Making Technical Support Reps More Effective in the Selling Process
As a leader in workplace learning and performance, FKA has worked in many industry sectors. One common challenge, whether it’s in technology, health services, pharmaceuticals, financial services or manufacturing, is the effective utilization of technical support resources in both pre- and post-sales activities.
How to Use Instructor Competencies
In an earlier blog we discussed what are the Instructor Competencies for face-to-face, online and blended settings. In this blog, we’ll identify the uses of instructor competencies in terms of how they can improve instruction and enhance learning and performance.
What are the Instructor Competencies for Face-to-Face, Online, and Blended Settings?
*** Content in this post is outdated as IBSTPI has made changes. Please see our updated post*** What does it take to be a competent instructor? That question has been asked a multitude of times and today’s perspective takes into consideration the face-to-face environments that most instructors and facilitators know (the physical classroom and on-the-job […]
How to Engage Learners
Do you need to improve the effectiveness of your instructor’s ability to transfer skill and knowledge in the physical, virtual, or on-the-job learning environments? Does the delivery of your training programs lack engagement and motivation? Do your learners get tired of the same presentation or application methods? If the answer is yes, here are 10 […]
Consulting Roles for L&D – Part Two
In our previous blog, Consulting Roles for L&D Part One, we identified that to successfully focus on performance, L&D must be redesigned so that it’s goal is to enhance human performance in support of business goals. In doing so, L&D professionals act as performance consultants in their organizations. But transitioning to a performance consultant from […]
Consulting Roles for L&D – Part One
The Learning and Development profession continues to undergo major structural changes, one of which is the transition from a focus on learning as an output and toward a focus on performance improvement.
How to Sustain Learning
According to the latest State of the Industry Report by the Association for Talent Development (ATD), organizations spent $1,273 per employee on direct learning expenditure. Paired with this fact is the belief that no more than 20% of this investment results in the transfer of the new skills and knowledge back to the job. If […]
How Managers Create a Culture of Motivation
People who feel ownership of their work are likely to find that work more meaningful than people who have no say in how goals are accomplished.
How to Train Learners Whose First Language is Not English: Part 2
Part of the richness for many organizations today is the variety of languages and cultures that are represented in their business. Cultural sensitivity and the competence to deal with such differences are important skills for L&D professionals. More than ever, language and cultural differences are influencing how workplace learning programs are designed and delivered to […]
How to Train Learners Whose First Language is Not English: Part 1
In today’s global society, many learners are facing the challenge of participating in training programs delivered in English, which is not the language that they speak. Since most of these learners have not been introduced to the vocabulary and concepts of English, comprehending the new content and learning may become problematic for them. A […]
How to Engage New Employees Using Positive Reinforcement
Performing quickly and acceptably at a new job is especially difficult. Standards have yet to be fully understood, working relationships aren’t yet established, and procedural details must be learned.
HR as Strategic Business Partners
In most organizations today, the Human Resource (HR) professional works in a highly matrixed environment, often with multiple decision-makers and stakeholders. They meet the needs and challenges of the business, with HR roles that are highly specialized, and provide expertise in such key areas as:
Delivering Powerful Presentations
We recognize that delivering powerful presentations has become a prime communication tool in business today. We also have personally experienced many presentations that are not done well.
Creating Winning Presentations
You’ve been voluntold by your manager to make a presentation at an upcoming technical conference. “Why me?” you ask. “Well that’s easy, you are the subject matter expert (SME) in this area”. You both agree about being the subject matter expert and so off you go to pull together your presentation. Here are some considerations […]
Making Technical Support Reps More Effective in the Selling Process
As a leader in workplace learning and performance, FKA has worked in many industry sectors. One common challenge, whether it’s in technology, health services, pharmaceuticals, financial services or manufacturing, is the effective utilization of technical support resources in both pre- and post-sales activities.
Performance Coaching: Part 3
In this final blog on Performance Coaching, we will continue to review the Performance Coaching Model introduced in our last two blogs, specifically looking at feedback.
Performance Coaching: Part 2
In an earlier blog, we discussed the importance of Performance Coaching as a talent development strategy, demonstrating commitment to develop and support individuals. Performance Coaching harnesses the value of internal employee resources to develop others, which in turn saves time, money and increases overall employee engagement and retention.
Performance Coaching
Performance Coaching has become an important tool and key capability in supporting a high- performance oriented culture in many organizations. Effective and timely, it can make the development and implementation of a business strategy more successful. This is especially successful in an environment that is fast-paced, competitive and uncertain.
Writing Effective Objectives: Part 2
In an earlier blog, we discussed the fundamentals of objectives, specifically: why create objectives and what makes objectives effective. We described an objective as a clear statement of what we expect the learners to be able to do by the end of the learning program. We defined effective objectives as being specific, measurable and learner-centered.
Creating Effective Objectives: Part 1
I recently reviewed an article written by Michael Dalmaridis, Manager of Learning and Development at Meridian, that focused on, “The word you should never use in Learning Objectives……Understand!”
