Why do people ask questions at work? Is it because they weren’t paying attention? Might they be new to a job or process? Could they be curious? Is it possible they are seeking to understand before offering an idea? Think about the last five questions people at work have asked you: Now, think about the…
Learning occurs outside your comfort zone. Using “yes, and” thinking to conquer career change.
Sometimes, we don’t “get things right” on the first, second, or even multiple attempts. How do you keep persevering when things aren’t going your way, or seem more challenging than you expected? Recently I attended my son’s 7th grade basketball game. Both teams just began their seasons within the last 2 weeks, and were pretty…
I was born with a hearing loss. As a kid, I wore hearing aids in both ears, and as one might imagine, the teasing was merciless. I will never forget my first day of high school as a 13 year old, walking into my first period history class and Sam, a boy on whom I…
“Why is Learning & Development so slow?” A client was recently asked this question. She and her team of employees and consultants are striving to create training for a massive, division-wide initiative. She was frustrated, and rightfully so. My joking response was, “Well, put the answers in terms that the group of engineers will understand.…
When you are walking in a public place in a group, what happens when you see another group coming toward you? Do you: Compress your group to walk single file so the other group can pass without shifting? Keep walking 2-4 people wide so that the other group needs to walk single file? Shift to…
Want your learning team to have increased credibility & influence in your organization? Start with these six tips: 1. Establish a “Why” Strategy The “Why Strategy gives your team unified, strong, business-oriented answers to questions they may be asked by leaders in the organization. Can your team professionally, consistently and succinctly answer questions like: Why…
A mid-career professional. A parent. Wife, friend, sister, daughter. Gen-X’er. Small business owner, consultant, contractor. Learning professional, trainer, instructional designer, e-learning developer and project manager. Networker extraordinaire. I-phone using, LinkedIn promoting, tweeting, latte-drinking, dog-walking, traveling when I can find the time, book-devouring, politics-discussing, homework-helping, volunteer-loving, playing with my kids, desperately overscheduled “but it’s all good…
Ideas come in the strangest places. A reflection on learning design comes from, of all places, the ladies restroom at the public library. How would a visit to the ladies room at the public library translate into reflections on e-learning design, you might ask? Consider this story for a moment. I was on my way…
There is an old saying that goes like this; “out of the mouths of babes, oft times come gems,” which essentially means that children have been known to say insightful things. Recently, my Recently, my eight-year-old son and I took advantage of a beautiful day to take the dog for a long walk. During our…
