Posted: April 2

It’s time again for THE Performance Improvement Conference from April 12 – 14 in Reno, NV. My schedule this year will be very similar to last year. I’ll be conducting a full day pre-conference workshop on Saturday the 13th called, “Analyzing Performance gaps – The Gaps Map. This workshop is based on the work of Dana and Jim Robinson. I will explain how to complete the various portions of the gaps map in order to analyze performance gaps in an organization and prescribe appropriate solutions to achieve business goals. The workshop will feature a video role play of a sample meeting with a client to gather information to complete a gaps map. Following the video, I will have other sample scenarios for participants to complete their own gaps maps while meeting with me as their client in the prepared scenario. 

Posted: March 26

On the evening of April 8, I will have the pleasure of presenting “Training Request: Ask Questions First” to the Greater Atlanta chapter of ASTD.  This presentation helps trainers interact with their clients as consultants and not be perceived as order takers.  This sixty minute session presents eight principles for reframing a training request.  I will use a video role play to demonstrate how the principles are used in a reframing meeting with a client, and then I will ask two participants from the audience to do a live role play.  The rest of the participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback based on the eight principles.

Posted: March 19

There is a recurring industry theme that I suspect may come across as a little threatening for training departments and trainers.  That recurring theme is that we should do less training.  I understand why this may be worrisome when you first think of it.  If I’m in the business of developing and/or facilitating training, it does not sound like the best career move to tell my manager that we need to do less training.  I recently attended Roger Addison’s excellent evening meeting and one day workshop for ISPI Charlotte.  There was one phrase though that I heard Roger use over and over again as I listened to him.  In response to many questions, his answer began with “Yes… and…”

Posted: February 21

Training Magazine continues to attract more attendees to their excellent conference. Attendance this year was 2,000, which is back to 2008 levels. The Monday evening Gala for the Top 125 draws a well-dressed crowd for the annual awards event. The attendees for this event were anxious to see if they went up a few numbers while some may have slipped a few numbers in the ranking. Regardless of the outcome, they were all smiles for the banquet and entertainment.

Posted: February 6

It’s time to go back to one of my favorite training conferences, Training 2013 Conference & Expo, in Orlando Florida. If you haven’t registered or just want to see what it is all about, go to www.trainingconference.com . I will be presenting a Hands-On Clinic on Performance Partnering: Proactive and Reactive Performance Consulting, February 20^th, 12:15 to 3:15 PM.

Posted: January 29

Finally, it’s the day of the big training launch. You’ve used every bit of adult learning theory, creative talent, and design experience to create a training program that will knock it out of the park. You did a thorough analysis, followed ADDIE to the letter, and tested and verified that your training is going to meet every objective the business leader set out at the beginning of the project. But, from your seat in the back of the room your excitement quickly turns to dread as you realize the students simply aren’t connecting with the material like you thought they would. You did EVERYTHING right! What happened?!