ATD Human Capital

AUGUST 8, 2017

I believe that leaders are responsible for creating the work environment that brings out the very best in people. The most effective leaders I work with (and have worked for in the past) strive to constantly inspire higher levels of performance from their teams. Simultaneously they make every effort to retain their most important employees over the long-term.

Employee Engagement 245

Employee Engagement Retention and Turnover Compensation Coaching 245

ATD Human Capital

AUGUST 2, 2017

Check the box that best describes you:  You lack direct and honest communication skills. You fail to stand up for yourself, and you avoid conflict.  You humiliate or put others down by dominating them. You get what you want at the expense of others.  Your communication is indirect, not open. You do not take responsibility for your behavior.  You are direct, honest and stand up for yourself without violating the rights of others, knowing what you want to accomplish.

Examples 94

Examples Report Meeting ATS 94

ATD Human Capital

AUGUST 2, 2017

The top pain points for those in HR are often employee turnover and engagement, according to one study. Nearly a quarter of new hires quit after only 45 days on the job. Worse still, the average cost of losing an employee during the first year is about three times their salary. These statistics highlight the importance of onboarding and engagement programs, in particular.

Onboarding 111

Onboarding Compliance Training Talent Development Career Development 111

ATD Human Capital

JULY 26, 2017

The coaching industry is booming. In the last 10 years, membership of the International Coach Federation (ICF) has more than tripled. Estimates put the number of professional coach practitioners worldwide at more than 50,000 and growing. According to the ICF’s 2016 Global Coaching Study, the annual revenue from coaching is estimated at $2.35 billion.

Coaching 173

Coaching Strategy Diversity Trends 173

ATD Human Capital

JULY 24, 2017

Not too long ago, I watched the HBO TV miniseries The Pacific , produced by Tom Hanks. It’s a companion piece to the widely acclaimed Band of Brothers. Both are moving and graphic accounts of the lives of the soldiers who fought and died protecting our freedoms in World War II. Watching these true stories of a fast-disappearing generation of heroes reminded me of a concept my father often talked about: foxhole buddies.

Interview Software 73

Interview Software Retirement Analytics Meeting 73

ATD Human Capital

JULY 18, 2017

As a trainer of color, the obstacle of inequality is a day-to-day experience. In 2017, the workforce is the most diverse it has ever been. From age to race to gender to religion to disability, there are a plethora of signifiers that can make an employee the only “different” person in their space. As the workforce has changed, the trainer has changed as well.

Diversity 84

Diversity Training Compliance Training Software 84

ATD Human Capital

JULY 18, 2017

I want to share a story from my consulting practice—one to which you can probably relate. My client, a vice president of branch sales at a regional bank, needed to increase the average number of banking products each customer used from around two products to four products. For example, most customers had checking and savings accounts, but the bank wanted each customer to have two additional banking products, such as credit cards or money-market accounts.

Interview Software 95

Interview Software Compliance Training Metrics Productivity 95

ATD Human Capital

JULY 12, 2017

Employees spend about 90,000 hours working over the course of their lifetime. Given how much time employees spend at work, it is crucial that their work environment is beneficial for their health and well-being. Yet nearly a quarter of working adults rate their workplace as fair or poor in providing a healthy work environment, and 44 percent of employees state that their organization does not have a formal wellness program in place.

Time and Attendance 119

Time and Attendance Course Strategy Wellness 119

ATD Human Capital

JULY 10, 2017

In an earlier blog posts, I introduced 11 operating principles that serve as the first part of an operating platform that can be used to help people practice genuine team collaboration on the job: Focus on team, not position. Understand that everyone can play. Embrace diversity. Rely on each other. Promote both individual and team values. Seek skillful, adaptable players.

Assessment Software 91

Assessment Software Planning Tools Competencies Compliance Training 91

ATD Human Capital

JULY 10, 2017

Previously, I wrote a blog on exit strategies. It focused more on the why, when, and how of exiting a business. This second part to the topic will address the financial realities of exiting. Based on recent observations, readings, and discussions with people in the industry, I have developed a summary of what has taken place, and what guidelines can be drawn from all this activity.

Talent Development 83

Talent Development Strategy Planning Tools Guidelines 83

ATD Human Capital

JULY 5, 2017

When I speak and write about mindfulness, the question I get most often is, “If I practice mindfulness, what does that get me?” I usually point to the growing body of research that demonstrates the results of mindfulness. I also tell people that when they are mindful, they are more present and aware, and this in turn supports the development of certain leadership skills and capabilities, such as attentive listening.

Employee Appreciation 109

Employee Appreciation Planning Tools Conference Compensation 109

ATD Human Capital

JULY 5, 2017

Business is all about speed and efficiency, and finding ways for workers to get things done as fast as possible without sacrificing quality. By removing barriers and inner bureaucracy, companies can eliminate downtime, making employees more effective without using incentives. Learning is one of the main aspects that businesses must focus on to enable and empower employees to be more effective and drive revenue growth.