Using Voice to Maximize Learning
How you say something can be as important as what you say. This is true for face-to-face instructors, but it is critical in the virtual environment.
Interviewing for a New Position
Often at this time of the year, we reflect on change and the possibilities of looking for a new job. There are many reasons why we consider other positions, but once we have decided to do so, then our preparation begins, and step one is getting ready for the interview.
Adult Learning Principles: Incorporating them into the Virtual Classroom
Part 2 of a Two-Part Series – The Virtual Classroom In the first blog of this series we talked about incorporating adult learning principles in the traditional classroom. This second blog focuses on how to adapt these principles for the virtual classroom.
Adult Learning Principles: Incorporating them into the Traditional Classroom
Part 1 of a 2-Part Series Adult Learning Principles are the actions and conditions that support, enhance and promote learning for adults. FKA has identified ten adult learning principles specific to instructors/facilitators that ensure learning happens. In this blog we will focus on how to incorporate adult learning principles in the traditional classroom.
Using Scenario-Based Questions to Tell Them a Story
Using scenario-based questions (SBQs) to draw learners in and deepen their learning.
Using Distance Coaching to Develop Untethered Workers
In 2014, Bersin by Deloitte published their infographic, Meet the Modern Learner. In it, they reported that companies are finding it harder to reach and develop their “untethered” workers. This is a significant problem because at the time 30% of full-time employees did most of their work remotely.
Four Stages of Learning and Retention Factors
Effective facilitators and instructional designers, support the stages of learning by helping learners appreciate where they are in the model and then guide them through the subsequent stages. Let’s quickly review the Four Stages of Learning and then identify some retention factors that increase the probability of moving information into the long-term memory, through those […]
How to Grab and Hold a Learners’ Attention!
For learners to learn, they must pay attention. It is our job as instructional designers and facilitators to ensure learners will be motivated to focus on the content throughout the lesson. This article talks about how to grab and hold learners’ attention!
Putting the Systematic Learning Process to Work
As a leader in workplace learning and performance, FKA has developed a simple formula to guide design and delivery of learning programs that maximizes learning. Regardless of whether learning happens in a classroom, online, or in the workplace, effective learning uses the Systematic Learning Process.
Making the Transition from Classroom Trainer to Virtual Classroom Trainer
For those of you who have made the move to facilitating in the virtual world…. Congratulations! It was simple and easy, right? Or was it?
Identifying MAD Clients: What L&D Professionals Need to Know
For learning and performance initiatives to be successful, Learning and Development (L&D) professionals must understand who the “real” client is and what sort of help they desire to meet their performance and business needs.
Conducting Successful Focus Groups
Michael Nolan1 Abstract: Focus groups are widely accepted as a critical data-gathering method that produces key results at a reasonable cost. The method is particularly important when the goal is to gather perceptions, opinions, suggestions, attitudes or feelings about a specific topic. Focus groups are also used to get insight into why these beliefs or […]
Running Effective Meetings: Getting the Most Out of Your Meetings
All of us have experienced meetings that start late, run long, go off topic, and have no structure to encourage productivity. This leads to a waste of valuable time, money and resources, and needs to stop! This article focuses on running effective meetings.
Running Effective Meetings: Encouraging Constructive Participation
In the first three blogs in this series about running effective meetings focused on the Organizational Skills: Getting Started Part 1 Getting Started Part 2 Keeping Moving
Running Effective Meetings: Keeping Moving (Part 3)
In the first two blogs in this series about running effective meetings we identified the first phase, Getting Started, and the 7 Key Actions that should take place, prior to the working part of the meeting:
Running Effective Meetings: Getting Started (Part 2)
In the first blog in this series , Running Effective Meetings: Getting Started (Part 1) we identified the first phase, Getting Started, and the first 4 Key Actions that should take place, prior to the meeting: Define the purpose and desired outcome. Determine if a group meeting is necessary. Identify who should attend. Define when […]
Running Effective Meetings: Getting Started (Part 1)
In last week’s blog we identified several reasons why meetings are often a waste of time.
Stop Wasting My Time: The Expense of Ineffective Meetings
Have you ever doodled or day dreamed during a meeting, or made “To Do” lists while someone goes on and on about who knows what? Well join the crowd.
Focus on Performance
Performance Improvement The Learning and Development (L&D) profession continues to undergo major structural changes, one of which is to the transition away from a focus on learning as the output and toward a focus on performance improvement.
Diary of a Road Warrior: A Week in the Life of Presenting at Conferences
What a terrific week of Learning and Development. I traveled from the East to West Coast and back to deliver four amazing sessions at TRAINING 2017 in San Diego, California and HRPA’s 2017 Annual Conference and Trade show in Toronto, Ontario. Here is brief play-by-play, that I know most Road Warriors have experienced, along with […]
How Learning Contributes to Organizational Success
Friesen, Kaye and Associates is celebrating 50 years in the learning and performance improvement field. This is what we have learned about how effective learning programs can greatly increase the success of any organization.