The Ubiquity of Informal Learning: Beyond the 70/20/10 Model (Learning
  Solutions Magazine)
• 10 Pyschological Keys to Job Satisfaction (PsyBlog)
• The Leadership Lesson That’s the Hardest to Learn AND to Practice (Terry Starbucker)
• What is the Status Quo Costing You?(Random Acts of Leadership)

Tip of the Week: Some of our favorite websites for cost-free, royalty-free, free-to-use images
(please check terms of use and include credits and backlinks when required!)

• Morguefile (terms of service listed on each photo’s page) — mix of free and pay photos
• Wylio (terms of service) — free and paid subscriptions.  Free version is ad-supported and includes 5
  photos per month
• Stockvault (terms of service) — mix of free and pay photos
• Free Images (terms of service) — free photos
• Free Foto (free use rules) — free photos
• Unprofound — photos organized by color
• Photo Rogue — request a specific photograph be taken and shared

Additional resources mentioned during the show

• istock photo — use credits to buy photos.  A wonderful resource; moderately priced. Each
  week the website also offers a few free photo, illustration, flash animation file,
  video clip, and audio clips.

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 54–S T R E T C H the Learning 

Topic: Beyond Learning Transfer: Extending Learning Beyond the Training Room

• The Learning Environment – Looking Beyond the Training Room
• Informal Workplace Learning
• Think Workscapes, Not Training
  

Articles for this Week:

• The Four Traits of a High Performing Team (Trainingwreck blog)
• Why People Avoid the Truth About Themselves (Psyblog)
• The 10 Ways to Future Proof Your Career (Future of Work blog, concepts from the book: The Shift: The Future of Work is Already Here)
• Create Your Own Twitter-Powered Personal Learning Network (Mindflash)

Tip of the Week

• Use online tools for free, easy photo editing. (photoshop.com, picnik.com, powerpoint)

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or RSS

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 53–I want to get in to Training & Development!

Topic: Transitioning to training from another field  

• ASTD WLP Competency Model (here’s a larger version of the competency model)
• ASTD Career Center
• ASTD CPLP Certification

Articles for this Week:

• 5 Quick Ways to Become a Better Networker Today (Wise Bread)
• 3 Steps to Effective Learning Objectives (InnovateLearning, includes link to online mini-course on learning objectives (NOTE: it is created in flash so will not work on your portable apple “i” devices)
• Recovering from the Need to Succeed (Working Knowledge, Harvard Business School)
• 29 Ways to Stay Creative, 2 minute video (TNW Shareables)
• Holstee Manifesto (Holstee.com)

Tip of the Week

• To improve your facilitation skills…videotape!

Other Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

• International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• Organizational Development Network (ODN)
• Books: The New Mager Six-Pack 
• Book: Flying Without a Net: Turn Fear of Change into Fuel for Success
  

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 52–Hey, it’s only 30 days…

Topic:

• Try Something New for 30 Days, 3.5 minute video (Matt Cutts on TED.org)

• Leadership Challenges for Women at Work (Chief Learning Officer)
• The New Workstyle, infographic (Gist.com blog via Brian Dusablon’s blog)
• 5 Office Habits to Keep When Working from Home (Wise Bread blog)
• 7 Invoicing Blunders That Can Damage Your Business (Business hacks)
• Instruction Does Not Cause Learning, quote (TechHerding))

Tip of the Week

• To help participants (and you) focus prior to the start of a training session, write down what is distracting you.

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 51–I’d like to blame the technology gremlins…but it’s my fault

Topic:

• Why Communication From Leadership is Essential For Success (Chief Learning Officer)

• Are Case Studies Helping or Hindering You? (Brass Tack Thinking)
• Improving Happiness at Work: Positive Practices and the Power of the Positive Question (The Bamboo Project)
• Training Secrets from Inside the Googleplex (Fast Company)
• What Does Your CEO Expect from Training (Chief Learning Officer)

Tip of the Week

• Have participants find people in the workplace who can watch them as they apply, in real life, the skills from class and give them feedback.

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 50–Celebration!

Topic: Celebration!

• Celebrating Accomplishments – New Perspectives on the ‘Gold Star’
• The Business Benefits of Celebrating Achievements
• Recognize Employee Achievement

• 50 Ways to Get More Done Today (Marc and Angel Hack Life)
• Happy 5th Birthday, TED Talks: 5 All-Time Favorite Talks (Brain Pickings)
• Are Your Employees Checked Out? (CNBC via ASTD blog) and Say Goodbye to Gen Y (Chief Learning Officer)
• Google Rolls Out YouTube Creative Common Licenses(Wired)
  • Creative Commons–About the Licenses (Creative Commons)
  • TED: Larry Lessig on Laws That Choke Creativity (TED)

Tip of the Week

• When faciltating skill practices (aka “role plays”) be sure to visit each of the groups and give them the benefit of your feedback!

Listen to this podcast now (or right-click the link and “save target as” to download the mp3)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 49–Let’s Get Together and Network!

Topic: Networking–Why and How?

• ASTD Competency Model
• Managing Your Support Networks
• How to Network
• Networking:  How to Networking Within Your Organization

• Why You Need a Mobile Learning Strategy (Learning Solutions Magazine)
• Alternate Pedagogies and Experiences (Learnlets blog)
• Brain’s Rule! – How Understanding the Brain Can Improve Your Learning Content  (Rob’s Learning and Technology blog)
• The Need for Both Improvement and Innovation (Brass Tack Thinking)
• 9 Ways to Break Down Organizational Walls (Learnstreaming))

Tip of the Week

• Consulting tip: when doing your initial consulting/planning conversation with your client, discuss and agree what will happen to final deadlines/deliverables if earlier deadlines are missed during the project (and confirm those agreements in writing).

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Photo: digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast 48–It Turns Out We Need Electricity…

Robin (who has the recording equipment) was without electricity during our regularly scheduled podcast time so we could not record.  Consequently, we have a very short show this week with just Robin. We’ll all see you again next week!

Articles of interest from this week:

• Tips: Becoming Freelance/Self-Employed Step-by-Step (Collaboration Ideas)
• 9 Ways to Increase Your Productivity While Working from Home (ELSUA blog)–a knowledge management blog
• Eat More E-Learning Pie (Kineo’s E-Learning Tips blog)
• 50 Quotes About Learning (Learnstreaming blog)

Tip of the week

• Create a  photo sheet of each team member for use during virtual team meetings/conference calls.

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Learning Workplace podcast 47–Are You Too Busy?

Todays article:

• Too Busy to Matter (Leadership Freak)

• 60 Ways to Make Life Simple Again (Marc and Angel Hack Life)
• Is Everyone Coachable? (All Things Workplace)
• Engagement Condition – How to Engage Employees in the Workplace (Socialcast blog)
• Downtime: What HBS Professors Read Over Summer Break (HBS Alumni Bulletin)

Today’s topic –Games: love ‘em, hate ‘em, or somewhere in between

• 250 Thiagi Training Games
• Serious games: Why use games for training?
• Training: Using games to embed learning

Tip of the week

• Post discussion questions for video (flipchart/powerpoint) after the video to frame participant’s discussions.

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Learning Workplace podcast 46–Don’t be Scared…Take Action!

