Training – or rather, constant learning – is a staple of talented workers who want to stay current in the workforce. At the same time, our tolerance for long lectures and endless slide decks (you know these by the brand name, PowerPoint) has waned. In fact, some say the average attention span has dropped under seven minutes, and what a challenge that presents when you have to cover the latest compliance course or customer service and sales training?
Today, presenters need a new rhythm to classes and presentations that take advantage of learner’s energy and attention cycles. Ice breakers are great, but then what? How can trainers maximize the training time? Attend a two-day seminar in Anchorage on September 28 and October 1, 2018 (with homework in between) and we will develop training plans with at least five new methods for facilitated learning. Interested?
September 1, 2018
Facilitation Skills – Training for Trainers in Anchorage
August 9, 2009
Metrics, Mental Health, & Use of Visuals
Have you seen the latest version of the little program you can run on your iPhone and iTouch as a tool to strengthen your mental state?
It is called Optimism for Mental Health. Here is what they say about the item: {It is} “a quick, easy to use application that is powerful in helping you
understand your mental health. It is used for recovering from
depression and other illnesses, for maintaining good health, and as a
self-help tool.
Optimism helps you to be proactive about your health. By
monitoring patterns in your life you can identify the triggers that
cause a decline in well-being, early warning signs of the decline, and
the inputs or activities that benefit you most.”
If a tool can be portable enough for mobile use, offer easy to use instructions, and provide visuals to guide a user’s personal decisions, it will be immensely popular.
Now my question is…why do we not develop this sort of application for managing change in the job? Sure that, too, can be done! If you were to use the Optimism tool as the model, what would you include to measure and how would it create transition that is more effective?
August 6, 2009
Big Projects
When met with a goal and a deadline, what is your first step to getting started? Mine is to create a new spreadsheet. It is fairly uncomplicated. Task, due date, and responsible party: those are the columns for starters. As the list grows, tasks are divided into categories, shown in a new column. When tasks in each category grow to number more than five in each, I may create separate pages. The list gets a daily review, and I get a moment of satisfaction when items receive a ‘completed’ check mark. I eventually start a page called “Done” and copy the finished items to it, making my To Do list shorter and easier to manage.
Project management is more precise with its principles and tools. Its complexity can be off-putting if one tries to master every process immediately. If you remain clearly focused on what you want to have happen as an outcome of the work, you can implement tools as they are needed instead of because they are recommended. Lean project management.
How do you manage complex activities? By lists? By calendar entries? By using project management software that produces Gantt charts and other graphics? What is the simplest level of support that you need to get the job done?
I must return to my first statement, that creating a new spreadsheet is my first step. Well, yes, for the organization of tasks it is. But in truth, a couple of other steps precede this. One is the written statement or charter which delineates what will be done, who is involved and where they are, when milestones and final deadlines occur, how the project is staffed, financed, and housed, and what the communications plan involves. Is there a client to keep informed? Colleagues? Staff? External parties? How will you alert others to progress. Having this material published in a written document is key to success if more than one person (you) are involved.
The other step is printing of a calendar with competing activities and obligations (and holidays) posted on it. This provides a reality check as to when work might be done without foregoing the benefit of having a life. Further, it helps in setting milestones: is there a key meeting at which progress must be reported? Will external or internal events be delayed if your project is not timed to dovetail with others’ plans?
While much of my documentation is online, I like the visual effect of a wall mounted board. It takes scribbles, sticky notes, and push pins without the delay of booting up. And it offers a place to focus when the project dissolves into chaos. That board is an anchor!
Big or small, projects are improved with a dose of management. Costs can be trimmed, time can be saved, and most importantly, your mental balance can be preserved. Try some of these tools – do you have others to add?
June 15, 2009
Summer in the City – Anchorage and Twitter
Summer in Anchorage – some days seem like it, others feel like late August with autumn in the air. But for now, things are in high gear. As a small business owner, I see plenty of opportunity and plenty of activity! Recently, the Social Media Marketing group met to discuss Twitter as a tool for business promotion – and nearly twenty active participants talked excitedly while the speaker presented.
Twitter thrives on messages of 140 or fewer characters. Plenty of tweets take place in a flurry. It seems to me Twitter is affecting our etiquette: didn’t we normally listen to one person at a time and wait our turn? The short electronic bursts as a way of communicating seems to be carrying over to live conversation.
And Twitter, to some, seems mystifying. What is the value of a sentence? What happened to the treatise, the opus, the missive? To me, Twitter seems faddish, and I think it will morph to something more. Right now it has the feel of electronic excitement, but little content. At one point, I felt as if it were a new form of the value-pak advertisements that land in my mailbox once every four – six weeks, unbidden…a pack of ads addressing restaurants, dental care, car care, home improvement, you name it. Very Twitter like in their brevity.
