CMC Webcast SeriesWednesday, September 22, 2010 The Orange Revolution: How One Great Team can Transform an Entire Organization (learn more) Free Resources |
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 Human Resources / Training and Development
Ten Tips for Creating a Successful Mentoring ProgramYou've read in business magazines and newsletters about many successful mentoring programs. You think you'd like to try out the idea of a formal program at your company. What can you do to increase the odds for success? Read More... Avoid These 10 Training MistakesYou may be quite knowledgeable about your training topic, and yet still fail to deliver effective training to your class of executives or managers. The following ten mistakes can erode the quality of any training initiative. Ask yourself if you are guilty of any of them... Read More... Rewards Take on New ImportanceWith projected compensation budgets remaining tight for 2006, employers continue to seek other ways to recognize and reward employee behaviors that align with corporate goals. Projections from both WorldatWork and Mercer Human Resource Consulting show salary increases for 2006 mirroring those of 2005, at around 3.5% (IOMA, 2005). Read More... Lunching and Learning: A Perfect CombinationWhat is a Lunch and Learn Program? Here’s a terrific win/win strategy that will help employees stay healthy and motivated, learn something new and get away from their desks during lunch—all at the same time. All of this is possible through a new initiative called Lunch and Learn, a speaker program offered to employees during the lunch hour. Read More... Successful LeadersWhat differentiates your business from that of your competitor? Study after study shows that it is your people. While your products may not be significantly different, your chances of success are dramatically increased if you have the right people. Read More... HR's Role in High-Performing CompaniesWhat creates high-performing companies? Customers, investors, and employees try to answer that question and that academics and business theorists study and debate it endlessly. In his best-selling book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t, Jim Collins writes that companies can’t achieve great things without great people. But what defines “great people?” Are they the smartest, most ambitious, most aggressive? Read More... Measuring Value as the Driving Force Behind Personal and Professional DevelopmentWe talk a lot about values these days. In the business world, we continually focus on providing value to our customers, as well as gaining value from suppliers and vendors. We also look at the values of our overall organizations and of the individuals who work within them. But how do we define value? Read More... Now, More Than Ever - Training is Good BusinessU.S. organizations will spend nearly $57 billion on formal training activities this year, according to Training magazine's latest "Industry Report." And despite the volatile economic situation, Training found that only 15% of the companies surveyed anticipated a decrease in their training budget this year. Read More... Attracting Top Talent: Do You Have What It Takes?Today's employees are attracted by a hiring package with both extrinsic (pay and benefits) and intrinsic (motivation, training opportunities, etc.) elements. But does your organization have the right mix? Read More... Celebrating DiversityTo create a positive global community, we need to meet three key challenges. The rise of the global community brings many opportunities and challenges. In the past, community members could communicate with each other, trade with each other, and share a common culture. In the future, communication, trade, and culture will become much more global. Read More... Diversity: It’s Right, but That Doesn’t Mean It’s EasyThese three best practices from Deloitte & Touche can be used as a blueprint for any organization committed to creating a diverse workplace.... Read More... Top 10 Ways to Engage Your EmployeesThe reports speak volumes: a recent Gallup poll found that a staggering 70% of people feel "actively disengaged" at work. And according to Morton Worldwide, only 33% of employees are satisfied with how their employers communicate with them. These reports and others like them are astounding when you consider how much time Americans spend at their jobs. Read More... The 'Kirkpatrick Four Level Evaluation' ModelThe most common purpose that Don and I see in our travels is to improve programs. The Abu Dhabi Police Department is committed to making sure their programs are top notch, and aligned closely with the needs of the business. Based on good discussions, and help from my colleague Meiling in Kuala Lumpur, I came up with the following model that shows just how SMR works with organizations to make sure their training programs are the best they can be. Read More... Tracking Talent with TechnologyThe identification of talented individuals has always been a high priority for successful organizations, but as workforces become more global and workers become more mobile, finding, tracking and keeping the best is bound to become even more difficult. Technology solutions are likely to play an increasing role in helping organizations manage global talent. Read More... Seven Ways to Motivate EmployeesThe current uncertain economy has left more and more workers feeling overworked, unappreciated and under-compensated, making employee motivation more critical and more challenging than ever. Motivating employees today requires getting back to basics. Here are seven suggestions: Read More... Mentors May be the Key to Solving Retention, Diversity ProblemsThe concept of a 'mentor' goes