Todays article:

• How to Keep Fear From Taking Your Leadership Hostage (Michael Hyatt blog)

• Two Great Questions to Get Your Employees Thinking (Mindflash)
• Three Mindshifts for Leaders: Richard Haas (Management Innovation Exchange: Mix)
• 20+ Easy Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk (Mashable)

Today’s topic –Helping Others Create Individual Development Plans (IDPs)

• Creating a Professional Development Plan
  A link providing content, questions, and exercises to develop a professional development plan.
• Using IDP’s to Leverage Strengths (GovLeaders.org)
  An article describing what an IDP is, as well as providing 4 key questions to consider when developing your IDP.  There are also additional links on the article for more information on IDP’s.
• Checklist for a Great Individual Development Plan(greatleadershipbydan.com)
  A link where you could go to evaluate your IDP, once completed.  Or you could use the questions proactively as you create your IDP.resources)

Tip of the week

• Take a break and go outside for a fresh, re-energized, perspective on your work.

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Learning Workplace podcast 45–Attributes for Good (L&D) Leaders?

Todays article:

• 7 Essential Attriibutes for Picking Good Leaders(Leading blog, Leadership Now)
  • Amazon link to book: Why Are We Bad at Picking Good Leaders A Better Way to Evaluate Leadership Potentialby Jeffrey Cohn and Jay Moran

• The Really Simple Way to Get Work Done (Zen Habits)
• Managing Yourself: Can you Handle Failure? (Harvard Business Review via ASTD Buzz)
• Know Thyself (Scientific American)
• Have a Nice Conflict: A Book Review(Chief Learning Officer blog)
  • Amazon link to book: Have A Nice Conflictby Tim Scudder, Michael Patterson and Kent Mitchell

 
Today’s topic –Engaging Learners in Technical Training

• Make Technical Training Classes Fun
• Technical Training Tips  commercial site but has some decent links to tips for tech training, add’l resources)

Tip of the week

• Change the dynamics of the room by moving the “front” of the room and having participants stand for exercises.

Resources Mentioned in the show

• Book: Why Are We Bad at Picking Good Leaders A Better Way to Evaluate Leadership Potentialby Jeffrey Cohn and Jay Moran
• Book: Have A Nice Conflictby Tim Scudder, Michael Patterson and Kent Mitchell

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Learning Workplace podcast 44–Questions…for Us and for New Team Members

Todays article:

• 365 Thought-Provoking Questions to Ask Yourself This Year (Marc and Angel Hack Life)

• Are Leaders Made or Born (Human Resource Executive Online)
• The Art of Momentum: Why Your Ideas Need Speed (99% blog)
• Steps for Learning Professionals to Use to Move from Training to Performance Mindset (ASTD blog)
• 10 Common Body Language Traps for Women in the Workplace (Washington Post via ASTD blog)
• How to Make Employees Co-Owners of Engagement (Chief Learning Officer)
• Talent Development Reporting Principles: The Evolving Standard for L&D (Chief Learning Officer, more specific info on the Talent Development Reporting Principles page at Knowledege Advisors )

 
Today’s topic –One-on-One Conversations with New Team Members

• What are some good questions to ask a new team? (Wiki Answers)
• The GROW Model–Coaching Others to Improve Performance  (Mind Tools)
• The Basics of Effective One on One’s with Your Team, PDF  (Manager-Tools) 
• Asking the Right Questions When Coaching Employees  (All Business)

Tip of the week

• Keep track of “hidden” flipcharts with stickie notes

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 43–Is an Effective L&D Partner Like a “True Friend?”

Todays article:

• 10 Golden Rules for Being a True Friend (Upgrade Reality blog)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 42-Working With the “Challenging” Participants

Todays article:

7 Truths about All Customer Experiences (Customer Experience for Profit blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• How to Build Millennials as Future Leadership (Chief Learning Officer blog)
• The Art of Admitting Failure (HBR blog, HBR’s special issue on failure)
• 25 Places To Find Instructional Videos (Jane’s pick of the day blog)
• How to Help Leaders Succeed: A Guide to Successful Executive Career Transitions (pdf white paper) (UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School via ASTD blog)

 
Today’s topic –More Tough Learners (Miscreants, Sleepers, and Annoyers, Oh My!)

• Difficult Behaviors in the Classroom
• Anger and Discipline in the Classroom (pdf)
• Who is a Difficult Student/Learner? (pdf)

Tip of the week

• Prepare your guest presenters/trainers

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 41-Be Right and Write More Effectively at Work

Todays article:

How to Succeed in Business Writing: Don’t be Dickens(HBR blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week: 

• Mobile Learning: A Quick SWOT Analysis (Upside Learning)
• How to Engage an Audience (Workplace Learning)
• The Myth of Generational Difference in the Workplace (Center for Creative Leadership via Canadian Management Centre)
• David Kelley on Designing Curious Employees (Fast Company)
• 5 Essential Business Terms for Learning Leaders (Mindflash)

 
Today’s topic –The Toughest Learners (Miscreants, Sleepers, and Annoyers, Oh My!)

• Difficult Behaviors in the Classroom
• Anger and Discipline in the Classroom (pdf)
• Who is a Difficult Student/Learner? (pdf)

Tip of the week

•  Use the “silent conversation” writing exercise to start the conversation on difficult or sensitive issues

Other Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Retiring the Generation Gap: How Employees Young and Old Can Find Common Ground (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership) by Jennifer Deal
• What the CEO Wants You to Know : How Your Company Really Works by Ram Charan

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 40-So you want more productive meetings…

Todays article:

What is Holding the Learning & Development Profession Back? (Chief Learning Officer blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Getting Started with Mobile Learning (Upside Learning blog)
• Coaching Urged for Women: Inadequate Career Development Holds Back Female Executives (Wall Street Journal via ASTD Buzz)
• 11 Goal Hacks: How to Achieve Anything (Psyblog)
• Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0 (Educause, by John Seely Brown & Richard P. Adler)
• The Social (Job) Network: New Facebook App Matches Your Friends with the Best Jobs (PR Web via ASTD blog)

Today’s topic –Leading Productive Meetings

• Basic Guide to Conducting Effective Meetings
• Meeting Management
• The 6 Golden Rules of Meeting Management

Tip of the week

• If you’re not getting responses to questions in a large group, have participants discuss the question with a neighbor for a few minutes and then ask the question to the large group again.  They’ll be ready and warmed up!

photo credit: linh.ngân 

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 39-Working AND Learning

Todays article:

Learning is the New Work (Internet Time blog via ASTD blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• How to Avoid Getting Hired (Wise Bread)
• 10 Tips to Ace Your Next Job Interview (Kiplinger)
• 10 Things You Need To Do If You Were Just Fired (Lifehacker)
• How Not to Lead a Collaborative Teamwork (Collaboration Ideas blog)
• Mobile Learning, the Next Evolution (Chief Learning Officer)

Today’s topic –Closings

• Grand Finales – The Secrets of Ending Well
• Concluding Your Presentation Well
• Conclude Your Presentation Powerfully With These Tips and Techniques

Tip of the week

• Consider using stories in your presentation or training session

Other Resources Mentioned During the Show

• World Backup Day (includes cloud storage offers)
• Carbonite (online backup service)

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 38-Opening Presentations

Todays article:

Seth Godin Speaking on the Difference Between Leadership and Management (Michael Hyatt blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• How to Stay Healthy and Stress-Free in Your Office Job (Upgrade Reality blog)
• Staying Healthy-11 Ergonomic Tips for Avoiding RSI (elsua blog)
• 5 Challenges for Human Resources in a Digital World (Mashable)
• 5 Business Lesson You Can Learn from iTunes University (Business Hacks)

Today’s topic – Starting a presentation–openers!

• Now That we Have Your Complete Attention (Fast Company)
• PowerPoint Tip–A Good Introduction and Opener (ezine articles)
• Bore an Audience in 30 Seconds or Less! ( Presentation Coaching Institute)

Tip of the week

• Consider sending handwritten notes

Other Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Send Out Cards website
• Books by Seth Godin:
  • Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
  • Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
  • Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable–Includes new bonus chapter

photo credit: piermario 

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

 Todays Learning Workplace podcast 37-To Err is Human, To Fix it…Divine!

