Several weeks ago I created a post with 20 training-related questions. The list of questions asked for people’s opinions about things such as: “should you charge people if they ask to pick your brain?” and “do you prefer to learn via classroom instruction or elearning?” Here is the way that Train Like A Champion readers responded:
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Virtual learning through text, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger
There has been a TON of stuff written lately about moving learning to a virtual environment, but what happens if you live in a place where reliable internet is not available? In a guest post, Mike Culligan (co-founder of Pyramid Learning) shares a little about setting up virtual instruction by way of text, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Continue readingPreparing your organization to work from home
Every once in a while, we training professionals are asked to drop everything else and put together some sort of emergency training program. The last time this happened to me, it was 2008. I was working for a national organization focused on foster care. Law enforcement officials had just raided a compound in Texas and 437 children were suddenly thrust into an already overburdened foster care system. I was asked to drop everything, take a half day to research the situation, and then hold a series of webinars to prepare people who would be asked to work with and represent the children in court.
Now seems like another one of those “drop everything” moments. Every day more companies and organizations are asking their staff to work from home, and as simple as it may sound, not everyone is prepared to effectively and productively work from home.
Continue readingTrying New Things with Mel Milloway (podcast)
In a post last week, Brian asked a variety of questions, including whether people are inclined to experiment with new technologies or if they’d prefer to use their old stand-by’s. 83% of respondents said they like to experiment with new technologies.
Recently, Brian had a chance to sit down with Amazon’s Melissa Milloway to discuss how she pushes herself and others to experiment and try new things. Mel not only falls into that 83% category of people who are interested in trying new things, she takes it to an extreme. In today’s podcast, we talk about how experiments can lead to big wins… and sometimes big fails (but always big lessons), and the support system that is needed to keep pushing yourself further.
If you want to know more about Mel, check out her website Mel’s Learning Lab which contains a wealth of information about her adventures trying new technologies and best practices.
20 Questions (Training Edition)
As I scroll through LinkedIn, I see lots of strong opinions about lots of different topics, especially when it comes to the language we use, the practices in which we engage and tools people prefer. I’m curious about where Train Like A Champion readers stand on some of these topics. Below is a series of “This or That”-style poll questions. If you have a few minutes, I’d love to see where you stand.
(Yes, I know that the binary format of these this-or-that-style questions doesn’t always offer a perfect set of choices, but simply choose the option that’s closest to how you feel!)
Continue readingHow can people use ATD’s annual State of the Industry report?
On Monday, we shared a 10-minute podcast in which we spoke with ATD Puget Sound’s director of research, Sarah Schillen, to talk about some of the things that stood out for us in ATD’s 2019 State of the Industry Report. Several questions that should arise any time data like this is compiled in a report are: what does this information mean and how can it be acted upon?
Continue readingTrain-the-Trainer Lesson Plan: 4 Key Training Design Steps
One of the most-searched-for blog posts on Train Like A Champion has been my post offering a Train the Trainer Course Outline. At 6.5 years old, this post is begging for some updates, and so over the next several weeks, I’d like to not only update the actual outline itself but also offer some specific examples of how to actually facilitate sections of this program.
Continue readingTraining-themed Valentines for Your Favorite L&D Colleagues (2020 Edition)
“Ugh, I hate Valentine’s Day! I never know what to get.” If you’ve ever uttered these words, well we have a deal for you! FREE Valentine’s for that special trainer in your life!
This year we have two new Valentines for you to share. You can download a pdf to print your own valentines. It may sound silly, but printing these out and dropping them into some colleagues’ mailboxes tomorrow may help keep you and your training team front of mind around your organization.
A Training Activity that Leads to Discussion Every Time
“G****mmit, I knew he was going to make this hard!” exclaimed one of the participants as we got underway.
Earlier this week I was asked to drop by a client’s meeting with a group of their trainers. I’ve worked with these trainers for several years and they have adopted the dialogue-based approach to training in which my company specializes. I wasn’t asked to help them work on their facilitation or delivery, I was asked to come in to help ensure everyone understands the “why” behind this dialogue-based approach. So I reached deep down into my bag of tricks to find a way to unearth any resistance or misunderstanding that may still exist among these trainers.
Continue readingFlipping your training toolbox upside down
JD Dillon is an interesting creature. The best that I can tell, the guy eats, sleeps and breathes talent development. I’ve followed him on Twitter, I’ve seen and interacted with him at conferences. And he’s a total learning geek. So it’s fitting that his company is called LearnGeek.
Earlier this week we shared our latest Train Like You Listen podcast, featuring JD, and we had a chance to talk about organizational learning strategy and a modern learning ecosystem. I want to return to this idea in today’s post because there’s something fascinating about the modern learning ecosystem model that JD offers. It literally turns the tools we typically use in training and development on their heads.
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