Posts From: Industry News

As EMC’s learning leader, Tom Clancy leverages skills and language he learned from his business background. While making a connection with a learner on any level is a good start, Tom is urging people to over-achieve as a matter of habit. When you exceed any set of expectations, you’re not only more likely to make an impact, but your work becomes a competitive differentiator.

Read More

You’ve heard the cautionary tales about bringing your work home with you. Sometimes, that’s a good thing though. Consider Tom and Milynda Weis, two married learning leaders deep in the heart of Texas who work toward very similar goals in very different industries. Learning may be a family affair in this case, but everyone is benefitting. Two teams of associates have access to two talented leaders who share and share alike.

Read More

Communications is an important element in workforce education. We have a strong need not just to communicate the availability of learning, but also the outcomes, methodologies and motivators that fuel workforce development. At Newell Rubbermaid, a company that’s built on the prospect of keeping things fresh, newsletters fuel learning by communicating opportunity, rewarding results and charting change.

Read More

So you want to start a training company? The recent economy has made entrepreneurs out of a lot of training professionals hoping to create their own business and become independent. Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with quite a number of training professionals who have decided that now is a good time to start their own training business. Kudos to all of them for their courage and initiative! But let’s be clear – starting a training company is not for the meek and mild! My experience has taught me that there are some fundamental things you must do to be successful. Here is my list of the Top 10 Things You Must Do to Start a Training Company.

Read More

Learning offers challenges in any industry, but in the midst of economic difficulties, the financial services sector can be especially beleaguered. Like many other companies, LPL Financial was facing a series of challenges in 2009. Training, happily, offered some unique solutions, and while times are still tight, the high-stakes results are adding up. It’s all about knowing your audience, knowing your options and knowing how to make things happen.

Read More

Business is starting to see signs of recovery on the horizon. At the global staffing firm Adecco, VP of Talent and Development Rich Thompson is pulling together a game plan to help prepare for a post-recessionary boom. With an attitude that’s part optimism and part preparation, Thompson is coaching his associates and Adecco’s client companies in talent development, helping get the A players ready to take – and keep – the field.

Read More

The U.S. Department of Labor has set aside millions in workforce development grants to help fund the education and training of workers. In other words, free money to do just what you’re doing already or help you do even more. Grants benefit the workers, the company and even your state and federal government. If you’re not already looking for a ticket to this gravy train, now is the time to climb on board.

Read More

As a leading provider of healthcare and dental benefits, Humana typically deals with people experiencing pain, discomfort and other attributes of really bad days. While the services they administer help, what really soothes the nerves is Humana’s drive to create perfect customer service. It’s a mission that’s redefining training and reaping results.

Read More

All of us have participated in training that we can say has positively changed our lives. Whether it was a one day workshop, an online seminar, apprenticeship program, or a college or university course, training changes how we think and act. I’m beginning research to learn what makes one training program so much better than others. Sure we all think that great instructional design is critical, and a good instructor makes the difference in delivery, or the quality of facilities impacts the learning experience, but what I’m really looking for are those defining characteristics that separates exceptional training programs from those that are very good. To get us started, I’ll share the two training programs that absolutely shaped my professional personality and influenced my career.

Read More

On July 3, four contract workers for a S.C. fireworks company were killed on Ocracoke Island in N.C. The state's insurance commissioner is calling for mandated certification training to help in preventing this from occuring again. Why is it we have to wait for the insurance commissioner to call for change?

Read More