Todays article:

Fixing Mistakes: 7 Steps for Any Situation (Wise Bread blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• The three C’s of effective change adoption and how you keep them in balance (Mark McDonald, Gartner blog network)
• Guide to assessing Teamwork and Collaboration (Collaboration Ideas blog)
• CEOs Hiring But Finding Skill Gap (Business Journal Daily via ASTD blog)
• Corporate Training: Now, More Than Ever (No Jitter blog via ASTD Buzz)
• Grow Better Managers the Google Way (Business Hacks)

  Today’s topic – Outsourcing in Learning and Development

• 10 Reasons Companies are Outsourcing Training in Today’s Market
• How Your Organization Can Benefit From Outsourcing Its Training Activities (pdf)
• When Training Professionals Begin to Manage Vendors (pdf)
• Outsourcing Increase in 2010?

  Tip of the week

• Know when your participants are “full.”  But have a plan for covering any outstanding content.

  Other Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used (3rd Edition, 2011) by Peter Block

photo credit: Alex E. Proimos

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

photo credit: seeveeaar

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 36-Be more successful!

Todays article:

Nine Things Successful People Do Differently (Harvard Business Review blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Generations and their gadgets (Pew Internet)
• How Technology Wires the Learning Brain (Mind/Shift)
• The iPad is Not A Slam Dunk, Not Without Us (Learning Solutions Magazine)
• Trump’s TV Negativity: Do Not Try This on Your Own (Forbes blog)
• Most New Managers Are Clueless About What it Takes to Be Successful (Great Leadership blog, DDI study)
• Five Steps to Ignite Peak Performance (Chief Learning Officer via ASTD Buzz)

Today’s topic – Cultivating Intellectual Wellness 

• The Definition of Intellectual Wellness  Brief overview of intellectual wellness
• The 5 Strategic Areas of Corporate Wellness  Corporate wellness article that provides a nice overview of 5 dimensions of wellness
• Workplace Wellness Inventory  Sample workplace wellness inventory (short one)
• Intellectual Wellness Inventory  Commonly used inventory with links to other resources
  manual

Tip of the week

• See the glass as half full–talk yourself into a good day; not a bad day.

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

photo credit: freestylee

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 35-A Learning Revolution?

Todays article:

Bring on the Learning Revolution (Ken Robinson, TED video, 18 minutes)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• TED2011–The Rediscovery of Wonder webpage, program/speaker guide, follow #TED2011 on Twitter
• Working with Subject Matter Experts (Learning Solutions magazine)
• Making Large-Scale Changes Stick: Root Them in the Corporate Culture (John Kotter, Forbes)
• Harvard Business School Publishing, Most Popular Articles, Papers of the Decade (2000-2010) (HBS Working Knowledge)

A few TED talks we like:

• Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action
• Steven Johnson: Where good ideas come from
• Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world
• Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance work
• Ze Frank’s Web Playroom
• The Raspyni Brothers juggle and jest (just for fun!)

Today’s topic – Training the Trainers

• Train the Trainer  Basic training for trainers (sample train-the-trainers guidelines)
• Sample Train-the-Trainer Guidelines (pdf)  An example of a train-the-trainer manual

Tip of the week

• An idea for class introductions

Other Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Book: First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham
• Book: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson
• Book: Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative by Ken Robinson — we didn’t talk about this, but it looks like this book just came out this month!

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

                                 (photo credit: HikingArtist.com) 

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 34-The 7 habits…er…the 27 habits of successful people 

Todays article: 

27 traits of successful people (Freestyle Mind blog) 

Other articles and things of interest from this week: 

• 23 Social Media Facts for Sharing with Executives (JeffEsposito.com blog)
• Learning in the Cloud (Chief Learning Officer)
• Stop Asking for Advice (Leadership Freak blog)
• Five Strategies That Make it Easier to Say “No” (Michael Hyatt blog)
• 8 Tips for Catching Typos Before You Hit Send (Business Hacks)
• Chris Anderson talks TED on Charlie Rose (TED blog)

 
Today’s topic — Working Effectively With Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs)  

• How to Get the Most Out of Your Subject Matter Experts This article focuses on e-learning but seems quite relevant to all situations with SMEs
• Subject Matter Experts Some basics on the role of an SME, and SMEs working in a training environment
• Working with Subject Matter Experts (pdf) white paper

Feedback and Email 
2-minute tips of the week  

• (whoops…we forgot to do the tip this week! We’ll remember next week! )

 
Other Resources Mentioned During the Show  

• Unconscious Incompetence Learning Model

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)  

 
photo credit: John_Stephen_Dwyer

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 33–The mlearning is coming!  The mlearning is coming!

Todays article:

10 Simple Truths Smart People Forget (Marc and Angel Hack Life)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Instructional Design for Beginners–What Motivates People to Learn? (Upside Learning blog)
• Ten Laws for Better Email (Bad Language blog)
• 2011 Horizon Report (New Media Consortium)

  Today’s topic

When does digital and/or web-based training work best?

• Homepage High: Computer No Substitute for Teacher at Tech High
• Essential or Overrated? Does e-learning work?
• Why elearning DOES work (a response to why elearning does NOT work)
• Making elearning work
• Making e-learning work in the clinical environment
• Making elearning work for you 

 What would you do?

This week:

(no letter)

Next week:

(no letter!)

 2-minute tips of the week

• If there are other speakers, presenters, or trainers before you…consider sitting in so you can make connections for the participants between what they’ve heard all day and your information.

Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Obama Plans 4G for 98% of Americans by 2016  

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

photo credit: Nathan Lanier

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 32-Boost your energy

Todays article:

44 Actions You Can Take Now to Boost Your Energy (Michael Hyatt blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Anatomy of a 21st-Century Leader (Chief Learning Officer)
• Learning Delivery 2011: Classroom is Still King (Chief Learning Officer)
• Connect to Engage: Millennials Want Collaborative, Online Learning Delivery (Chief Learning Officer)
• Questions That Boost On-The-Job-Learning (Leading Effectively blog, CCL)
• 5 Tips to Strengthen Your Company’s Social Media Voice (Mashable)
• Email Etiquette for the Super-Busy (the 99% percent blog)
• Five Strategies That Make it Easier to Say “No” (Michael Hyatt blog)

Today’s topic“Whole Brain” Learning

• Whole Brain Thinking: Ignore It At Your Peril!  A nice article via ASTD! (bad me, acting so surprised at that)
• Ned Herrmann’s Whole Brain Learning/Teaching Model Diagram of Herrmann’s model, often used with whole brain learning things
• What Is Whole Brain Synchronization? Basic overview of the idea of brain synchronization

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–I have an upcoming training session for new leaders that is to help them with their presentation skills. I have been given only 3-4 hours to work with the group of 20-25 individuals. I’m thinking they should walk out of the session with a basic outline to be used for future presentations, and I would like to think they would have a chance to do a mini-presentation…just to have the experience of speaking in front of a group.I know I’m hoping to accomplish a lot in 3 hours! Would you share your insights on what an outline or agenda could be for the session?

Next week:

(no letter)

2-minute tips of the week

• When you’re stressed: Try to stay calm. To help you calm down, connect with a friend so they can give you some help and perspective!

Resources Mentioned During the Show

• AComplaintFreeWorld.org  (and apparently it’s a 21-day challenge, not the 30-day challenge Robin has been doing!

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 31: Some “Simulating” Conversation!