all the way back to ancient Greece. Before going off to war, Homer's Odysseus asked his trusted friend Mentor to prepare his own son Telemachus to become king. If the tale were told today, would Odysseus have bypassed his buddy and simply used email to nurture the heir apparent? Read More... Engaging TalentSome people still believe that it's simply media hype to talk of a shortage of top talent. Yet as the number of job advertisements continues to grow, it is clear that there is a severe shortage of talent in many areas. According to Tim Coburn, a Motorola OD specialist in Europe, only those organisations that learn how to engage talent properly will be able to thrive in today's competitive environment. This is his perspective on this critical business issue. Read More... Leveraging Learning to Achieve Results Through Kirkpatrick's Level 3Social skills such as Communication, Leadership, Time-Management, Self Confidence, and Flexibility, are all important qualities for the professional who wishes to pursuit a career and meet the employer's needs. Such skills are usually best developed through experiential learning since adult trainees have the need to participate actively in the training event and reflect critically on the training experiences they had. Read More... Holding on to the Best and Brightest Young EmployeesSeth, a bright, ambitious 23-year-old, recently resigned from the human resources department of a large international company. His employer was understandably chagrined. Seth had joined the company immediately after graduating college where he had been a dean's list student and completed a four-year program in just three years. Read More... Succession in a Time of CrisisSelecting and preparing tomorrow's leaders is an initiative that often requires a long timeline. But good succession planning also considers the company's needs within a more immediate window that of crisis response. History shows that it's all too possible for organizations to unexpectedly lose essential personnel to fatal accidents, diseases, scandals, political turmoil, or a number of other calamities. Read More... Building Cultural InfrastructureOne quality all successful organizations have in common is that they build appropriate and successful infrastructures. There's the physical and operational infrastructure-buildings, processes, systems-and there are the financial infrastructures like accounting systems and investment strategies. Read More... Handle with Care: You May Need Those Aging Baby BoomersNot so many years ago, if an HR department thought at all about its company's over-50 workforce, it probably was in connection with downsizing and early retirement packages or long-term care insurance. Nowadays, if you are not already head to head with top management plotting how to retain your company's baby boomer contingent and scheming over ways to recruit even older workers, your head must be someplace else. Read More... The Missing Link Between Training and ResultsMy father, Don Kirkpatrick, developed the four levels of training evaluation over 50 years ago. These levels reaction, learning, behavior, results remain the most widely known and useful model in the world today these many years later. Why? Read More... Ten Tips for Effective CoachingMany training programs are being conducted on 'Effective Coaching'. Trainers need to understand some principles and techniques for coaching so they can be effective coaches and conduct an effective program for managers. Here are ten tips that will help you become a better coach and provide content for a class for managers. Read More... Getting Ready for the Gen-Y WorkerJust when employers learned how to manage the Generation-X work pool, along comes the Generation-Y workforce. Read More... Growth Opportunities Are Key to Employee RetentionIt's no secret that employees value professional and personal growth opportunities. Here are some of the ways that forward-thinking organizations are attracting and retaining the best and the brightest people. Read More... Termination From Employment Without Cause 101It's a fairly safe bet that any time we lead a seminar on employment law, one topic that gets a great deal of attention is termination from employment. Some of the more frequently asked questions include: what will it cost our company; what should be said in the termination letter; and what is 'cause'? Read More... Reshaping Succession ManagementIt makes sense. Even as the churn rates for top leaders rise to record levels, succession management itself is churning. In fact, two-thirds of organizations with formal succession planning programs intend to change them in coming years, according to a recent survey of 799 organizations. A mere 9% say they have no plans to make changes, and a quarter aren't sure what they're going to do. Read More... Recognizing and Rewarding Employees During Lean TimesIn today's uncertain economy and workplace, many people are working harder and with fewer resources. Due to widespread downsizing, many employees have become overburdened by taking on responsibilities once handled by others. To make things even worse, they're worried that due to circumstances beyond their control, they may soon find their own names on the laid-off list. Read More... The Little-Known Secret About Employee CommitmentIn today's tight labour market, organizations are desperately trying to retain valuable employees. Cash bonuses, stock options, and pay increases are commonly used to entice employees to stay, but are only marginally effective. Read More... The Case for Multi-Day TrainingIn our fast-paced world, it can be hard to take several days off for training. With the best of intentions, we register for a