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Chart your course, let the learning begin, and shoot for the stars! |
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Watch and listen to the Commencement Speech delivered by Susan for the Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati. See Susan in action and read what attendees have said about her training. |
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News ArchiveI recently had a reader comment on how they missed the animals I promoted last year through the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). In fact, from that comment, I intended to donate again this year and announce the animal being sponsored each month in my 2011 monthly newsletters. Unfortunately, two weeks later, I received a letter from Getty Images saying that I had used one of their photographers' photographs illegally. Unfortunately for me, I used pictures off of the WWF site without thinking that using those photographs could be in violation of copyright laws. I've since contacted the WWF and was informed that using photographs found on their site, even to promote their organization, is not permissible. Anyway, Getty Images informed me that I owed them $450.00 even though I was promoting the WWF charity. I wish Getty Images had sent me a "cease and dismiss" letter before fining me. I also contacted the photographer, who stated that their contract with Getty Images is so limiting that "their hands are tied." At least I tried. Regardless, I paid a decreased fine of $350 to Getty Images and I removed all the graphics/photos from any past newsletters promoting WWF's popular and endangered species. I, of all people, do not want others taking my, or anyone else's, work without payment. Regrettably, this was a lesson learned the hard way. In the future, you will see fewer graphics in my newsletters for fear of infringing on someone else's copyrighted material. And, I've made a commitment to myself to start taking my own pictures - watch out professional photographers!!! Please, learn from my mistakes. Don't use graphics to illustrate your point, be it for charity or not, without receiving permission to do so...in writing! Opportunity
In other words, I would like a client to provide my Coaching and Feedback Training Kit to their employees through their Intranet and, if appropriate, obtain Continuing Education Credits for their area of business to encourage participation. Product ShowcaseA "fun to facilitate" and powerful experience for participants, which only takes 1½ hours to facilitate, is the QuikDiSC and More Training Module. Over the last couple of years, this session has not only received rave reviews from participants during conferences, but attendees then wanted to buy the module to bring "in-house" to share these simple, but significant ideas. Matt DeMarco, former Director of Leadership Development at the American Farm Bureau Federation, had this to say.
Otto's TootFind a partner. That's right. Go find someone to be your partner. Ask them to mirror your actions for three minutes. Yes, go do it now. I'll wait. How did it feel to have someone mirror every action? I suspect that it got quite frustrating when they mirrored your posture as you thought about what to do next. As a matter of fact, I suspect you found that three minutes is a long time to have someone mirror your actions. Why did I have you do this? This is a jolt. According to Thiagi, jolts are interactive experiential activities that lull participants into behaving in a comfortable way and then suddenly deliver a powerful wake-up call. Jolts force participants to re-examine their assumptions and revise their habitual practices. A typical jolt lasts only a few minutes but provides enough insights for a lengthy debriefing. So, why did I have you do this? What were the learnings you can apply to your workplace? If we think of the relationship between a leader and a follower, the mirror jolt made you realize that it's not so easy to be a leader. (For more information on designing, developing, and documenting training, check out our Designing Training for Fun and Results Training Kit and eWorkbook.) Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site AdditionsSusan's Picks is now featuring:
We've added more articles to our website.
NoteworthyI just finished up a great project with a client - all customized training. It was fun creating different interactive games to get the participants involved. I'm now outlining a phase two of another project which should allow me to really tap into my creative abilities. Also, stay tuned. I've just revised and updated 2½ modules. I'm finishing up the 3rd module and will announce them in the July newsletter.
I finally have my car back after 8½ weeks of repairs. It feels so good to be back in my comfort, familiar car...and do my favorite thing, ride with the convertible top down. It just makes me feel free and happy. Today, I hope that by doing something simple and comforting you feel free and happy, too. (I still have another week of repairs for my car, but I see the end in sight.) Updated: 6/22/10 How often do you step outside of your comfort zone? I suspect that most of us prefer not to venture even one step towards something that might make us feel uneasy.