Compliance Training 124

Compliance Training Training ATS Workday 124

ATD Human Capital

MAY 21, 2017

Performance consultants aspire to deliver strategic results and outcomes to organizations. But what is strategic work? And how is it different from tactical? My experience has revealed confusion in the talent development profession regarding these two categories of work. Consider these three results. In your opinion, which (if any) is an example of a strategic result?

Planning Tools 104

Planning Tools HR Software Talent Development Compliance Training 104

ATD Human Capital

MAY 17, 2017

This post is the first of a two-part series about the retirement of Baby Boomers and its impact on organizations’ return on investment and productivity. “The idea of living a longer life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting older doesn’t appeal to anyone.” —Andy Rooney. Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) began retiring in 2011 and will continue into 2030, if not beyond.

Hiring Software 113

Hiring Software Retirement Assessment Software Recruiting Software 113

ATD Human Capital

MAY 17, 2017

A dramatic shift in the job market has led many companies to turn to feedback to improve employee retention rates. Unlike in the past, employees are feeling less tied to company loyalty and freer to take on new opportunities. Millennials in particular are notorious for their job-hopping tendencies, with most being expected to stick with each job for less than three years.

Hiring Software 121

Hiring Software Retention and Turnover Recruiting Software Planning Tools 121

ATD Human Capital

MAY 10, 2017

Everyone is different. Even within your own culture, you are the only person with your exact outlook on life. Think of someone whose differences are hard for you to accept. What makes that person different? Think about the things that irritate you about that person. Now shift your thought. Imagine you are in that person’s body, soul, and spirit.

Compliance Training 73

Compliance Training ATS How To 73

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 19, 2017

Despite increasing investments in employee engagement surveys, programs, and interventions, fewer than one third of workers around the globe are engaged, resulting in high levels of commitment and discretionary effort. In many parts of the world, and especially in some industries, the percentage is even lower. Yet, we’ve seen organizations succeed with highly engaged employees who are more productive and innovative and who deliver performance that matters.

Employee Engagement 140

Employee Engagement Hiring Software Onboarding Software Interview Software 140

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 18, 2017

Disruption is probably the most overused word in the business world today. It may refer to Uber or Lyft disrupting the car service industry while not owning any cars, Airbnb doing the same for the lodging industry without owning any real estate, Netflix for on-demand movies without owning any movies, or any number of new companies interfering with the standard way of doing business.

Talent Development 98

Talent Development Industry Competencies Compliance Training 98

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 18, 2017

One of the key areas of focus for every human resource executive today is retention of talent in a highly competitive marketplace. Keeping employees motivated and engaged requires a culture that truly supports investing in the development of all staff members. Having career conversations with employees is an essential part of every manager's role along with clearly defined goals and development plans for growth.

Planning Tools 150

Planning Tools Talent Development Interview Software Coaching 150

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 12, 2017

Listen closely—your business might depend on it. Competitive salaries and a generous vacation policy may keep employees happy, but the true culture of a company can’t be bought. Empathy in the workplace , or the awareness of other people’s feelings and needs, must be actively fostered. You heard that right: Empathy is the secret to building a more formidable company.

HR Software 107

HR Software Exercises Training Compliance Training 107

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 11, 2017

Have you ever observed someone who was clearly an expert in their field yet was unsuccessful in influencing others to support a specific plan or strategy? Expertise, by itself, is insufficient to achieving results in organizations. In addition to professional competence, demonstrating the art of partnering with leaders and clients is pivotal to our success as performance consultants.

Planning Tools 73

Planning Tools Competencies Conference Coaching 73

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 11, 2017

Some people are easy to work with. They are ready to compromise, discuss things calmly, make great decisions, and work consistently toward a greater team goal. Wouldn’t it be great if every workplace was full of people like this? Well, it seems that the technology industry at large is starting to realize how important these skills are. A study of 500 business leaders has revealed that finding candidates with exceptional interpersonal skills is now the biggest challenge recruiters face.

Hiring Software 73

Hiring Software Hiring How To Interview Software 73

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 5, 2017

Interrupt and voice your opinion often, tell others how they should feel, do not listen, do not ask many questions, repeat yourself, and add a few unrelated comments. This list describes how not to promote discussion. An effective facilitator of an interactive meeting is aware of making absolute assumptions like “What’s bothering you?” versus “You seem to be bothered by what I just said.

Meeting 73

Meeting Examples Groups 73

ATD Human Capital

APRIL 5, 2017

What really improves employee performance? Better accessibility and technology? Streamlined communication? Great company perks? While those things certainly don’t hurt, environmental features, like lighting and air quality, may play a bigger role than you ever imagined. A number of recent studies confirm that conventional office design could be slowly crushing employee productivity from within—and that “greening” spaces with selective materials and health-conscious decor

Productivity 131

Productivity Background screening Planning Tools Study 131

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 22, 2017

Have you heard of the 80:20 rule? Eighty percent of your energy is spent on 20 percent of your relationships. Most often this energy is wasted in drama. Then there are toxic employees, who epitomize the 99:1 rule; 99 percent of the negative energy in the workplace is caused by 1 percent of the people. Toxic employees consistently seeking drama by playing one or more of these three roles: victim, persecutor, or rescuer.