Todays article:

Five Tips for Smarter Social Networking (HBR blog)

 Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Debunking the Top Three Engagement Myths–Video (Chief Learning Officer)
• Mentoring Missteps (Human Resource Executive via ASTD Buzz)
• Top 10 Motivation Boosters and Procrastination Killers (Lifehacker)
• Is Your Calendar Managing You? (HBR blog))

Today’s topic
Using Simulations in Training

• How Effective are Training Simulations? Has some good info on some of the research on the use of simulations in training, including some age-related differences
• Using Simulations  Some nice info and links on different ways to use simulations in training
• A Simulating Idea . . . The Use of Simulation in Training
• The Four Key Attributes of Successful Simulations

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I’m confused…and am I going to “date” myself…what is “onboarding” employees? Is this what I might call New Employee Orientation? If so, what are you seeing as current trends relative to starting a new employee in the organization? We have been doing the same thing for some time now…and I wonder if it’s time to “update” our program. We typically cover the employee’s manual, some points relative to payroll and benefits, take the employee for a tour around the building to meet people, and then have their departmental “buddy” take them to lunch. Your thoughts?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I have an upcoming training session for new leaders that is to help them with their presentation skills.  I have been given only 3-4 hours to work with the group of 20-25 individuals.  I’m thinking they should walk out of the session with a basic outline to be used for future presentations, and I would like to think they would have a chance to do a mini-presentation…just to have the experience of speaking in front of a group.I know I’m hoping to accomplish a lot in 3 hours!  Would you share your insights on what an outline or agenda could be for the session?

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Consider the weather
• Terri: Be thoughtful about food choices provided during face-to-face classes (and meetings!)
• Robin:   Have a “Plan B” icebreaker

Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Book: The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion by John Hagel III and John Seely Brown
• Book:  A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change by Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown 
• Simulation: The Search for the Lost Dutchman Goldman (this link is for one vendor for this simulation.  Use Google to find other vendors.)

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 30: To MultiTask or Not to MultiTask…That is the Question!

Todays article:

How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking (HBR blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• In Defense of Multitasking (HBR blog)
• 5 New Year Resolutions for Entrepreneurs (The OpenCal blog)
• Top 9 Jobsites to Bookmark for Your Career Search  (Mashable)
• Social Learning and Reflection Continuum (Big Dog, Little Dog blog)
• 18 Common Work Email Mistakes (US News-Money blog)

Today’s topic
Transfer of Training

• 10 Tips to Make Training & Development Work  (good basic ideas for learning tansfer)
• Theories Supporting Transfer of Training , PDF  (nice overview of basic theories and implications for HRD)
• Steps Management Can Take to Ensure Training Transfer  (basic steps and success factors)
• How to Ensure the Transfer of Training and Reinforce Learning  (nice collection of resources and links)  

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I hate presenting! And it’s not WHAT I’m presenting that bothers me…I know the message that needs to be shared and I feel qualified to be the person sharing it…it’s just that I don’t look professional and confident! I had myself video taped recently, and realize I need help! I know you have talked touched on ideas to help presenters and facilitators before, but could you provide 5-10 presenter tips that have helped others you have worked with.

Next week:

• Dear TLW–I’m confused…and am I going to “date” myself…what is “onboarding” employees?  Is this what I might call New Employee Orientation?  If so, what are you seeing as current trends relative to starting a new employee in the organization?  We have been doing the same thing for some time now…and I wonder if it’s time to “update” our program.  We typically cover the employee’s manual, some points relative to payroll and benefits, take the employee for a tour around the building to meet people, and then have their departmental “buddy” take them to lunch.  Your thoughts?

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Create a “trainer’s kit” (and what to include in it)
• Terri: Wear comfy shoes!
• Robin: Wear headphones to discourage interruptions and get more done!    

Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Book: The Exceptional Presenter: A Proven Formula to Open Up and Own the Room by Timothy J. Koegel
• Book: Transfer of Training: Action-Packed Strategies to Ensure High Payoff from Training Investments by M. L. Broad and J. W. Newstrom
• Software that locks you out of the internet
  • Freedom ( locks you off the internet for up to eight hours at a time; free to try, $10 for registered copy)
  • DoNotDisturb (allows you to block certain programs for a specified amount of time)
  • (we haven’t tried these programs yet; leave a comment if you have a program you like)

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 29–Your Year to Learn!

Todays article:

• Use the Once-A Month Technique to Adopt Habits That Stick  (Lifehacker)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• How Will Your Workplace Look in 2011? (International Business Times via ASTD blog)
• The Psychology of Persuasion (PsyBlog)
• Digital Instructional Media Design 101 – Principles Of Gestalt Psychology (Upside Learning blog)
• Education in a Social World (21st Century Fluency project)
• 28 Innovative Uses for Binder Clips (Wise Bread)

Today’s topic
Role of trainer/training in talent management

• Talent management training activities  Though you have to be a member to actually download the activities, there is also some good info within their descriptions.
• Learning’s role in talent management Slide view of article – can download it by registering, or just read it online.
• Investing in training 50+ workers: A talent management strategy (pdf)  AARP research report (long, at 74 pgs) with some interesting info (can just read the exec summary or implications sections)
• Targeted training through talent management Short article that also proposes a matrix for grouping talent

What would you do? 

This week:

• (we skipped the letters for this week and will use the same letters next week!)

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I hate presenting! And it’s not WHAT I’m presenting that bothers me…I know the message that needs to be shared and I feel qualified to be the person sharing it…it’s just that I don’t look professional and confident! I had myself video taped recently, and realize I need help! I know you have talked touched on ideas to help presenters and facilitators before, but could you provide 5-10 presenter tips that have helped others you have worked with.

2-minute tips of the week

• Max:  Watch other presenters and learn from them.
• Terri: Liven up your Powerpoint presentations with graphics, animation, even music, BUT use these sparingly.
• Robin: Use a binder clip to keep your cords and cables from falling behind your desk. (here’s a picture)

 (right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

 Todays Learning Workplace podcast 28–Don’t Be a Control Freak…Delegate

Todays article:

• The Five Levels of Delegation (Michael Hyatt blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Message to CEOs: Do more to keep your key employees (Wall Street Journal via ASTD Buzz)
• Triple-A Thinking (Chief Learning Officer)
• 10 Ideas to Use Social Media for Professional Development (for L&D Professionals)
  (elearning Network’s 24 Tips blog)
• Top Presentation Tips of 2010: Dave’s picks (Business Hacks)
• Top Powerpoint Tips of 2010: Dave’s picks (Business Hacks)

Today’s topic
Key T&D Issues for 2011

• Big Training Challenge: Finding High Pay-Off Training Projects
• Training 2011: Conference and Expo
• A Look Ahead: Learning in 2011 (Chief Learning Officer)
• 10 Predictions for 2011: Trends That Will Reshape the Training Industry (this is the article Max mentioned)

What would you do?

This week:

• (no email last week)

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I hate presenting!  And it’s not WHAT I’m presenting that bothers me…I know the message that needs to be shared and I feel qualified to be the person sharing it…it’s just that I don’t look professional and confident!  I had myself video taped recently, and realize I need help!  I know you have talked touched on ideas to help presenters and facilitators before, but could you provide 5-10 presenter tips that have helped others you have worked with.