course and just prior to the event, there is a crisis or our workload seems to demand we stay in the office and so we cancel. Read More... Picking the Late BloomersIn North America, the older members of "Gen Y" are already headed into their mid-20s. As they forge new careers and create new markets, they are rightly getting a lot of attention from companies. But before this new generation comes into its own, companies should look a little harder at another group, one that gets much less attention and doesn't even have a proper name. Read More... The Secret Ingredient of SuccessIn 1907, during a major league baseball game, second base was stolen 13 times by the winning team. The catcher for the losing team, Branch Rickey, was unable to pick off even a single runner. That record stands to this day. It also spelled the end of Rickey’s career as a baseball player, after just two short seasons. With nothing else to do, he went to college and law school. Read More... Retain Your Top PerformersIf you don't modify your human resource systems to match tomorrow's realities, you will lose the competitive edge. Leaders are debating the changing nature of work and the perceived decline in job security (the lifelong career at a benevolent company is a fading memory) and the erosion of corporate loyalty. Read More... Advice for Trainers: Set the Right ExampleIf you are a trainer, you know that real learning infrequently has a distinct beginning and end. Instead, it is an ongoing process—a lifelong process. Here are some tips to help you establish a cycle of continuous learning. Read More... 15 Ways to Greater Employee RetentionIf employees stay when they find their work enjoyable, what can you do to help your employees enjoy themselves more? Read More... The Hidden Power of Kirkpatrick's Four LevelsI just completed a thorough (15 minute) internet review of world myths. I was looking for something in particular, but didnt find it. After completing this white paper, however, two new myths will be added to the Google archives. Ah, but prior to that, in order to satisfy your curiosities, I will provide you with 3 potentially life changing myths that I did encounter. Read More... Finding Hidden Sources of Qualified TalentI hear a lot of talk about how hard it is to find qualified people, especially in relation to an anticipated workforce shortage. I disagree. In fact, we have two overlooked, overlapping populations that are a rich source of qualified personnel within our organizations. Both are just waiting to be noticed. Read More... Don't Get Outsmarted - Check Education CredentialsHow carefully are you verifying the information on applicants' resumüs before you hire them? Think it’s not a problem in your company? It might be. Read More... Making Employee Orientation CountFace it. First impressions last a long time, yet employee orientations can be pretty dull stuff. The goal is usually to get new hires up to speed on work rules and environment. Most companies try to do this as quickly as possible while trying not to bore, discourage or overwhelm newcomers. But some experts think the goal should be more ambitious because the orientation period gives employers a unique opportunity to impress and engage. Read More... Home-Grown, Center-Based Training May Save YouEverybody's talking about recruiting and retention, but let's not forget about that third R-- retraining. Continuous staff education supports retention goals by fulfilling employees' desire for career development. It also keeps your workforce fit to do not only today's jobs, but tomorrow's as well. Is distance learning the way to meet your company's training and retraining needs? Here are some issues and opportunities to consider. Read More... Can We Really Spot Talent?Even as talent management becomes the highest of HR priorities in today’s corporations, some experts are raising questions about our ability to recognize or even clearly describe talent. Read More... Human Capital Metrics and Decision-MakingDrive your Organization Further by Benchmarking Your Progress
SMR's Kirkpatrick Four Level Evaluation: 2008 and BeyondDont be fooled into thinking that just because our senior business partners are not specifically asking for us to demonstrate the impact of training that they dont care!. These words from a senior training manager for a major automobile manufacturer should strike a note of fear in your heart. Or at least, a flutter of caution. Read More... Diagnosing Employee Performance ProblemsDo you think one of your employees has a performance problem? Better take action NOW. Start by determining whether or not a problem really exists. Read More... A Five-Point Program for Reducing TurnoverDid you know that an alarmingly high 33 percent of employees today intend to leave their jobs within the next few years? They give five reasons. Let's look at each and how you can lower the odds that your organization will account such statistics in the future. Read More... A Trusting Relationship Retains Key EmployeesDespite the news of recent layoffs and downsizing, skilled workers are still in demand. To make sure their key employees do not jump ship, managers must focus on the personal relationship they have with these individuals. Read More... The Myth of Generational Differences in the WorkplaceDespite all we've heard recently about the differences between the four generations in the workplace, a new book flies in the face of the conventional wisdom on the subject. Jennifer Deal's research shows that regardless of age, we all want the same things: respect, trustworthy leaders, and opportunities to grow. (And nobody likes change.)