Would you be willing to be blindfolded? Are you willing to share your thoughts and feeling with others? That's what the first session required. For some of you, these questions are an easy “yes,” but for others...not so much – which was one of the points in my next session. Knowing who you are and what you're all about is important as we perform our jobs. Knowing how open you are to stepping out of your comfort zone is essential. If you dare to enjoy life, I suspect that you have to be willing to begin with, at the very least, taking a few baby steps outside the “zone.” Product Showcase
Our eWorkbooks are easy to read and will allow you to quickly assimilate the concepts shared. (For specific information about each eWorkbook, see that eWorkbook's website page.) Otto's Toot React...Learn...Behavior...Results. If you haven't already guessed, these are the four levels of the Kirkpatrick Model. These levels represent the four modalities we should consider when measuring and evaluating our training. Typically, it cost more in time and money as you move “up” the levels. So what are the four levels of the Kirkpatrick Model? They are:
Don't worry if you don't have the time or money to apply all four levels. Make it simple. Use Level 1...even if it's only to ask your participants what they thought of the class as they leave your training room. Something is better than nothing. (For more information on evaluation, Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks is now featuring:
We've added more articles to our website.
Noteworthy I feel like I've had a black cloud over my head for the past few months. Do you know the feeling? I hope not. I had been sick off and on for more than a month, someone wrecked into the back of my 4-year-old convertible on the expressway (I still don't have my car back, but Ron and I are okay), our water heater had to be replaced, and Cincinnati Bell marked my business account as spam for sending out follow up emails to people who downloaded my free Business Ethic module, which caused me to lose all email for over five days (without knowing it!)...and I didn't find out until the evening before I left on vacation. As you can imagine, I'm happy to be well and looking forward to attracting positive things into my life again. I realize that “life” happens and even when we are consciously aware of what is going on, it can be a challenge to “make things right.” Thankfully, I feel I'm on the upswing and reminded about how good life is just by looking at the beautiful flowers blooming and trees greening up in my yard, reflecting on the relaxing vacation I was able to experience with Ron, and looking forward to fun events that I'm anticipating in the upcoming months. In addition, I've just completed a few projects and am excited about working with several new clients in the next few months. I've been working with colleagues to partner on some exciting new opportunities. I hope to have more to share with you regarding these opportunities as the year progresses. For those of you looking for new work, don't forget to check out the commencement speech I gave to the Art Institute of Cincinnati a few years ago. It may provide you with some new ideas and strategies to take some needed steps out of your comfort zone. Updated: 5/17/10 In 2009, I ran into several men who had "almost" lost their wives. For these men, life had changed. One said that he and his wife were committed to taking more vacations and enjoying more time together. For another man with small children, it's about stopping to consider if what they're doing, or about to do, makes them happy. For that father, it's about being mindful of bringing happiness to the family. Which brings me to my conversation with a friend last night....when do you let go? Enjoy life? Loosen up on your "purse" (okay "pocket" for men) strings to enjoy the present? And, can you enjoy today if you are mindful that you could live to be 100 years old and need that money to find pleasure in your later years; to remain financially secure? Who wants to work until their 80 years old or be relegated to a state-run nursing home? It's a balancing act! And, what balances some of us, doesn't balance all of us. For Ron and me, we love to vacation; for others, it may be a quiet weekend on a boat or camping; and for others, still, a quiet evening at home. Here's to finding your balance and enjoying the teeter-totter that is life. Great News
Otto's Toot "All people are motivated." True or False? The answer just might surprise you. The answer is true. All people are motivated; it's just that some people are motivated for different reason than others. If you want someone to be motivated to do something, your best bet is to consider why they might be motivated to do it. That's right. You need to think about that person. What are their needs? What are their desires? What makes them "tick?" If you can think about what you need done from their perspective, then you're on your way to figuring out how best to motivate them. Yes, all people are motivated. Just not the same as you...or me. Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Noteworthy I'm presenting at the Project Management Institute (PMI) Southwest Ohio Chapter's 3rd Annual Mega Event. The two topics are Coaching versus Feedback and DiSCovering Why: Our Behavior and Others'. Participants won't be sitting and listening; they'll be up, moving, and learning! The Mega Event is focused on delivering significant networking and educational value to help participants lead, motivate, and deliver. The event takes place April 20-21, 2010 at the Savannah Center at Chapelle Crossing in West Chester, Ohio. (Several of my colleagues and friends will be presenting, too - Marla Allen, Pan Nintrup, Kate Nelson, Stacy Aaron, and Antoinette Webster.) Another friend and colleague, Kevin Eikenberry, presented Tuesday night at the Organization Development Network meeting. His topic, Leadership in the New Economy, was quite stimulating. Great job, Kevin! Updated: 4/17/10 I am ready for spring...or at least some sign of it. And, just as I think that, I have my wish. I see the first crocus of the year blooming along my driveway. The yellow crocuses will bloom first, followed by the white and then the purple. Speaking of signs, what signs are you looking for that tell you that you are "marching" in the right direction? This reminds me that we have to have a little faith. Why? Because if I didn't, I might just keep digging up my crocuses to see if they are actually growing. Instead I must have faith that the long, cold winter prepares the bulbs for recognizing the warmth of the approaching spring, where they start their "march" upward through the dirt - standing only a few inches high and showing the glory of spring. And, like the crocuses, I can't be deterred by a few inches of snow that may fall later...and perhaps cover the sign. Yes, signs, everywhere are signs...are you looking? Great News