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Test everything–equipment, dvds, everything–before you start a training session
• Terri: Get your learning team together to talk about what it is you most want to accomplish for 2011
• Robin:  Set a specific professional development goal for yourself for first quarter of 2011 

Resources Mentioned During the Show

• Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used by Peter Block

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 27–Go Slow to Go Fast

Todays article:

• 13 Communication and Life Tips that Children Teach Us (Presentation Zen blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Executives Who Perceive Diversity Training to be Positive are More Satisfied with Their Careers (Newswise via ASTD blog)
• Organizations Fail to Tie Learning to Business Impact (Chief Learning Officer)
• 10 Things Teachers Should Unlearn (What Ed Said)
• Google Launches New Body Browser (PC World)
• Best Books of 2010: Business, Life & Mind (Brainpickings blog)
• Did You Use One of These 10 Most Overused Buzzwords in Your LinkedIn Profile This Year? (U.S.) (LinkedIn blog)

Today’s topic
Lifelong Learning

• Knowledge System for Lifelong Learning  
• Overview of Lifelong Learning (wikipedia)
• Lifelong Learning in the Workplace  (pdf)
• Lifelong Learning: A Global Colloquium  From the Open University, a great list of researchers and their work on LLL

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–I’m a sales manager within a hotel. I work closely with the general manager regarding the goals for the hotel, sales projections, as well as work with the staff around fulfilling customers needs, etc. Recently our customer service ratings have dropped…in particular in the area of our front desk. We are thinking about doing some customer service training for the employees…however, as I think about the group and their 1-3 years in their roles, I’m wondering if training is really what they need. They have been without a supervisor for a few months and we haven’t been able to give them any sort of raise for a year. Your thoughts?

Next week:

• No email for next week

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: When training, sit down with your group to create a more collegial and intimate atmosphere
• Terri: Test markers prior to a training session
• Robin: as we approach the end of the year, if you are taking vacation, think through what will be your strategy for staying connected and for disconnecting while on vacation.

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast 26–It’s Time for Professional Development Resolutions

Todays article:

• 31 Days to Become a Better Leader (Great Leadership blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• 20 Simple Steps to the Perfect Persuasive Message (Psy Blog)
• During Boring Classes, Texting is the New Doodling (Committed Sardine blog)
• Stop Interrupting Employees and Let Them Work (Workplace Learning blog and TED’s Jason Fried presention on Why Work Doesn’t Happen at Work)
• How Learning & Development Must Change: Three Challenges (Learning Solutions Magazine)
• Top 50 Leadership Blogs of 2010 (The Entrepreneur Blog)

Today’s topic

Creating inclusive work environments through diversity training programs

• How to Conduct a Diversity Training Workshop  Brief article on some training basics, including a few warnings and resources
• Does Diversity Training Work to Improve the Workplace? KPA blog that cites some of the research on the impact of diversity training
• Making Diversity Training Work  Management-Issues article on the Institute for Employment Studies research on the impact of racism awareness and cultural diversity training across the public sector)

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–
  We are a small learning and development department supporting a large employee population, with a lot of needs! We typically try to design, develop and facilitate our own training programs. As you well know, this takes time! Time we feel we are running short of! However, we are feeling as if there are topics where quality programs have already been developed by a third party that we could purchase and be well served. Would you have any suggestions as to where we could turn to review and possibly purchase “off the shelf” programs around time management, meeting management, conflict resolution, communication skills, etc.?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I’m a sales manager within a hotel.  I work closely with the general manager regarding the goals for the hotel, sales projections, as well as work with the staff around fulfilling customers needs, etc.  Recently our customer service ratings have dropped…in particular in the area of our front desk.  We are thinking about doing some customer service training for the employees…however, as I think about the group and their 1-3 years in their roles, I’m wondering if training is really what they need.  They have been without a supervisor for a few months and we haven’t been able to give them any sort of raise for a year.  Your thoughts?

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Create (and solicit from others!) online and off-line references related to the development topic
• Terri: Provide paper for doodling during class
• Robin: when working ing on development planning, skip the “Why,” “When,” and and “Who” questions and ask yourself the “What” and “How” questions. (from QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life by John Miller)

Other resources mentioned during the show

• HRDQ
• HRD Press 

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast #25–Lets Get a Little Social…Learning

Todays article:

• The Special Sauce of Social Learning (Learning Solutions Magazine, free sign-up required to read entire article)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• ASTD’s Employee Learning Week (Overview and link to congressional resolution)
• Changing Jobs, Lagging Education, and the Skill Gap (ASTD blog)
• e-Learning Still Trending Up (Human Resource Executive Online via ASTD blog)
• Leadership Skills for an Uncertain World (Center for Creative Leadership, Lead Effectively e-newsletter)
• The Meaning of Yes (Random Acts of Leadership blog)
• 5 Basic Factors for Happiness, According to Carl Jung  (Happiness blog)

Today’s topic

Keep it Simple: Plain Language Enters the Workplace!

• Use Plain Language (pdf) Short article on the basics of using plain language.
• Plain Language Association International – An Introduction to Plain Language  Motherload of resources, including international government initiatives.
• US Plain Language Tools  Federal site for the Plain Language act, including numerous tools and resources.
• Center for Plain Language  Advocate for clear communication and plain language in government, business, non-profits, and universities)

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–I’m relatively new to the training and development profession. I recently conducted a series of sessions throughout our organization on customer services principles. They were short sessions…less thank 2 hours…covered 10 basic things we all need to be aware of whether serving internal or external customers…with about 20 participants per session. We did a Level 1 evaluation after every session. I was feeling good about my facilitation skills, content coverage, etc. until this last session, and two feedback forms out of the 20. The participants indicated they didn’t think I was energetic enough and that I got off track too often, too long. Though my manager said to not worry about those two feedback forms, considering the 200 plus that had been completed, you can imagine where my mind still gravitates to. How do I get over the my hurt feelings?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–We are a small learning and development department supporting a large employee population, with a lot of needs!  We typically try to design, develop and facilitate our own training programs.  As you well know, this takes time!  Time we feel we are running short of!  However, we are feeling as if there are topics where quality programs have already been developed by a third party that we could purchase and be well served.  Would you have any suggestions as to where we could turn to review and possibly purchase “off the shelf” programs around time management, meeting management, conflict resolution, communication skills, etc.?  

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Get enough rest this time of year
• Terri: Use tools in your word processor and on the web to check the readability of your documents
• Robin: Take a break and have a quick walk  

Other resources mentioned during the show

• Leaders Make the Future: Ten New Leadership Skills for an Uncertain World (Bk Business) by Bob Johansen

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Todays Learning Workplace podcast #24–Being a Good Conflict-er

Todays article:

• How do You Deal with Conflict? (Splash blog via Workplace Learning blog)

 Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Organizational Learning: The Enduring Influence of Organization Development (Organization Development Journal via bnet.com via ASTD Buzz)
• Awakening Corporate Soul: Employee engagement can increase productivity and improve your bottom line (Collector Magazine via ASTD Buzz)
• Best-Practices in Building the Leadership Pipeline–highlights of a report from DDI & Aberdeen Group (DDI via ASTD blog)
• 8 Reasons You’re stuck (Leadership Freak blog)
• Low Cost Methods for Stress Relief (Simple Dollar blog)

 Today’s topic

Balancing . . . Precariously (Part 2)!  Can you Teach Work-Life Balance?

• Can You Teach Work/Life Balance? (Washington Post work-life blog, 2008)

What would you do?

