When I start working with organizations, I like to take some time to meet with the employees. I find that listening to how they describe their own organization — its values, behaviors, and attitudes — often shows more about the company's real culture than anything the management says.
Read moreManagers often talk about “empowering” employees. Books are written about it. Studies show it improves productivity, quality, employee satisfaction, and customer service. We all know it's important, but the fact of the matter is that most of the time, when managers try to empower their employees, they miss out on a crucial component.
Read moreWhen you hear the words “one-on-one training,” your first impulse is probably to throw your hands in the air and explain about your squeezed budget. But fear not. We understand resources are tight. But even in today's era of less-than-luxurious learning and development spending, there's still a case to be made for tailor-made, personalized training.
Read moreI've worked as a training director in two companies. In my previous role, I managed a group of 13 trainers and instructional designers. But in my current role, I am what many would call a “department of one”.
Read moreLast week I participated in an all-employee meeting during which I shared our philosophy about creating a culture of continuous learning. I was frank when I told everyone that the “training department” will not be able to provide everything people need to be great at their jobs and that each one of us need to...
Read moreEven great employees can get into a performance rut, where the monotony of doing the same thing day in and day out can turn into a sort of mindlessness. Nobody intends to get in a rut, but few people actively seek out the changes that can help them pull out of one. That’s where managers can...
Read moreAbout a month ago, I gave up my office and set up in the cubicles with the rest of my employees.
Read moreStudies show that diverse teams are more creative teams. But the research is just as clear that having folks with very different backgrounds working together is also a source of conflict, and that teams need solid communication skills to reap the benefits of that diversity.
Read moreI thought we all agreed that most of the meetings we attend are a waste of time. We discussed it in the halls, we sent IMs and emails to each other, and we snickered while the boss rambled on for 20 minutes about how hard he'd been working on that critical, can’t fail, top-priority, all-hands-on-deck,...
Read moreWe’ve been training employees on several new procedures and approaches recently in my workplace. But what’s been bothering me is the question of why some of these practices, which include really sound and important information, make it into our employees’ workdays, and why others don’t.
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