10 Important Benefits of Networking http
10 Important Benefits of Networking http://ow.ly/B78030hEibC
Conducting a Workplace Analysis
Conducting a workplace analysis can be a daunting task as requests of this nature are often made out of panic, fear, and at times all out sheer desperation.
As the Organizational Development (OD) professional, you’re expected to put on your red cape, swoop in, and save the day. Unfortunately, things don’t always pan out this way. While training may not be the end all be all to fix the problem(s) causing the request for the workplace analysis, OD professionals are called in the give a clear assessment and possibly a solution of internal or external influences that are affecting the forward progress of the organization.
Should your duties ever consist of conducting a workplace analysis, here are five pitfalls to avoid.
- Don’t base your analysis on assumptive data.
- Eliminate all bias.
- Focus on the behaviors observed, not the person.
- Evaluate all internal and external influences.
- Do not become emotionally attached.
Do not base your analysis on assumptive data. Opinions are like lottery tickets, everyone wants theirs to be the winner. When systemic performance issues occur, it is most likely the leader already has a theory, but is not quite able to substantialize it. Many times they will call in the OD professional to merely back up their theory, so that proposed solutions will have justification.
As the OD professional it is your duty to provide well educated conclusions based off hard facts and data, not your opinion. While you will most likely be fed tons of data and background information try not to let it taint your analysis. If you’re provided with data, do your own analysis, don’t count on the work of others.
While it may seem like you’re beating a dead horse, remember your role. You been invited to come in an assess the situation with a fresh set of eyes. Don’t taint your vision by looking through someone else’s cloudy lenses.
Next…the importance of eliminating all bias.
Contributor Raina M. Berry, MSHRD Organizational Development Coordinator National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. and Affiliates
Software Training Tips by a Talent Development Pro
by Chris Gilmore, VP of Training
Our company is launching a new property management system which means we need to train over 500 employees on the new system, this system impacts almost every single task they complete on a daily basis.
I have to say my experience over the last 15 years has been mostly focused on safety, leadership, supervisor, service and other soft skills training so developing a course for software training was a little intimidating for me. All I kept thinking about was how do I make this engaging, how do I make sure they get it. I know when I learn software I need to do it in order to learn it.
Well, we just completed our first in person training class on the new software. We had a total of 25 people for 4 days training on the new software and here are a couple things I learned along the way:
- When you are teaching new software don’t forget the change management side of it, learning to use a new software is a change
- We sprinkled change management activities throughout the session which included:
- The signature preference exercise from MBTI where you sign your name with your dominant hand and then sign it with the other hand. I asked the group to describe each experience. When they signed with the non dominant hand this is what it will feel like when you return. I then asked them if they were getting a $5K bonus for writing their name with their non dominant hand would they get better at it? How? Practice, yes, that is what it will take in the new system.
- We used the Bouncing Back from Adversity activity for an energizer and gave everyone a tennis ball to take home as a reminder. In fact, we realized tennis balls are great for getting knots out of your back!
- We used Thiagi’s Thirty Five activity to generate ideas on how to stay positive and lead their teams through the change when they return to the office.
- Spend time on hands on activities when you can, a training database is a really helpful tool!
- Come up with some way to know when people are finished with individual activities, we had name plates that had red and green reflectors on them, red I’m still working, green I am ready to go on to the next thing
- Build in time for technical issues
- If the screen they are watching the trainer on is hard to see, run a Go-To-Meeting session the students can open on their own screens so they can watch it directly in front of them. We did this and it helped so much especially when we were looking at report.
- We also created a theme for the roll out which helped us add some fun. Our theme was a Marathon. Halfway through the training we provided them cool towels with our logo so they can make sure they stay cool when they return and start using the new software.
- We sprinkled change management activities throughout the session which included:
Throughout this process it was a great reminder to me of the power of brain breaks, and ensuring you are developing your course for the audience and that any topic can be fun to develop and deliver.
Chris Gilmore, Vice President of Training
All Work and No Play Is No Way to Work
Susan Reinecke shared with the ATD Piedmont Chapter in May 2016.
here is the presentation she used to guide this enjoyable, even fun meeting with the group
All Work and No Play Is No Way To Work (PPTX)
When’s the last time you actually played? Really let loose, stepped out of your comfort zone and just let whatever happens happen? As adults, we don’t always have the chance to learn by playing, by experimenting, laughing and having fun. Yet, research shows that games and play in the workplace can have fantastic results. By playing together, we can form deeper relationships, spark creativity and release stress in healthy ways!