This week:

• Dear TLW–

  Our human resources department is working with our IT department to implement a new on line health benefits system. It will impact those employees in the HR department who will be working with it daily…however, it will also impact every employee in the organization as they will now be able to go on line to make changes to their benefits, research and educate themselves on the various programs, initiate their yearly sign up, etc. IT has indicated the implementation will be in three phases, starting February 1 of this coming year. It has been suggested employees receive training in 3 phases, as well, as each becomes available. The entire roll out is planned to take 6 months or less. Each employee is being asked to go thru the training…each phase. It has been suggested the first phase training take place near the upcoming holiday time period…at least one month prior to the first phase going live. What are your thoughts regarding this? Any suggestions?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–

  I’m relatively new to the training and development profession.  I recently conducted a series of sessions throughout our organization on customer services principles.  They were short sessions…less thank 2 hours…covered 10 basic things we all need to be aware of whether serving internal or external customers…with about 20 participants per session.  We did a Level 1 evaluation after every session.  I was feeling good about my facilitation skills, content coverage, etc. until this last session, and two feedback forms out of the 20.  The participants indicated they didn’t think I was energetic enough and that I got off track too often, too long.  Though my manager said to not worry about those two feedback forms, considering the 200 plus that had been completed, you can imagine where my mind still gravitates to.  How do I get over the my hurt feelings?

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Consider sharing your powerpoint slides with participants.
• Terri: Let returning participants create and lead icebreakers/energizers?
• Robin: Have someone read your writing before you send it out to the organization.

Other resources mentioned during the show

• Book: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson

(right-click to download the MP3 of this podcast to your computer)

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #23–We all need some thanks

Today’s article:

• “Thank You” Goes a Long Way (Fast Company)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• How to be a Better Mentor (Journal of Accountancy via ASTD Buzz)
• Three Ways to Influence (Leading Effectively blog by Center for Creative Leadership)
• Do’s and Don’ts for Having a 360 Degree Assessment Development Discussion (Great Leadership blog)
• 12 Dozen Placed to Educate Yourself Online for Free (Marc and Angel Hack Life)
• If it won’t fit on a post it, it won’t fit in your day (Lifehacker)

Today’s topic
Balancing . . . Precariously!

• 10 Questions to Ask Yourself to Regain Your Work-Life Balance (LifeHack)
• Wheel of Life (Mindtools)
• The Great Work Blog (Michael Staniers “great work” website (great work = less bad stress and greater sense of spirit, vitality,and balance)
• (Book) A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life by Parker Palmer

What would you do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I enjoyed the banter and laughter the three of you had recently regarding the letter asking about books you would recommend for “new” leaders.  I appreciated the suggested titles and have purchased several that were mentioned to start up a book club as a follow up to some leadership training I am doing.  Your conversation just begs the question, “What books would you recommend for a more seasoned leader?”

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  Our human resources department is working with our IT department to implement a new on line health benefits system.  It will impact those employees in the HR department who will be working with it daily…however, it will also impact every employee in the organization as they will now be able to go on line to make changes to their benefits, research and educate themselves on the various programs, initiate their yearly sign up, etc.  IT has indicated the implementation will be in three phases, starting February 1 of this coming year.  It has been suggested employees receive training in 3 phases, as well, as each becomes available.  The entire roll out is planned to take 6 months or less.  Each employee is being asked to go thru the training…each phase.  It has been suggested the first phase training take place near the upcoming holiday time period…at least one month prior to the first phase going live.  What are your thoughts regarding this?  Any suggestions?

2-minute tips of the week

• Max: Be purposeful in assigning participants to small groups.
• Terri: Do a wheel of life exercise and compare it with your calendar–are you spending the most time on the things that matter?
• Robin: Think of someone from your past that had a great impact on you and thank them.

Other resources mentioned during the show

• Pomodoro technique

Books:

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan & Al Switzler
• The Distance Manager: A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams
  by Kimball Fisher
• Leading Change by John P. Kotter
• Love ‘em or Lose ‘em: Getting Good People to Stay (4th edition) by Bev Kaye & Sharon Jordan-Evans
• Survival of the Savvy: High-Integrity Political Tactics for Career and Company Success by Rick Brandon & Marty Seldman
• The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters by Peter Block
• The Reinvention of Work: New Vision of Livelihood for Our Time, A by Mathew Fox
• The Seven-Day Weekend: Changing the Way Work Works by Ricardo Semler
• Hacking Work: Breaking Stupid Rules for Smart Results by Bill Jensen & Josh Klein

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #22–Design is Design is Design  

Today’s article:  

• Five Lessons from Learning Game Development (Upside Learning blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:  

• Free-ebook: Learning Perspectives 2010 (Elliot Masie’s Learning 2011 conference website)
• Teaching Online Courses: 60 Great Resources (Tony Karrer’s eLearning Blog)
• Project: Social (Creative Chaos Consultant blog via Brandon Hall’s Workplace Learning blog)
• 5 Steps to Obliterate Procrastination (Entrepreneurs Journey blog)

Today’s topic
Moving From Trainer to Performance Consultant  

• The 7 Deadly Sins of New Performance Consultants (Bnet.com)
• From Trainer to Performance Consultant
• (Book) Performance Consulting: A Practical Guide for HR and Learning Professionals by Dana Gaines Robinson  
• Appreciative Inquiry Commons

 What would you do?
This week:  

• Dear TLW–
  I was asked a month ago to give a presentation to my professional association. My contact person shared information about the group, provided the logistics, and gave me the theme of what they would like to see me cover…all within 90 minutes. I got a call today…the time given me is now 1/2 the time! 45 minutes! What should I do? Talk faster so I can cover everything?

Next week:  

• Dear TLW–
• I enjoyed the banter and laughter the three of you had recently regarding the letter asking about books you would recommend for “new” leaders.  I appreciated the suggested titles and have purchased several that were mentioned to start up a book club as a follow up to some leadership training I am doing.  Your conversation just begs the question, “What books would you recommend for a more seasoned leader?”

 2-minute tips of the week  

• Max: Use the Did You Know 2010 YouTube video to support learning about adapting to change.
• Terri: Consider using learning partners so extend the learning beyond the class.
• Robin: After facilitation reflect on what went well and not-so-well and make a plan to incorporate these into your next facilitation.

Other resources mentioned during the show  

• ISPI and HPT
• ASTD

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #21–Is this Mandatory?

Today’s article:

• The State of Learning in the Workplace Today (Free as in Freedom blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Bosses Overestimate Their Managing Skills (Wall Street Journal via ASTD Buzz)
• Every Leader’s Six Mental Mistakes (LeadershipNow Leading blog)
• The Future of Work–As Gartner Sees it (Upside Learning blog)
• The Little Book of Procrastination Remedies (Zen Habits)
• Learning Culture Makes a Big Difference (Free as in Freedom blog)
• The Power of Pull–John Seely Brown (Free as in Freedom blog)
• A Defense of Writing Longhand (Lifehacker)

Today’s Topic
Be There . . . or Else! Making Mandatory/Compliance Training Engaging and Meaningful

• How to Make Corporate Training Rock: How one team turned a training binder into must-see TV  (Fast Company)
• Turning Compliance Training into Compliance Learning  (Blackboard blog)  

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  Our senior leadership team has had several new members join. The organization has also been going thru a lot of change…realigning departments, as well as reviewing our goals so as to be more aggressive in the marketplace. The CEO has asked me to facilitate a session with the group, so as to get to know each other better and consider how the group communicates with each other now, and in the future. I think a behavioral styles assessment would be a good thing to use with them. It would give them a common language to be able to appreciate each other strengths, and identify areas that could be detrimental to the them. What are your thoughts? Which ones should I consider?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I was asked a month ago to give a presentation to my professional association.  My contact person shared information about the group, provided the logistics, and gave me the theme of what they would like to see me cover…all within 90 minutes.  I got a call today…the time given me is now 1/2 the time!  45 minutes!  What should I do?  Talk faster so I can cover everything?

 2 minute tips of the week

• Max: Be thoughtful of the snacks and lunches you eat during training class to keep your energy up.
• Terri: Consider having students collaborate to create their own job aids.
• Robin: Do something different this week–even something small like taking a different route to work.–to open up your creativity.