Otto's Toot According to the American Society for Training and Development, "U.S. organizations spent $134.39 billion on employee learning and development in 2007. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. total ($83.62 billion) was spent on the internal learning function, such as staff salaries and internal development costs." Did that get your attention? If you're in the training and development field, it most certainly did. When I design my training modules, I like to use a "grab" to get the participants' attention at the start of the class. Using statistics are a good way to do this. Now, don't overdo it by reading off a list of statistics that goes on and on. A few startling statistics can have a huge impact, and get participants wanting to know more. "Grab" your participants at the start of your classes. Avoid the usual introductions and welcome...at least until later. (For more information on designing, developing, and documenting training, check out our Designing Training for Fun and Results Training Kit and eWorkbook.) Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Noteworthy A wonderful, supportive colleague recently said "Susan is the most talented Instructional Designer I know" to another colleague. These words bring sunshine to my life in the dreary days of March. Thanks, Antonia (Antonia Comer is the Director Training and Organizational Development at General Cable) for the uplifting words that make my heart sing. Also, my blog has moved. If you haven't checked it out lately, please take a look. While you're there, subscribe to the blog feed using your favorite feed reader. I generally post something every day! Updated: 3/9/10 I've just launched my new Training Kit on coaching and feedback! It's already getting rave reviews. Randi Sandlin, V.P. and Sr. Consultant with HR Partners International, Inc., had this to say about it...
The Coaching and Feedback Training Kit is for everyone, since we all must to be willing to coach and give effective feedback to each other. In that regard, I'd love to have your feedback on my newsletters. What do you like and dislike about them? Help me make them valuable to you...and your time. Please send me some feedback!
The Designing Training for Fun and Results Training Kit (or Self-Study Course) is approved for 4.5 hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the HRCI. In this eight AudioCast lesson course, I am interviewed by Harriet Meyerson. The course also contains Handouts for all eight lessons, a Self-Study Schedule, a Qualification Quiz, and a Designing Training Checklist. Otto's Toot Continuing from our last newsletter... Though each of your classes will vary, depending on their content, there are similar elements that can be found in most training modules. These elements are divided into eight segments or guidelines, which are:
You will find that most of these guidelines contain additional elements to consider when designing your class or module. (For more information on designing, developing, and documenting training, check out our Designing Training for Fun and Results Training Kit and eWorkbook.) Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Noteworthy
More great news...Kate Nelson and Stacy Aaron, who wrote the books, The Eight Constants of Change and The Change Management Pocket Guide, now have CBTs for the books. The CBTs are 90-120 minutes and are called Best Practices in Organizational Change. They also have 1 day and 3 day training classes that qualify for strategic HRCI credits. Please tell them I sent you. Though I asked for feedback on my newsletter this month, look what I received after the January newsletter was sent:
This was sent, unsolicited, from David Warne, who just accepted a job as the Director of Training at CommuniCare Health Services. Congratulations, David, and thanks for your kind words. Updated: 2/16/10 How do you spend your time? Let's think about one area...the Internet. Consider this: how many hours do you spend each week on:
Go ahead...factor in the number of hours you spend on each of these areas for one week. Now, multiply it by 4 to get the hours per month. Then, multiply it by 12 to get the number of hours per year. Now, consider how much of this time is spent at work. Multiply that total by your hourly wage...and for those of you who are "professionals," do your best to estimate what you think you make. Depending on what you find out about yourself, consider whether you're "addicted" to the Internet. Yes, that's what I said...addicted. Do you have a relationship with an object? Have you lost control? Are you suffering negative consequences? (One of the biggest losses is sleep.) Perhaps a resolution you can make for yourself to reclaim your time for use on other tasks in 2010 is to cut back on your Internet time...by 5 minutes per day. Or perhaps you will make an effort to log the time you spend on the Internet to see if it's an issue to be addressed. Resolve your time - today! Otto's Toot Continuing from our last newsletter... Choose the first module, or the module that is most critical to your client's needs, and reread the information that you "organized" and organize it even further; "chunk" the ideas collected and material researched. You might "chunk" the material into:
You may have to do this several times to create an organized format, especially if you've collected the information from a variety of sources. In fact, you will probably need to "meld" some the content into what you believe is the best series of steps or is the best definition. (For more information on designing, developing, and documenting training, check out our Designing Training for Fun and Results eWorkbook.) Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Noteworthy If you have not already done so, please check out my new website, www.Self-StudyCourse.com. It now contains all the Training Kits and eWorkbooks you used to see on Training-Modules.com. My goal is to make it easier for existing and potential clients to more easily find information on both sites.