... Read More... Total Rewards and the Better Workforce DealCompanies have announced a commitment to "growing (not shrinking) to greatness." However, growth requires people, and there doesn't seem to be enough good ones to go around. Most executives would agree that pay and other rewards are part of the answer. They will help get prospective employees' attention. Yet, they are often omitted from many otherwise potentially powerful change initiatives businesses need to thrive. Read More... Winning Training ProjectsCEOs want to fund quantifiable results. Because the training department's work is difficult to quantify, however, it often faces the risk of reduced funding - or worse. According to Peter Meyer, president of The Meyer Group: Training departments can avoid the risk of being under-funded or declared expendable by applying the same strategy used by many independent consultants. Read More... How To Communicate in a Global WorldCanadians are increasingly part of a global world. Canada itself is a fascinating mix of different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. This diversity brings a richness that offers opportunities for both occupational and personal growth. It also brings substantial challenges, particularly as it relates to communication. Read More... Open Environment Reflects Open Culture at Investment CompanyCan this be the right place? You ask yourself as you drive up to the SEI Investments headquarters in Oaks, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. It certainly doesn't look like a financial center. What it resembles is a factory complex Read More... The Five Levels of LeadershipBecoming an effective leader is a lot like being in the stock market. You don't make your fortune in a day; you make it daily, a little bit at a time. What matters most is what you do day after day, over the long haul. The secret to leadership success is investing in your leadership development, much like letting your assets compound. The final result is "Leadership Growth" over time. Read More... Meeting the Needs of a Multi-Generational WorkforceAs the economy continues to rebound, companies and staffing firms are already reporting a tightened labor market. If your organization wants to appeal to a wide variety of top quality job seekers, make sure you are meeting the needs of a multi-generational workforce. Read More... If You've Got 'em, Keep 'emAs many as three-quarters of U.S. employees claimed, in a 2005 survey, to be looking actively or passively for a new job. Almost half of those workers said they wanted better pay, and 16% told the Society for Human Resource Management and CareerJournal.com that they sought better benefits. Other oft-cited reasons for job-hopping included career growth and development, the quest for a better work/life balance and issues surrounding child care and eldercare. Read More... Well-Trained People Are PricelessA well-trained employee is the ultimate competitive advantage. That's because employees are the real creators of value. They solve the big and little problems that get in the way of earnings growth every day. Training your people has a definite and ultimate ROI. In fact, the prosperity and welfare of many, many organizations depends on investment in training at all levels. Read More... Well-Trained People Are PricelessA well-trained employee is the ultimate competitive advantage. That's because employees are the real creators of value. They solve the big and little problems that get in the way of earnings growth every day. Training your people has a definite and ultimate ROI. In fact, the prosperity and welfare of many, many organizations depends on investment in training at all levels. Read More... Finding And Keeping Great EmployeesA popular TV commercial opens with a manager for a large office products company reviewing a huge manual of the latest product price reductions. As he hands the telephone-sized book to a frontline clerk and instructs the clerk to retag all the listed items before leaving the store, the clerk pauses only briefly before exuberantly shouting "All Right!" and beginning a dance of joy around the store. The manager smiles and walks away, saying, "That kid was a find!" Read More... Ten Tips for Improving Your Communication EffectivenessA number of years ago, 'Performance Appraisal' was a hot topic. Today, it is hardly mentioned. Is it out of date or just put on the 'back burner'? Emphasis on such topics as E-learning, Blended Learning, Global, and Diversity Training have taken over. But, this topic should always be current if you believe that 'on-the-job training' is important in getting maximum performance from employees. Read More... Feedback About 360 Degree Feedback One Year Later360° Feedback a Positive Influence on Managerial Behaviour
Training on Trial“Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because our senior business partners are not specifically asking for us to demonstrate the impact of training that they don’t care!” These words from a senior training manager for a major automobile manufacturer should strike a note of fear in your heart. Or at least, a flutter of caution. Read More... Retention Before the Fact'Retention is always important because of the investment you make in people,' observes Gerald Shields, CIO of American Family Life Assurance Co., better known to TV viewers and duck fanciers as Aflac (Paul, 2006). While the extent of organizations' people investments varies greatly from one industry and employer to the next, experts agree that the costs of losing valued employees can be considerable. Read More... Business Partnership ModelHow to Interview, Hire & Bring New Employees on BoardNew Study Shows Employee Attitudes Differ Across Generations |
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