Coloring Inside the Lines

Last month, we introduced the mistake-filled “T1 Training Company” and talked about the mistakes they made when assessing “Acme Company’s” training needs.  This month we examine T1’s mistakes during the Design Curricula phase.

T1 had a standard day-long time management course that it cut to four hours, per Manager Fred’s request.  Analysis of the end-of-course evaluations …Read More

Setting a Course for Success

Does this story sound familiar?  “Acme Company” determined that it wants to be known for having the best customer service.  It implements new policies to encourage better customer service.  It launches an internal campaign to boost employees’ awareness of the goal.

Halfway through the year, Bob, the Accounting Manager, is frustrated with the number of complaints …Read More

The Gift of Time

The holiday season is always a stressful time of year.  At home, you have gift purchases, holiday planning, household cleaning, and travel preparations to do.  At work, the last month of the year is stressful either because you are trying to finish everything before everyone disappears on vacation, or because you have limited work.  If …Read More

Engaging the Brain

Since the 1990s self-paced (asynchronous) online learning has seemed like Camelot for corporate training departments:  It is the mythical, low-cost, low-interference way of training employees to increase productivity or comply with regulations.   Although 90% of companies now use some form of online training, self-paced elearning lags behind other forms of online learning.   Why?  Quite frankly, …Read More

Virtual Celebrations

As Martha and the Vandellas and, later, Van Halen sang, “Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets!”  The USA, France, Canada, Burundi, the Solomon Islands and 21 other countries celebrate their independence this month.   All these festivities are a good reminder that, as managers, we should also celebrate the achievements …Read More