Other resources mentioned during the show

• Book: The Executive and the Elephant: A Leader’s Guide for Building Inner Excellence by Richard L. Daft
• Book: The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion by John Hagel III, John Seely Brown, Lang Davison
• Book: The Social Life of Information John Seely Brown, Paul Duguid

(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #20–”Experience” the Learning!

Today’s article:

• 5 Lessons From Outgoing Microsoft Software Architect Ray Ozzie (Fast Company)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Simplicity in Presentations and Why it Matters (Free as in Freedom blog)
• The Business Case for Leadership Development (Great Leadership blog)
• IBM’s Use of Social Software for Enterprise 2.0 (Brandon Hall’s Workplace Learning, links through to Bill Ive’s Portals and KM blog)
• 12 Reasons to Ditch the Pen–why its no longer mightiest against the sword (Tech Learning blog)
• First Look: Leadership Books for November 2010 (LeadershipNow Leading blog)

Today’s Topic
Experiential Learning 

• Experiential Learning Theory: Previous Research and New Directions. (pdf)
• Experience-based Learning – Guide to Facilitating Effective Experiential Learning Activities (Businessballs.com)
• Incorporating Experiential Learning in Training: How to Get the Most Out of Games and Simulations as Learning Tools ( Suite101.com)

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  Help!! I’m a new trainer…and I’ll be conducting my first training session next month. I have prepared my notes for the session, I have practiced outloud three times in the room I’ll be using, but I’m afraid I’m going to get in the front of the group, and forget what I’m going to say! In fact, I’m becoming so worried about it, I’m having nightmares about it! What suggestions would you provide a novice like me?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  Our senior leadership team has had several new members join.  The organization has also been going thru a lot of change…realigning departments, as well as reviewing our goals so as to be more aggressive in the marketplace.  The CEO has asked me to facilitate a session with the group, so as to get to know each other better and consider how the group communicates with each other now, and in the future.  I think a behavioral styles assessment would be a good thing to use with them.  It would give them a common language to be able to appreciate each other strengths, and identify areas that could be detrimental to the them.  What are your thoughts?  Which ones should I consider?

2 minute tips of the week

• Max: Use “herding cat” video to underscore the importance of clear goals and expectations.
• Terri: Create opportunities for people to visualize.
• Robin: As pre-work to a session, have participants keep an observation journal for the 5 or 10 days before class listing when they have seen particular behaviors related to the class. Have them create themes or questions and use these in an initial exercise in the class.

Other resources mentioned during the show

• Herding Cats video (youtube.com)

(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #19–Everyone is a Superlearner

Today’s article:

• It’s a Bird..It’s a Plane…It’s a Superlearner (Chief Learning Officer)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Recession Affected Trust and Ethics in the Workplace (HR Management)
• Top 100 Tools for Learning 2010 (Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies, Jane Hart)

Today’s Topic
Marketing your Training & Development department, program and services 

• Think like a marketer to sell your training program (TechRepublic)
• How to Market Training to Your Workforce (pdf document, HowToMarketTraining.com)

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I have heard you all mention the work you have done for managers, supervisors, and leaders…whether thru classroom work or individual coaching. I’m wondering if you would each share your top three book choices for new managers of people. We are just starting management development in our organization, and have discussed the idea of having the classroom experience supplemented by various readings between sessions or a “management book club.”
• (Robin, Terri & Max’s book recommendations are at the end of this blog post)

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  Help!!  I’m a new trainer…and I’ll be conducting my first training session next month.  I have prepared my notes for the session, I have practiced outloud three times in the room I’ll be using, but I’m afraid I’m going to get in the front of the group, and forget what I’m going to say!  In fact, I’m becoming so worried about it, I’m having nightmares about it!  What suggestions would you provide a novice like me?

2 minute tips of the week

• Max: Use activities like “brain teasers” or “I.Q. Tests” for participants to work on during breaks or when they come back early from lunch. (from: Still More Games Trainers Play by Scannell and Newstrom)
• Terri: Provide time for participants to reflect on learning periodically and at the end of a training session.
• Robin: At the end of a training session, before creating a development plan, ask participants to identify things that helped or hindered him/her successfully execute on development plans in the past.  Include these insights into the creation of the current development plan. 

Other resources mentioned during the show

• Stewardship: Choosing Service Over Self Interest by Peter Block
• Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World 
   by Margaret Wheatley
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed: 30th Anniversary Edition by Paulo Friere
• Traditional Management and Beyond – A Matter of Renewal by Omar Aktouf
• In Search of Meaning: Managing for the Health of Our Organizations, Our Communities, and the Natural World) by Thierry Pauchant
• Managing For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance) by Bob Nelson & Peter Economy
• Leadership and the One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard
• Successful Manager’s Handbook by Gebellin, Davis, Nelson-Neuhaus, Skube, Lee, Stevens & Hellervik
• Right From The Start: Taking Charge In A New Leadership Role by Dan Ciampa & Michael Watkins
• Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boytzis & Annie McKee
• Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan
• Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development by Henry Mintzberg
• Coaching Up and Down the Generations by Lisa Haneberg
• Influence Without Authority (2nd Edition) by Allan R. Cohen & David L. Bradford
• The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization by John C. Maxwell (There is also The 360 Degree Leader Workbook: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization)

(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #18–I “herd” that
(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

Today’s article:

• How to Manage to Foster Innovation (Workplace Learning, Brandon Hall Research)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• TED video: Where good ideas come from, Steven Johnson (TED). He also has a book: Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation from (Amazon)
• Social Media: A Workplace Learning Tool. Includes slideshow (CIO Insights via ASTD Buzz)
• A Little Adversity Goes a Long Way (Futurity.org)
• 10 Tips to Improve Employee Training (ThomaNet News)
• Starting a Training Program–5 Things to Keep in Mind (Free as in Freedom blog)
• A Lawyer’s Advice for a Learning Professional (Dave’s Whiteboard blog)

Today’s Topic
Action Learning: From Trainer to Learning Coach!

• Book: Action Reflection Learning (TM): Solving Real Business Problems by Connecting Learning with Earning by Isabel Rimanoczy
• Overview of Donald Schon’s book, The Reflective Practitioner (Infed.org)
• Book: The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action  by Donald Schon
• Action Learning article by Michael Marquardt
• Book: Action Learning in Action: Transforming Problems and People for World-Class Organizational Learning by Michael Marquardt
• International Foundation for Action Learning website

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I especially enjoyed the week when you discussed how to handle the naysayer in the group. I appreciate anyone and everyone that talks in my session…I find it’s easier for me to train when the participants are saying something versus nothing…even if it’s “naysaying.”My question…what do you do with the dominator…the person who repeats themselves, provides too much detail, or wants the majority of “air time”? Again, I appreciate engaged, involved participants…but when the dominator gets started, I find it difficult to guide or control where the conversation goes.

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I have heard you all mention the work you have done for managers, supervisors, and leaders…whether thru classroom work or individual coaching.  I’m wondering if you would each share your top three book choices for new managers of people.  We are just starting management development in our organization, and have discussed the idea of having the classroom experience supplemented by various readings between sessions or a “management book club.”

