"We need to demonstrate our value, before we're asked to defend it." This statement has been my cri de coeur - my battle cry - for over a year, even before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we all work, learn and collaborate. In fact, I've said it so many times over the past several … Continue reading A Talent Development Cri de Coeur
A lesson I learned a long time ago is that Talent Development - or Training, L&D, or whatever we're calling ourselves these days - is a support department. We exist to help organizations operate with improved performance, more efficiency, safer conditions, better service...and countless other priorities, but these tangible examples are usually toward the top … Continue reading The spinach in your smoothie…
Time really does fly, doesn't it? I started this blog in 2011, and it really started taking off in 2012. For a few years, I posted often and really had a groove with blogging. I was in the trenches as a facilitator while leading a small team, which provided countless experiences, a-ha moments, ideas and … Continue reading Pivot. Then pivot again.
At the day job, I'm currently navigating the resignation of a high-performing, well-liked team member. While we playfully give her a hard time about it, it's all on good terms - you know, one of those "life happens" kinds of transitions that occasionally takes an employee away from your team and organization. As the manager … Continue reading 4 Ways Intentional Offboarding Can Help Your Onboarding Process
For about the 10,000th time in my career, I had a conversation with someone about Day One need-to-have content vs. nice-to-have content vs. there-is-absolutely-NO-need-for-new-employees-to-experience-this-on-their-first-day content. Even now, 20 years into my career, I find myself surprised at just how much content some (well-meaning) people feel is necessary to shove into one day. So today, we're … Continue reading Orientation Overhaul: Scheduling a realistic first day for new employees
March is upon us once again; here in Indiana, where we live and breathe basketball, that means it's not just March, but it's March Madness. College basketball games are playing nonstop, brackets are being determined, rivalries are being tested. Sadly, most of our state's teams aren't making it to the big dance this year...except Purdue, … Continue reading It’s time to get serious about your onboarding strategy
I recently read an article about - you guessed it - onboarding, and a statement stuck with me...the author was defining new employee orientation at a high level, and then went on to define onboarding. The author suggested that, "Onboarding is often described as 'orientation on steroids.'" This was unsettling to me in a few … Continue reading The important distinction between “orientation” and “onboarding”
I love Food Network. I never get tired of it. In fact, I could probably find more time for writing this blog (and a number of other things) if I watched less Food Network on Saturday mornings with a cup or three of coffee. Ages ago - probably at least 5 years ago - I … Continue reading What Food Network taught me about facilitation skills
Do you remember the old "You might be a redneck..." comedy bit from a few years back? It seems like you couldn't go anywhere without seeing a Jeff Foxworthy standup routine on television or seeing a book about it. Even though it's been several years since its peak, you still see those jokes bubble up … Continue reading Your onboarding strategy might need a reboot if….
I grew up a couple of hours north of where I currently live. While my family doesn't live in that city anymore, I follow the local newspaper online to stay in the loop about current events in my old stomping grounds. Recently, I was talking with a friend about various teachers we remembered from our … Continue reading Onboarding Magic is in the Welcome