While Training-Modules.com's primary focus is to sell training modules, it also features services, such as customized training module development and training coach services, which are more geared to the corporate environment. Self-StudyCourse.com's primary focus is on Training Kits and eWorkbooks for the individual contributor. However, keep in mind that many corporate organizations are considering the opportunity of "housing" the Coaching and Feedback Training Kit on their Intranet to allow their employees to take the self-study course when it's convenient. Updated: 1/16/10 As you will notice, both of our "Continual Thanks" animals are repeats. At one time the Most Popular animal was the Most Endangered animal and vice-versa. But isn't that what life is like sometimes? This time of year is an example of "repeats." We pull out the same ornaments and decorations for the holidays. We shop at the same stores. We make the same holiday treats. It's all about tradition. These activities and items might be "repeats," but they usually put smiles on our faces. We all need to be aware of repeating the same things with the intention of getting different results. If you like your life the way things are, keep repeating what you've always done. If you want change in the new year, consider making a change in activities and items – so you won't get what you've always gotten. Use it or Lose It
One of our clients just took advantage of this opportunity and purchased the Team: Roles and Responsibilities Module. We'd love to have your business. Don't lose it, use it! Otto's Toot Continuing from our last newsletter... After collecting all the data and research that you feel is necessary and organizing it into "chunks," you then print the various module files that you created. Now, the work begins. You need to read each one. But here's the clincher...when you do this, you need to ensure that you have the necessary time available to read through all the files in a designated timeframe. Why? Because...
You may find that there is quite a bit of really good information that didn't seem to "fit" the other files or modules, yet is too important to just delete. So, consider creating a module that encompasses a conglomerate of all the extra material and be creative with the name. This module would then contain important information, but may not be as critical as some of the other modules created.
Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our November adopted animals are the Tiger for the Endangered Species Adoption (which was September's Most Popular Species) and the Polar Bear for the Most Popular Species Adoption (which was January's Most Endangered Species). Noteworthy We're preparing to launch two new websites – Self-StudyCourse.com and Training-Workbooks.com. We'll tell you more about them as they roll out in January. We're very excited about all the new possibilities. Updated: 12/16/09 Performance appraisals - we love them and we hate them. Okay, okay, I don't know too many people that love them. Dr. Todd DeWett talks about why performance appraisals are so painful in his article in this month's newsletter. Coming Soon The Designing Training for Fun and Results Self-Study Course is about to be rolled out. Harriet Meyerson conducted eight interviews with regard to my expertise on this subject. We've added a handout (which is multiple pages) for each interview as well as a qualification quiz to get a Certificate of Completion, a designing training checklist, and a self-study schedule to help you record your progress. We hope to qualify for Continuing Education Credits in 2010. We look forward to sharing this new offering soon! Otto's Toot Early in the development process of your training class, you will need to collect data and research the topic for additional ideas and content. You may have collected and researched much of this data during the needs analysis phase. Regardless, you should have some idea of what data you still need to collect and research. After the data is collected and researched, you will need to get organized. This is where you begin to "clump" the material you're collecting in "like" files. For example, if a client indicated that they wanted some training for their teams, but couldn't clarify their thoughts on "team training," you could research "teams." As you can imagine, there is a lot of information available on this topic. As you collect the information, you might cut and paste and type a variety of information into various files. Some of the files that might be created are:
Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our November adopted animals are the Panda for the Endangered Species Adoption (which was February's Most Popular Species) and the Emperor Penguin for the Most Popular Species Adoption. Noteworthy I just won the quarterly "Why is English so hard to learn?" contest for Dottie Janson's newsletter, Conversational Voiceover Snippets. Here's my winning contribution; I had to use trifle and sound as well as the various pronunciations of "omb" with comb, tomb, and bomb. Enjoy... It might sound a bit trifle to those who aren't huge Halloween fans, but a fearless goblin tried to comb Dracula's hair in his big, black coffin. Yes, it was the very coffin hidden in a secretive tomb guarded by a wicked witch. Rumor has it that this fearless goblin had a conspiratorial ghost set a bomb off in the adjacent cemetery, located by the Pumpkin Sound, to distract the wicked witch who was eating a trifle with her black cat. They should have known not to trifle with the wicked witch because she was not of sound mind! Don't feel like you need to "rate" me on my story writing. I hope you enjoyed it. Blog Over the past few weeks I have been adding thoughts about my experiences at the conferences I’ve attended. Want to read what I learned? Want know what I thought? Check out my past and future blogs. As a Wrap Up Who will do my performance appraisal? I believe that my clients "appraise" my performance with referrals, additional work, and timely payments. How about you? Updated: 11/16/09 Use It or Lose It is the title of the article by Stacey Hanke in this month's newsletter. This is very appropriate for me since I have or will have spent much of my time attending conferences in October. This is the time of year when I get to share and learn - use it or lose it. Perhaps it is time for you to consider what you have done this year to either "use it or lose it!" Coming Soon Look for information in an upcoming newsletter and/or a special email about Continuing Education Credits being made available for an interview series between Harriet Meyerson and myself on Designing Training for Fun and Results. We're putting the finishing touches on the workbook, designing the test, and getting approval for the credits. We can hardly wait to share this new offering! Otto's Toot Last month, I mentioned the Kirkpatrick Model. Let's review the four levels of this model:
Remember, these levels are not just done after the training event, but must be done before the training event is even designed to ensure successful measurement, indicating that the training event achieved what it set out to achieve.
Don't forget to submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our October adopted animals are the Sea Otter for the Endangered Species Adoption and the Most Popular Species Adoption. Noteworthy I started the month of October by joining Ron and his Symantec team in Cleveland for the 9th Annual Fortune Magazine Battle of the Corporate Bands. Manage This was one of eight corporate bands to qualify from around the US. Jeff Carlisi from 38 Special and Tommy Lee from Motley Crew were two of the judges. Sadly, the Symantec band did not win; but everyone had a great time! (The other seven bands were from Chevron, Frontier Natural Products Co-op, Healthways, Johnson and Johnson, Oceanside Glasstile, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and the Sunflower Group.) After being home for two days, I took off to Washington DC to attend my favorite conference of the year - the NASAGA conference. NASAGA is all about putting games and activities in your training to meet the adult learners' needs. Check them out at www.NASAGA.org. You can join for free...and be sure to ask and answer questions through their listserv! Next, I presented my Eight Guidelines for Designing Training and How to Use Them to Create a Leadership Program at the Greater Cincinnati ODN meeting. Attendees walked away with the "start" of a leadership module. Feedback from the session indicated that it was one of the best sessions experienced by GCODN attendees this year! Then, I joined colleagues and clients at our all-day GCASTD conference. Many of my colleagues presented in the afternoon...and did a great job. Kudos to all for a great conference! Updated: 10/16/09 In case you haven't noticed, I have added two freebies to my website for those who sign up for my newsletter. Since most of you have already signed up - because you are getting my newsletter - you may want access to these goodies without the sign up procedures, so here they are: Check them out. And, I'd love your input. Job Seekers and Others Needing Motivation I want to remind you of the Commencement speech I gave about a year ago to the Art Institute of Cincinnati-Ohio. For those of you who are job seekers or for those of you who just need a little "pick me up," I would encourage you to listen. Please send the link to friends and relatives "in transition," because it may give them another way to look at things in these turbulent times. Otto's Toot Donald Kirkpatrick now refers to his Kirkpatrick Four Level Evaluation Model as the Kirkpatrick Model. I think this is brilliant. Why? Well, creating an excellent training program has always required these pre-training steps, but most people focus on evaluation and measurement after the training is designed. Kirkpatrick wants to ensure that training professionals are finally thinking of evaluation and measurement throughout the entire process.
Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Toot your own horn! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our September adopted animals are the Black-Footed Ferret for the Endangered Species Adoption and the Tiger for the Most Popular Species Adoption. Monthly Reminder September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and National College Planning Month. Be sure to contact your financial advisor if you have not had a recent review of your long-term financial plans. If you would like recommendations for professionals in this area, let me know. Updated: 09/16/09 Though the economy seems to be picking up a bit, many companies are still closely monitoring their financial situations. Based on that premise, some people would say that they are unable to recognize and motivate their employees - it's not in the budget. However, don't forget that one of the best ways to recognize and motivate employees is by providing sincere, timely, positive feedback. Communicating effective feedback is the key - which can be written or oral. If you need a reminder on how to give (and receive) effective feedback, take advantage of our Giving and Receiving Feedback eWorkbook, which is on sale through the end of August. Uplift your coworkers today - provide some positive feedback! Remer's Toot - On Subject Matter Experts As a designer of training, your job is to figure out the most important information about the topic and invent an engaging way to deliver it. Subject matter experts are an important resource but don't let them dictate the content or you are likely to end up with a slew of statistics on a stack of slides with no time left in your training for reflection, practice, and action planning. Use your outsider's perspective to sift through the facts, find the essential gems, and package them for your participants. This Toot was submitted by Brian Remer from The Firefly Group. Thanks, Brian. Notice another palindrome! Otto's Toot - On Measurement If a needs analysis shows that a class is necessary, you should be uncovering ways that you can measure the class to determine its effectiveness. The objectives that you create for your class should mirror or reflect those measurements. In fact, your class should be created around successfully dealing with the measurements that reflect the objectives, whether they are to increase, decrease, enhance, etc. - bridging the gap For our Customer Service Scenario example mentioned last month, the class's success might be indicated by:
What other ways might you measure customer service training success? Send your thoughts and ideas to me in an email. (For more information on designing, developing, and documenting training, check out our Designing Training for Fun and Results eWorkbook.) Remember, submit your tips or ideas on designing, developing, and/or documenting training to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Toot your own horn! Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our August adopted animals are the: Gorilla for the Endangered Species Adoption and Pygmy Elephant for the Most Popular Species Adoption. Noteworthy We just got back from Palo Alto, California. My husband, Ron, competed in his first National Senior Games. Having put a plan together almost two years ago and qualifying in Ashland, Kentucky last September (winning 1 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal) in his first swim meet in 32 years, he went on to show these amazing results:
Congratulations, Ron! Updated: 08/15/09 Are you too busy doing more with less in these times of change to facilitate one of our fully scripted and engaging training modules? If so, give me a call so I can match you with one of our qualified facilitators. How's that for helping you find time for what you want to do, like taking a vacation? Site Additions
Susan's Picks are now featuring:
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our June adopted animals are the: Humpback Whale for the Endangered Species Adoption and the Grey Wolf for the Most Popular Species Adoption. Allow us to help you help others. Updated: 06/10/09 May is the start of my sand volleyball season. I also like to finish up any yard work that April showers and cold weather have prohibited. And, okay, I’ll admit it…May is one of the most challenging times of the year for me to stay indoors working. The sunshine and warmer weather seem to be a siren song beckoning me to come enjoy the outdoors. Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our March adopted animals are the: Ring-Tailed Lemur for the Endangered Species Adoption and Cheetah for the Most Popular Species Adoption. A Final Thought Don't forget to take advantage of our eWorkbooks, AudioCasts, and Training Kits! I'm still interested in connecting with you through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. Updated: 05/06/09 It seems that the news can’t get away from broadcasting and documenting doom and gloom. If you are being affected by this negativity, perhaps you should check out my Coping and Stress eWorkbook. Or, if you’re responsible for employee engagement in your organization, facilitate my fully scripted Stress Management module. My friend and colleague, Antoinette Webster, mentioned that April is Stress Awareness Month. In honor of this, Antoinette is offering complementary coaching sessions. You can find out more at www.ASystemthatWorks.com. Be sure to mention that you saw it here when you schedule your session. How's that for reducing your stress and helping others who may benefit