Productivity 195

Productivity Study Hiring Conference 195

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 21, 2017

How many times do you receive a request from a manager similar to the following: “We are experiencing an increase in preventable accidents and incidents. Safety is a primary goal for our manufacturing facilities. I’d like you to run a refresher course on safety for operators and supervisors.” “I have two teams that are in continual conflict.

Compliance Training 94

Compliance Training Training Team Building HR Software 94

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 21, 2017

There's an app for just about everything these days: Some are useful, some are entertaining, and some are downright weird. And sure enough, there are apps on leadership, too. Dale Carnegie Training has several leadership apps: Personal Leadership, Team Leadership, Company Leadership, and the Secrets of Success, available in English, Arabic, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Planning Tools 84

Planning Tools Case Study Compliance Training Study 84

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 14, 2017

In Part 6 of my leadership blog series, let’s determine the response you would take in each performance appraisal situation. While you are conducting a performance appraisal interview with a new employee, she mentions having difficulty mastering a certain skill. Tell her that you are not surprised because others have had difficulty, but you wonder why she waited until now to tell you.

Coaching 83

Coaching Meeting 83

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 14, 2017

Design-led companies such as Apple and Google are known for being on the cusp of innovation, and it is their creative company cultures that act as incubators for their employees’ cutting-edge ideas. Yet they seem to have been created with their artistic, inventive atmospheres where watercooler conversations about social media turn into a new idea for the latest project.

Company 102

Company Exercises Team Building Trends 102

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 15, 2017

As ATD prepares to publish my new book, The Complete Guide to Building and Growing a Talent Development Firm , I thought a good final blog post, at least for now, should focus on the alternative to growth. That is, what if you don’t want to grow your business? Are there reasonable alternatives to growth? The following is an excerpt of how I responded to this question in the book.

Talent Development 87

Talent Development Planning Tools Resources Conference 87

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 7, 2017

If anyone knows the values of mentors, it’s Jenn Labin. It all began many years ago, when she was sitting at the ATD International Conference & Exposition watching her facilitator control the room. Knowing she had to learn more from this woman, she asked Elaine Biech to be her mentor. The experience Jenn had with Elaine was meaningful and helped to shape the successful career Jenn manages today.

Conference 73

Conference Course Strategy Compliance Training 73

ATD Human Capital

MARCH 7, 2017

The seemingly innocuous words we use every day are so powerful that they can create or destroy empires, organizations, and human beings with equal facility. Manly Hall, author, philosopher, and mystic, rightly said, “Words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad.” This is true now more than ever, particularly because our workplaces are more diverse than ever and our words make them better—or worse.

Diversity 91

Diversity Handbook Discrimination Groups 91

ATD Human Capital

JANUARY 18, 2017

Whether you’re leading a meeting or simply sitting in, there’s plenty you can do to make sure everyone involved gets the most out their time. Putting in the extra effort to make meetings productive is more important than you might think—according to the Muse , management spends 35 to 50 percent of their total work time in meetings.

Meeting 70

Meeting Time and Attendance Workday Course 70

ATD Human Capital

JANUARY 17, 2017

This is the third in a series of five posts about a total onboarding program. Our fundamental premise is that onboarding is the process of acquiring, accommodating, assimilating and accelerating new team members, whether they come from outside or inside the organization. We now turn our attention to recruiting itself; specifically, what you must do to recruit in a way that reinforces your messages about the position and the organization.

Recruiting Software 70

Recruiting Software Recruitment Onboarding Software Interview Software 70

ATD Human Capital

JANUARY 9, 2017

At some point in our careers, we have all been the “new hire.” We’ve all walked into a new workplace on our very first day, excited about the opportunity, but a little unsure about what to expect. That day, and the days and months that follow, can either make us glad we took the job or leave us thinking maybe it wasn’t such a great opportunity after all.

Retention and Turnover 70

Retention and Turnover Handbook Workforce Planning Retirement 70

ATD Human Capital

DECEMBER 22, 2016

The first blog post in this series offered an overview of how to develop a total onboarding program. In this post, let’s discuss how to get stakeholders to support your new program and prepare new employees for success before day 1. Build the Business Case. Implementing a total onboarding program requires effective change management. It begins with the business case.

Recruiting Software 70

Recruiting Software Recruitment Onboarding Software Onboarding 70

ATD Human Capital

DECEMBER 21, 2016

Retail can be a tough industry, particularly around the holiday season, when shops are at their busiest. Staff are a key part of the equation when it comes to sales. If your staff are texting or chatting and ignoring customers, you’re not going to sell everything you could. Besides, your shop won’t look its best if your staff are unhappy and uninspired.

Industry 70

Industry Productivity Compliance Training Wellness 70