The spinach in your smoothie…

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…

4 Ways Intentional Offboarding Can Help Your Onboarding Process

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

If you’re having trouble relating to new employees, do this…

A few weeks ago at the day job, I was meeting with a couple of people on my team, discussing two training programs that we are in the process of updating. One of the programs is part of our onboarding process; new employees participate in the program between 30-60 days post-hire. The team member who … Continue reading If you’re having trouble relating to new employees, do this…

Using Stay Interviews to Enhance Onboarding

  There is an abundance of research clogging the interwebs on the subject of onboarding; a credible whitepaper that I often reference is the Definitive Guide to Onboarding from Bamboo HR. In the report, the author includes a terrific stat from Aberdeen Research (another fantastic resource): As many as 87% of new employees are not fully … Continue reading Using Stay Interviews to Enhance Onboarding

The Secret to Connecting With Training Participants

Waaaaaaay back in 1992, right about the time I was sporting my Hypercolor sweatshirt and teasing some very tall bangs, there was a study by Broad and Newstrom about training transfer. While some many elements of the workplace learning industry have changed - technology has certainly commanded much of that - there are still a … Continue reading The Secret to Connecting With Training Participants

3 Little White Lies Your New Employee is Telling You

Have you ever attended a meeting or training session, when the leader or facilitator asked, "Does anybody have any questions?" And you do, in fact, have questions. But you don't ask. I think we've all been there. For one reason or another, we don't always speak up when we are unsure about something. Or maybe … Continue reading 3 Little White Lies Your New Employee is Telling You

First Impressions…

I'd like to chat with my recruiting and hiring manager friends for a moment... You are setting the tone for your relationship with your newest team member from the earliest points of contact. The first impressions you give, even in this embryonic stage, will remain etched in the employee's mind long after your initial meeting. … Continue reading First Impressions…