from a plethora of ways to manage stress? Site Additions Susan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual Thanks Per my 2008 Thank You, our March adopted animals are the: Amur Leopard for the Endangered Species Adoption. Blue-Footed Booby for the Most Popular Species Adoption A Final Thought One step you can take to reduce stress is to walk in nature. Spring is the perfect time of the year to take advantage of this easy stress reliever. So, go out and appreciate the magnificence around you. Updated: 04/07/09 I love the quote by Mother Theresa, "I am a pencil in the hand of God who is writing a love letter to the world." What kind of love letter is God (or whomever you believe in) writing with you? Will it be short or long; continuous or sporadic; conscious or unconscious; fun or a drudgery…you get the idea. Now, be open to the love letters being delivered to you! Don't forget to add responses to my blog. I enjoy reading your thoughts. Site AdditionsSusan's Picks are now featuring:
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Continual ThanksPer my 2008 Thank You, our March adopted animals are the: Whale Shark for the Endangered Species Adoption. Meerkats for the Most Popular Species Adoption. Learning at Great PricesDon't forget to take advantage of our eWorkbooks, AudioCasts, and Training Kits! Getting ConnectedI'm always interested in connecting with you through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. Updated: 03/11/09 Be peace in the world today. That’s it! Just “be peace.” Remember, we are human “be-ings.” Think about it and “be” it; let peace begin with you. I've been updating all my modules since the end of 2007. So far, the following modules have been updated:
These should be completed within the month:
I’m looking for insight on how people search for my services through the search engines. If you have any good ideas on words or word phrases that I should consider building into my website so that new clients can find me, I’d love to get your input. As a special thank you, I will send you the Introduction to Teams eWorkbook for your ideas. Continual ThanksPer my 2008 Thank You, our February adopted animals are the:
If you would like to adopt an animal, please visit the World Wildlife Fund. Site Additions
We've added a few more articles to our website.
Impact 100On a side note, Impact 100 has announced that two grants in the amount of $102,500.00 each will be given away this year. When these grants are made, Impact 100 will have given more than $1,600,000 to the local community. Now, that's impressive! Some Kind WordsA friend and colleague, Matt DeMarco (the Director of Leadership Development for the American Farm Bureau Federation), wrote this great testimonial…
Thank you, Matt, for your heartfelt words. Learning at Great Prices
Let's ConnectI'm still interested in connecting with you through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. Updated: 02/16/09 Preparing for Renewal I hope you are enjoying the delights of February no matter where you reside. Since I am in Kentucky, USA, I am being reminded of the earth’s renewal and rejuvenation. I am preparing for a glorious spring. How do people search for my services through the search engines? If you have any good ideas on words or word phrases that I should consider building into my website so that new clients can find me, I’d love to get your input. In fact, I will send you the Introduction to Teams eWorkbook for your ideas as a special thanks. As I mentioned in my 2008 Thank You, we have adopted two different animals each month. For January and February, the animals are the:
In the fall of 2008, the Art Institute of Cincinnati’s Graphic Symbolism class taught by Amanda Parker took on the project of creating new buttons for my Training Modules, eWorkbooks, AudioCasts, and Training Kits. All of the students participated and did a great job:
Cindy Westerman’s graphics are now prominently displayed on my website. I hope you love them as much as I do! Thanks, Cindy! And, thank you, Amanda, for letting your class take on this project for me! Susan’s Picks are now featuring:
New articles include:
Updated: 02/02/09 As a special gift for you, I have adopted two animals through the World Wildlife Fund's:
Each month, I will let you know which two animals we will be sponsoring. This is my way of providing the gift of giving all year long. So, for the month of December, we are adopting the tiger and the polar bear. Each month, I'll let you know our next two, sponsored animals. Thank you for all your support throughout the year! May the simple pleasure of lying on your back and touching your nose with your back paw, delight you. And, (as Tony, the Tiger, would say…) have a GGGGRRRReat 2009! Updated: 12/22/08 I recently made a point to be attentive to everyone and everything that I was thankful for…which included you. I am truly grateful for each of you who faithfully read, skim through, or ponder over my thoughts. Hopefully, what I share is useful to you. So, thank you! I attended 4 conferences in 14 days in October:
Each conference was unique and provided me with special and diverse insights that will move me forward in my career. I dutifully reviewed all the content and material I brought home and acted on, filed, and/or pitched as was necessary. I don’t know about you, but this is not easy to do when you’ve been away from the office for a long period of time and have other things “calling for your attention.” Susan’s Picks are now featuring:
We’ve added a few more articles to our website.