What is play? Play is the opportunity to take risks, to get outside the box and safely interact with others in fun and creative ways. In this workshop, play will focus on dynamic interactions that incorporate movement and improvisation, laughter and exploration. You will leave energized and ready to face the rest of your day.
By participating in this workshop, you will get to know people on a new level, you will get on your feet and be a part of something exciting and unpredictable. And more importantly, you will learn the value of bringing play into the workplace!
The speaker, Susan Reinecke, is a subject-matter-expert in the area of improving relationships in the workplace. Part of her work is leading exercises that get employees engaging in new ways, improving wellbeing, productivity, and workplace relations. As she says “Fun is good for you and your business.” She also designs and delivers targeted workshops on topics such as becoming a more successful presenter, storytelling, and improvisation.
Susan is a lifelong learner who has enthusiastically led dynamic interactions for over 20 years. Currently she works as an independent consultant and facilitator, designing and integrating dynamic interactions and play to deepen workplace relationships, improve wellbeing, and increase productivity. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College.
Why I joined ATD Piedmont – Katherine Pryor
Why I joined ATD
by Katherine Pryor
Several years ago, I had an “AHA! Moment,” finally understanding that my career dream had always been to be part of a Human Resources team specializing in the areas of Training and Development and Organizational Development. My career path to that point had been a slightly crooked path – always in the clinical research industry but a variety of roles from a study coordinator to a study monitor to a study site manager. I realized that the common thread between my various positions was in teaching, guiding, and organizing efforts.
While I was in the role as site manager, one of my good friends mentioned that her son was in a similar line of work to what I was describing. I got on a call with him, explained my interests, and he suggested I join my local ATD chapter. Life got busy, and some changes occurred that put my life dream of moving into Training and Development on the back-burner so though I had checked out the website, I did not join the organization at that time but always kept it in mind as a future resource.
Fast forward several years later. Currently, I am employed by a quickly growing company where new positions are created to meet our changing needs. Though I came into the organization as a project manager, in June 2015 I was presented with the opportunity to develop our on-boarding and internal training capabilities. Until this time, little attention had been paid to these areas because the Human Resources team was two people – the VP and our corporate recruiter. From June until October, I handled these areas on a part-time basis as I was still resourced to project management for 50% of my time.
October 2015 came, and I moved into my new role as HR Training and Organizational Development Manager. It was a perfect time and opportunity to revisit ATD Piedmont as a resource. Knowing that I would have some significant initiatives to tackle and that this was the direction I wanted to take my career, being part of ATD became a priority. I signed up in my first month or maybe even the first week!
Having the opportunity to work with ATD as a local chapter board member, attend the various events, and have access to online resources has been a terrific compliment to the work I am doing in graduate school (WCU, Masters in Human Resources) and on my company’s Human Resources team.
Written by Katherine Pryor, HR Training and Organizational Development Manager of Clinical Ink in Winston-Salem NC.
Employee Engagement
Tales from the operating room: Train them like brain surgeons
A quick story: Back in the day, I trotted off to my local university with dreams of becoming America’s next great medical doctor. With transcript in hand, SAT scores in my hip pocket, and a plan to graduate early so I could enter medical school, I eagerly dived into my classes. On the weekends, I worked at a local hospital and watched future doctors be trained.
Fast forward to today: I am not a doctor. I discovered in undergrad school that three things kept me from reaching my goal; Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also, blood was involved which is not my strong suit. So before being asked to leave school, I announced to the world that I was changing my plan and becoming the next-best thing to a brain surgeon… and that was life as a corporate learning guru… which was a step up if you ask me.
But, here’s the thing. I did learn something in the hospital about employee engagement. A surefire way to get student/employee engagement is to have them teach the class or at least part of it. The medical community calls this ‘See, Do, Teach.’ It’s the way doctors become doctors. They watch the procedure, then do the procedure, then teach the procedure to the next student or group. The medical community knows that you-don’t-know-it-until-you-can-teach-it. And you should steal this idea.
So, what’s the application? If you want your employees to give their undivided attention and ask a bazillion questions, let them know in advance they will be teaching part of the class tomorrow….on their feet…in front of the room. Nothing drives engagement like the fear of embarrassing yourself in front of your peers! Picture a 3-day workshop. Before class begins, give each employee a teaching assignment for the next day around today’s lessons. That will engage them like nobody’s business!
Ask your doctor.
Jim Blaylock, Sales Coach
The Power of Networking
The Power of Networking
Many believe effective networking is done face-to-face, building a rapport with someone by looking at them in the eye, leading to a solid connection and foundational trust. ~ Raymond Arroyo
I completely agree with Raymond’s words.