2 minute tips of the week

• Max: Share information with your co-facilitator if he/she were not in the room for part of the session
• Terri: Use questions to uncover beliefs, assumptions and to increase understanding
• Robin: When you are creatively stuck, frame the problem in the opposite direction  

 Other resources mentioned during the show

• Book: Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation by Stephen Johnson
• Book: Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter by Stephen Johnson
• Book: Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software
  by Stephen Johnson
• Book: Interface Culture by Stephen Johnson
• Book: The New Social Learning: A Guide to Transforming Organizations Through Social Media by Tony Bingham & Marcia Conner

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Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #17–Change Agent Yourself
(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

Today’s article:

• Becoming a Change Agent (Chief Learning Officer)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Will Mobile Apps Change Training Forever? (Upside Learning Solutions blog)
• Learning for a Workforce of One (Chief Learning Officer magazine, Oct 2010)
• Solid Leadership Development Linked to Business Results (Center for Creative Leadership)
• 3-Stage Goals  (Brass Tack Thinking)

Today’s Topic
“Training” ethics

• Do the Right Thing: Ethics Training Programs Help Employees Deal with Ethical Dilemmas (HR Magazine via BNet.com)
• Ethics Training: Impact on Corporate Liability (Leadership Review)
• Training Intervention Strategies to Promote Application of Ethics Learning in Practice Settings (The International Child and Youth Care Network-Online)

What Would You Do?
This week:

• (no letter this week)

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I especially enjoyed the week when you discussed how to handle the naysayer in the group. I appreciate anyone and everyone that talks in my session…I find it’s easier for me to train when the participants are saying something versus nothing…even if it’s “naysaying.”My question…what do you do with the dominator…the person who repeats themselves, provides too much detail, or wants the majority of “air time”? Again, I appreciate engaged, involved participants…but when the dominator gets started, I find it difficult to guide or control where the conversation goes.

2 minute tips of the week

• Terri: Make the benefits of training explicit
• Max: Consider closing your session with the short (3m) DVD: 212 the extra degree
• Robin: Have participants call/email during training to say what they’ve learned

Resources mentioned during the show

• Book: Managing At the Speed of Change by Daryl Conner

(Leave us a comment by clicking on the comment link below)

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #16–Ethics? What ethics?
(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

Today’s article:

• Creating an Organization that Learns (Chief Learning Officer, Peter Senge video, apx 9m)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Combining Cool with Core (Chief Learning Officer magazine, Sep 2010)
• Train the Trainer Before Training Others (Performance Xpress, ISPI, Aug 2010)
• Don’t Forget to Take Your Happy Pill (Terry Starbucker’s Ramblings from a Glass Half Full blog)
• The Essential Power of Surrounding Yourself with Like-Minded People (Man vs. Debt.  Note: This is a blog about freelance work and getting out of debt, but this article has application for all of us. Ask yourself how you can minimize the “haters” and surround yourself with like-minded people.)

Today’s Topic
Professional ethics in T&D (there’s more than ‘don’t violate copyright law’)

• ASTD Code of Ethics
• ISPI Code of Ethics in Human Performance Technology (view as a pdf)
• The National Staff Development and Training Association’s Code of Ethics for Training and Development Professionals in Human Services
• Ethics and Their Place in Training (Personnel Today) 
    

 What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  Ladies…I’m not a trainer.  I’m the manager of our accounting department…five people total.  Our human resource manager has been listening to your podcasts and encouraged that I listen as well.  We both have picked up several ideas for ourselves and our groups thru your discussions as well as the books and articles suggested.My question to you…what would be your 3-5 key tips for meeting management?  I have regular weekly team meetings, but I’m beginning to wonder about their effectiveness.  It seems as if we go from one meeting where I’m doing all the talking, to the other extreme where there’s a lot of talking but nothing getting accomplished.

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  I especially enjoyed the week when you discussed how to handle the naysayer in the group.  I appreciate anyone and everyone that talks in my session…I find it’s easier for me to train when the participants are saying something versus nothing…even if it’s “naysaying.”My question…what do you do with the dominator…the person who repeats themselves, provides too much detail, or wants the majority of “air time”?  Again, I appreciate engaged, involved participants…but when the dominator gets started, I find it difficult to guide or control where the conversation goes.

2 minute tips of the week

• Terri: Use different kinds of questions
• Max: Talking sticks to balance participation
• Robin: Use humor, but use it thoughtfully

Resources mentioned during the show

• Robin’s Top 5 podcast show #4: Top 5 Tips for Asking Questions

(Leave us a comment by clicking on the comment link below)

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #15–You Have Poppy Seeds in Your Teeth
(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

Today’s article:

• Making Feedback Work–the Anti-Patterns (Free as in Freedom blog)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• Four Public Speaking Lessons from President Obama (Business Hacks)
• Forgotten Boomers Again Looking to Retirement Post-Recession (Business Wire via ASTD blog)
• Older Adults and Social Media (committed sardine blog)
• What is the definition of adult digital literacy? (Adventures in Corporate Education)
• RIM Introduces Playbook–the Blackberry Tablet (engadget)

Today’s Topic
Training on Demand, and Implications for Changing the Role of Trainer“

• Do Training Departments Still Train? (Management-Issues.com)

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  We recently developed a “communication” course for our individual contributor population. It will be a four hour course with lots of discussion, exercises, and role playing. We feel very good about the content. We have been debating as to whether we should have a pre-class assignment…something that would get participants thinking about a typical situation they might encounter, and what they would do if they were one of the two people in the situation. Pre-class work is new to this population. When is pre-work appropriate? What are some tips on how to “assign” it?

Next week:

• Dear TLW–
  Ladies…I’m not a trainer.  I’m the manager of our accounting department…five people total.  Our human resource manager has been listening to your podcasts and encouraged that I listen as well.  We both have picked up several ideas for ourselves and our groups thru your discussions as well as the books and articles suggested.My question to you…what would be your 3-5 key tips for meeting management?  I have regular weekly team meetings, but I’m beginning to wonder about their effectiveness.  It seems as if we go from one meeting where I’m doing all the talking, to the other extreme where there’s a lot of talking but nothing getting accomplished.

2 minute tips of the week

• Terri: Keep handouts simple and interactive
• Max:  Divide them into groups and have them “teach back” the content
• Robin:  Have senior management/relevant business leader set the stage

 Resources mentioned during the show

• Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
• Johari Window

(Leave us a comment by clicking on the comment link below)

Today’s Learning Workplace podcast #14–
Powerpoint doesn’t bore people; People bore people
(right-click here if you want to download the MP3 to your computer)

 
Today’s article:

• 7 Tips for Avoiding Procrastination (Happiness Project)

Other articles and things of interest from this week:

• 4 Things You Need to Know About Influence (Brass Tack Thinking)
• Workers leave jobs because of relationship with boss, study finds (news.com.au)
• Learning in the Workplace: The Wisdom of Colleagues (LexisNexis Government Info Pro)
• If You Force Them, They Won’t Learn (Bozarth Zone)
• 1 in 4 U.S. Adults Now Use Mobile Apps (Mashable)

Today’s Topic
PowerPoint: Use it or lose it?

• “Pedagogy Meets PowerPoint: A Research Review of the Effects of Computer-Generated Slides in the Classroom”  Essay offers a review of the effects of ppt slides in the classroom, beginning with an overview of the ongoing debate over whether ppt is a thumbs up or thumbs down.
• “We Have Met the Enemy and He Is PowerPoint”  Article that extends some earlier debate on the overuse of ppt in the military, and serious concerns that the program stifles discussion, critical thinking and thoughtful decision-making.
• Blog of Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery
  author Garr Reynolds, including insights on using ppt and video, and some discussion on how even though information often can be taken in faster by reading it, it misses a necessary depth and richness.

What Would You Do?
This week:

• Dear TLW–
  I recently led a “team building” session for one our internal departments.  They are  growing in size, roles are changing, business is increasing, and the group has felt a  need to stop, reflect on what could hinder them as they go forward, and what they  might be proactive with relative to communication tools, etc.  There was one person in  the group that seemed to be negative,