Category: Learning & Development

Employees are valuing career development more than ever—it’s a sign that the company is willing to invest in their future. How are businesses approaching training today? What are their pain points, and what topics are being addressed in training?

Is Training the Right Solution for a Performance Problem?

Asking many questions before selecting or designing a training program can help determine whether training is the right solution for a performance problem or whether there is an underlying, nontraining issue that needs to be addressed, says Dave Basarab, a training and evaluation expert and author of Predictive Evaluation (www.davebasarab.com). “Separate what training can provide […]

Key Wage-and-hour Language to Have in Your Employee Handbook

To prevent the consequences from imprecise employee handbook language,  employers should regularly review their handbooks and written policies. Since wage and hour lawsuits make up a significant part of  litigation, W&H provisions can make a difference as you draft or review your employee handbook. Wage-and-hour related provisions should include pay details, safe harbor and state […]

The Role Training Can Play in Narrowing the Skills Gap

Recent research from Cornerstone OnDemand (www.csod.com) identified three concerns related to training with which nearly every company grapples. The first concern is an increasing absence of ongoing training and development. Only 32 percent of employed American adults in the survey have received training and development to boost job performance in the past 6 months. The […]

Survey Says: More Training Needed for Higher Technical Requirements

Almost half (49%) of Human Resources professionals expect that a higher education level will be required for most jobs within that time frame, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Achieve. And 46% said that most jobs today already require a higher education level than a decade ago. Manufacturing […]

Use Social Media to Help Train New Hires Effectively

Some companies tap into Facebook for this purpose, while others turn to a vendor to create an internal, customized portal with “a Facebook feel,” Vitale explains. Onboarding portals provide new hires with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with management and various departments before their first day and afterwards. This is particularly helpful in decentralized organizations, […]

How Do You Establish Effective Metrics for Your Training Program?

“Training is an area that can be difficult to quantify,” Prince says. “However, it may be helpful to look at metrics that target the type of training and what it was intended to accomplish. For instance: Cost of sales training as a percent of total sales; Increase in hours of sales training compared with increases […]

Surveys Say: Time Constraints and Technical Knowledge Drive Training Solutions

Training in ‘bite-sized pieces’ CEOs are more concerned about offering succinct training than they are about content, delivery format, and cost, according to a recent Skillsoft (www.skillsoft.com) survey conducted by U.K. research company OpinionMatters. “This research shows that business leaders increasingly appreciate the value of learning,” said Kevin Young, managing director, Skillsoft EMEA. “However, while […]

Picture This! Visualization Techniques for Trainers

Even as a seasoned trainer and speaker, Eric Papp still uses visualization before training sessions and presentations. The night before a management seminar, for example, he gets permission to go into the conference room where he will present the next day. He pulls up a chair, closes his eyes, and visualizes how he will greet […]

Study Shows Impact of Generational Differences in the Workforce

“This is the most comprehensive quantitative study performed on generations in the workforce,” says Warren Wright, vice president of LifeCourse Associates. Wright adds, “We now know what engages different generations.” The study included Millennials (age 30 and under), Generation X (ages 31 to 51), and Boomers (ages 52 to 69) who are employed full-time. The […]

Why Employee Engagement Matters

Employee engagement is very important in ensuring transfer and retention of knowledge. That’s because employee engagement: Drives customer loyalty, which creates business profitability; Aligns the goals and concerns of the employee base with those of the organization; Makes use of discretionary time; and Transforms “just a job” into an important part of the individual’s personal […]