Let me break down Raymond’s statement to help us understand the Power of Networking:
Effective Networking – What is effective. As a Talent Development professional I feel effective includes learning new ideas, sharing new ideas and ’smashing’ two ideas together to come up with a new and possibly better idea. In a very simple way, effective networking could be talent development between two (or more) people in a open conversation.
Face-to-face – This does not mean ‘meeting’. Rather it can be done in lots of different ways and places. Coffee shop, café, diner, park bench, football game, on the subway, in a plane, back porch or on a bar stoll. Face-to-face networking happens any where and anytime two (or more) people gather in open conversations.
Building a rapport – Dale Carnegie taught me what this means. Building rapport involves finding our commonality and our relevant interests. Building rapport requires that we accept our differences for the sake of building upon our uniqueness and similar interests. Without first building rapport, networking becomes drudgery.
Solid connection – A solid connection or some level of positive relationship, is the fuel that moves conversations deeper and broader. We need to be able to have deep and broad conversations to truly learn from each other. Without a solid connection we are unlikely to truly open up and share, we’ll remain reserved and even resistant to another idea. Developing relationships tear down the barriers and reluctance to engage in great dialogue.
Foundational Trust – Trust is the glue of life. It’s the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It’s the foundational principle that holds all relationships. ~ Stephen Covey
Build a rapport and a solid connection enables us to get into great conversations. If during these conversations we listen to one another and accept our differences in both a professional and personal way, this can lead to trust. It’s this trust that allows the relationship to grow even further, the conversations to get even deeper and broader, and the ideas to flow more openly.
Networking is a powerful way to learn, share and grow both personally and professionally.
As talent development professionals we must be willing to learn every day. Networking can provide an opportunity to learn from others in many ways.
The power of networking is directly relevant to our willingness to meet face-to-face, build a rapport, a solid connection and trust.
Teddy Burriss:
Teddy Burriss is a member of ATD Piedmont and ATD National. Teddy is a LinkedIn expert, social media consultant, columnist, speaker and author who shares with this audiences steps to achieve success in business by building relationships and developing leads through the use of LinkedIn as a business tool. Teddy proves every day that networking is a powerful tool in his life, including his business.
Teddy is a proven leader with certifications such as Social Media Strategist, DDI Facilitator and Sandler Sales Professional. His expert articles have been featured in USA Today College and Greensboro News & Record. He has two highly reviewed books: Networking for Mutual Benefit and Success Using Social Media. He’s a sought after speaker for business organizations and educational institutions such as IAAP, ATD, IREM, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem State University and Salem College.
Visit our Events page to see our upcoming ATD Piedmont Events. Lots of great events coming up.
Facilitation Finesse – Tips and Tricks
ATD Piedmont members Jim Blaylock and Daniel Lobb led the discussion today at the monthly ATD Piedmont meeting. These guys did a great job getting us to share during the meeting.
The topic of the meeting was ‘Facilitation Tips and Tricks’. Jim and Daniel turned the meeting into everyone sharing their own best ideas with the group. It was a great way to show us all lots of new tips and tricks we can use in our own classes, seminars, webinars and training programs.
Here is a list of some of the Killer Ideas the group shared with us:
(These ideas are intended to ‘poke’ you to see how they can apply to your own training/facilitation activities.)
- Get out from behind the lectern. Mingle with the students & attendees during the session.
- Start with a highly active and engaging group activity that breaks down barriers and creates more involvement.
- Make your programs highly active.
- Engage the introverts by asking them to write their ideas down and share on a sticky note on a wall.
- Switch up the seating arrangements so the attendees engage with others.
- Request or encourage one-on-one follow thru between the attendees to enable more discussion after the session.
- Start with Startling Facts that create more urgency and importance for the training.
- Have the attendees pick an animal noise and then find another person making the same animal noise.
- Plan up front as much as you can. Develop feedback during the session rather than just at the end.
- Use PopCulture information and music during the session to make it more enjoyable.
- Use Culture Shock to stir up the group.
- Shock the attendees with a worse case scenario perspective activity. (example – have them build a paper drawing beautiful neighborhood in a group setting, then FLOOD IT by dumping it in a bucket)
- Use Popcorn or candy during the session.
- Remind everyone in the room that ‘Everyone brings value, a perspective and new ideas to the group, therefore we encourage Everyone to participate.’ (Wow, this class was an example of this)
- Distribute simple desk phones and let attendees ring their phone when they hear or see an Ah Ha idea.
- Discover everyone’s learning style thru an activity before starting the program.
- Draw a tree and share it in a group setting as a group engaging session.
- Try to touch all senses during the session. Use discussions to virtually touch smell & taste if needed
- Eliminate all negativity in the discussions and thoughts.
