In the February issue of TD magazine (Talent Development by ATD), my article: “5 Signs that a Learning Program Needs to Go” was featured. Here is the link to the article.
Only 5 signs made the cut in the article, but I wanted to share a few more that were left on the cutting room floor. (more…)
Last fall, I facilitated a session titled “Kill a Bad Option: Stopping a Learning Program” at the Masie Foundations Annual Conference: Learning 2017. The session was a dialogue about establishing a framework and barriers to ‘executing’ such a framework. The crowd agreed overwhelmingly, that killing a bad training program is necessary and hard to do. I was thrilled when the Association for Talent Development reached out to me to author a ‘quick tips’ article on the same topic. Here is a link to the article.
Techniques to foster learning are rarely spontaneous. Careful planning and a well thought out strategy is key to keeping attendees focused, engaged, and invested in classroom activities and discussions.
Take a moment and think about the training team in your company, do you have a good picture in your mind? Is the team made up of subject matter experts?
If yes, that is very common as Subject Matter Experts (“SMEs”) have exceptional knowledge and expertise.
SMEs can transform into great trainers with the right focus and support from leadership.
Tell me if this sounds familiar: Your company has staffed its training department with experienced subject matter experts (SMEs) who have the knowledge required to train highly effective employees, but there is something getting lost in translation. Ask yourself: what’s missing? Did your company take the time to work with those SMEs to develop the critical platform skills needed to become highly effective trainers? The effectiveness of SMEs who are new trainers without a formal ‘Train the Trainer’ program often lacks facilitation skills that limit the development of their adult learners.
(more…)