But I am remaining a Twitter fan. Once in, I vowed to understand what it does to our social interface, if nothing else! So visit my Twitter sites at http://twitter.com/LucasmaHax and the one for ASTD Alaska at http://twitter.com/astdalaska. Two will give you something to compare.
The first one discusses topics such as my management consulting and bed and breakfast business; the second one is for American Society for Training and Development Alaska Chapter, a group I serve as their president.
Check into Twitter – let me know what you think. Is it like summer in Alaska or is it here for the long haul?
April 29, 2009
Training for Staff in Economically Distressed Times
Everywhere, I read about economic concerns, downsizing, and reducing expenses. One counter-trend seems to be clear: continuing to invest in new learning is a worthwhile investment. Keeping the ‘human capital’ part of your business fresh and up to date is key to coming out of economic stress with the ability to thrive. And grow. And meet your clients’ needs for your services.
April 15, 2009
New Business in Town
My friend and Leadership Anchorage colleague, Lex Sargento, went into business for himself recently. For himself and his family, I should say. He opened a PlayNtrade video game store. He says, ‘we are excited to be part of the community and extend an invitation to come by and visit. We are open 7 days a week – 10am-9pm on weekdays, 10am-8pm, Saturdays,11am-6pm, Sundays. We are in the process of planning a grand opening soon and hope you all can come, celebrate with us and get in the game with Play N Trade. For questions and other information give us a call at 907.344.GAME.’
The Sargentos have an early open house with friends and family, mostly to give staff some reality-based training. The food was great and the people watching was equally wonderful. Lex is committed to serving the community and already has ideas for helping groups who serve kids. Even if you don’t own a wii, do drop by! Visit in person near Terra Bella on Dimond across from the mall, or check the website for more details: http://playntrade.com/anchorage
April 8, 2009
April Earthquakes
Around noon today, we had a good little earthquake. 4.6 (on the old scale). Enough to feel like a large truck hit the side of the building. Enough to make everyone come out of their offices and carrels to make eye contact with one another and attest to all being well. We discussed our choice of calamities – some preferred tornadoes to earthquakes, others were happier with hurricanes. I, for one, like less shape-altering choices. A simple rain or snow storm, for example.
But the point of the experience is worth noting: sometimes life events encourage you to stop and take notice. A little kindness, a little laughter, a little eye contact….these help calm us and give us the impetus to go forward. That is a form of transition! But because it is subtle, the transition is over overlooked. No one was hurt, nothing was broken, true, but there was a moment of halting, reconnecting, and then continuing.
Another form of this transition happened today: a phone call came, conveying news that a mutual friend had died last night. A friend we remember as vibrant, smiling, connected with life in a warm and engaged fashion. And now, we have but memories, the footprints of our friend’s journey through our world. To pick up and go forward is less subtle in this case, and the transition is blatant. Loss is palpable! Yet, there is a moment of halting, reconnecting, then continuing.
March 18, 2009
Skinny Latte
Attending a fund raiser for a local arts group last weekend, I saw a gift basket donated by a favorite shop in Anchorage, Terra Bella. This shop exudes ‘quality!’ when you walk in. From the colors, displays of art, and fireplaces, to the smiles on staff, great food, and well-chosen products, Terra Bella stands apart.
March 8, 2009
March is Transition Month
It is March. The time has just changed to daylight savings. And we ‘lost’ an hour! It seems a fitting metaphor for much of life and many projects: you look up, and time has passed as if instantaneously.
This weekend, I am in visiting in Hope, Alaska, enjoying time with friends and supporting the local PTA. Hope is about 150 residents strong, and the PTA is well-supported by folks who see the future in the kids. We go to the Cafe for coffee, and the Alaska Dacha for groceries, but there is no gas station in Hope. Meaning: Be prepared for Hope! Or: You can get stuck in Hope! How like that are many of our small business and corporate endeavors… if we go in hoping, and are not adequately prepared, we can lose sight of the intended result.
So consider this transition: what if, each time we started to speak or write, we began with an objective in mind. A communication objective, or CBO, which determined exactly what change the receiver could experience by virtue of listening or reading our message. Knowing the value of your message as seen from the receiver’s standpoint before you launch could have great influence on you and your business.
With the time change, we get a signal. It signals a change in the environment, the seasons, and if you accept it, a honing of your focus on communicating for change. Think about CBO, and try it. Be prepared, though: you might see results when your messages are crafted from the viewpoint of the receiver’s receipt and interpretation instead of from your drive to say or write!
February 2, 2009
Resolutions & Goals
So a month has transpired since we developed Goals & Objectives. Have you followed through consistently? Most people have lapse at least once in the month’s time. So now is the moment for recommitting to your vision of changes that your goals are meant to achieve. Are you intending to engage in a fitness program to make you healthier? Keep going. Keep exercising even if you are not entirely consistent. You will reap benefits, indeed!