- Use game boards and questions to have the attendees learn during playing the game.
What best Killer ideas to you have that have made your training/facilitation programs Rock?
If you are a trainer in any industry and are not a member of ATD Piedmont, you should visit our chapter meeting and join us. Reach out to Jim, Daniel, Teddy, Jen, Chris, Raina or visit our website to learn more.
Teddy
Why Your Virtual Team Needs Fica
by Daniel Lobb
Fica is not an acronym, it’s a coffee break. It’s a Swedish word that loosely translates to “drinking coffee (and eating something sweet, with friends).” In Sweden, fica is a common tradition in the workplace.
Marcia, one of my clients, manages a virtual team of 20 professionals who are dispersed over six countries spanning nine time zones. They are the international mobility services team for a large global corporation headquartered in Sweden. Any time an employee of the corporation takes an expatriate assignment, Marcia’s team handles arrangements for the employees, including visas, housing, school for the children, and compensation.
Marcia has struggled to build a sense of togetherness with this virtual group that almost never meets face to face. Though they rarely meet, the outcomes this team is responsible for really depend on how well they work together.
Marcia and I partnered to do some virtual teambuilding training for the group. We delivered a skills development program that focused on increasing self-awareness of one’s emotions and implementing a common language that would enhance customer service.
While the training delivery went well, the bigger challenge was to have timely and relevant follow-up. To continue developing skills, Marcia’s team needed to both practice those skills, and then come together and talk about what they are learning.
We decided the answer was coffee.
Her Swedish team members were already having fica regularly. It’s not just a coffee break, it’s a balancing act in the middle of the work day—when people can catch up on business and life outside of work. She knew her team members in India enjoyed a similar tradition with chai (tea), while her Brazilian associates relished in “cafezinho,” or little coffee breaks. Her team members in Poland, France, and the United States were no strangers to this kind of tradition either.
Marcia implemented virtual fica. The team used Lync (you could use Skype or another virtual tool) and gathered in their conference rooms in front of their webcams every other Friday. There were two requirements for virtual fica: 1) bring your own beverage (BYOB), and 2) share your progress on skills development.
Marcia began to observe a wonderful virtual dialogue taking place during fica. Coffee and sweet breads on the table were just the appetizer for great conversation.
Make no mistake, this was not a structure-free meeting, nor did it have a complicated agenda. Prior to the first few fica meetings, she prompted team leads from each location to be prepared to start the dialogue. After a short time, though, the team needed little prompting. Associates willingly shared how they handled difficult customer situations, or how a challenging protocol was employed without the usual angst. Real application of the classroom skills was evident.
The bi-weekly conversations began to take on a life of their own. Team members also shared how they used the same skills outside of work. Stories about parenting decisions or driving in traffic (with colorful local imagery) were shared with the group. As the manager, Marcia shared her own personal stories too, demonstrating that developing one’s self is everyone’s business. The stories reinforced the success of the person telling the story. More importantly, they stimulated and motivated the team to continue practicing skills.
Marcia found a simple method to develop a virtual team and get them talking. She had formal a performance management system already in place that everyone was well aware of. What she needed was the personal touch to build strong and supportive relationships where each team member was actively engaged. The virtual coffee break did it for her; it also allowed her to hear team members say what they were learning and applying.
Can you team benefit from fica? If you think the answer is yes, look for informal opportunities to “check in” with team members. Don’t save the small talk and personal interactions for the “filler” at an all-hands meeting. Informal conversation can produce meaningful insights, bonding, and opportunities to gauge progress made from formal training events. Indeed, the bi-weekly rhythm of fica is proving just right for Marcia’s team.
Coffee anyone?
This article was originally published on ATD National Blog on 2/17/2015
Author – Daniel Lobb
Daniel Lobb started his career in the tour and travel industry with Allways Tours, Inc. His first trip was escorting a group of senior adults to Williamsburg, Virginia, on September 11, 2001. He very quickly learned the importance of keeping calm and serving the customer, which became the keynote of his eight-year tenure with that company as he went on to hold nearly every position.
In 2008, Lobb decided to align his passions in leadership and customer service with adult education and joined TRP Enterprises, Inc. The mission of TRP is to help people make internal discoveries that enable them to stay positive, productive, and effective. He leads client relations for TRP and specializes in training design and delivery. He received the CPLP in 2012, and has served on the ATD Piedmont board for four years, including president 2013. In 2015 he joins ATD’s National Advisor for Chapters team to share his love of learning with other chapter leaders around the country. Daniel is a private pilot, a bee-keeper, and with his wife Irene, parent of three young boys.
ATD Piedmont 