I came across an interesting article titled, 5 Salary Secrets Your Company Won't Tell You. If the title intrigues you, as it intrigued me, check it out. Don’t forget to take advantage of our eWorkbooks, AudioCasts, and Training Kits! I’m still interested in connecting with you through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. Also, if you live in the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky area, be sure to check out our sandwiches at Izzy’s – the Uncle Ron and Suzie. Yum! Updated: 11/27/08 I recently returned from getting GAS (Games, Activities, and Simulations) at the Pit Stop…the theme from my favorite conference – NASAGA. I connected with like-minded people and got some great ideas for activities to enhance the training I design! Join me at next year’s conference in Washington, DC – October 7th-10th. On my blog, I commented about a hurricane’s power to use water and wind. Most of us typically like wind and rain in small measures; however, when “overused,” these elements become a negative. This reminded me of the QuikDiSC and More session I recently did for the American Farm Bureau Federation, where I asked, “What strength do you possess that when overused becomes a weakness?” Or in nature’s case, what strength overused is destructive! Susan’s Picks are now featuring:
We’ve added a few more articles to our website.
One of my favorite non-profits, Impact 100, just gave away $222,000 to two grant recipients:
Perhaps you will want to support Impact 100 for 2009 by contributing by December 31, 2008. You don’t have long to be part of this life-changing organization for 2009! Don’t forget to take advantage of our eWorkbooks, AudioCasts, and Training Kits! I’m still interested in connecting with you through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. Updated: 10/29/08 It’s the “back to school” time of year. Though we will miss summer with all its serendipity and fun, there is something to be said about the discipline of a schedule or regularity. Just in time for “back to school,” we’ve added the Designing Training for Fun and Results eWorkbook, which contains information based on how I design training today. It will confirm that you are doing things correctly, remind you of items you’ve forgotten, and give you ideas to make your training “rock.” We’ve added a few more articles to our website.
A client, Carolyn Kinser, the Learning Manager for Churchill Downs Incorporated, shared this with me.
Carolyn has graciously shared her module modifications with me and I’ll be happy to make them available with the Coaching and Feedback modules. Our new “button,” Susan’s Picks, has now been expanded. The four sections are: With regard to our Affiliate Marketing program, Doris Loretta, co-owner of Paris Mountain Associates, Inc. (in Greenville, SC.), is one of our new affiliate marketers. Her expertise is demonstrated in the classroom, personal tutoring, and in technical training courseware development. Check out her website, www.tipsfromdoris.com, which is filled with tips, how-tos, articles, and links to other sites all geared to those who need help with software as well as those in the training profession. Our first Recommended Affiliate Product is Harriet Meyerson, founder of The Confidence Center. She invites you to visit her website where she has three free gifts for you that will help you raise Employee Morale and build Employee Confidence. We have many new book reviews. Consider getting your hands on:
With regard to our Miscellaneous Providers, Marybeth Grant and Michael Beckwith want you to cruise with them on the open seas. Check out their spiritual cruise. You will also find my friend, Cathy Beltz, the owner of 1893 House. Cathy just found out that her company will be the supplier for Blue Chip Gourmet’s private label candy. Be sure to taste her delectable treats! Congratulations, Cathy! For any tri-state women, consider joining Impact 100, by yourself or as a group, and see how your contribution can directly affect nonprofits in our area. May you feel the ease of regularity and routine in your comings and goings with just the right touch of serendipity, Updated: 9/16/08 Ah…summer! I love the hot weather, but sooner or later the computers and printers react to the humidity and we have to shut the windows and turn on the air. We just launched the Coaching AudioCasts. The Coaching: An Introduction AudioCast is free with the purchase of any other Coaching AudioCast (The Coaching Process, The Coaching Elements, The Coaching Discussion, and More on Coaching). Can’t decide? Save money and buy all five in a "bundle." The Training Kits include the AudioCasts plus the eWorkbooks. We’ve added a few more articles to our website.
I recently read that "According to the SHRM/ERC study, only 23 percent of HR professionals say that their organizations have a comprehensive ethics and compliance program in place, and 7 percent report that their employer has no program at all. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations (FSGO) define a comprehensive ethics and compliance program as one that includes six components:
"Ethical misconduct most commonly identified by HR professionals included abusive or intimidating behavior toward fellow employees, plus abuse of e-mail or Internet privileges. Employees (U.S. average) cited instances of colleagues calling in 'sick' inappropriately, and people taking credit for someone else’s work." To "encourage" you to facilitate some ethics training, for the month of August, our Business Ethics module will be available for $8,000. Too much for your small organization? Or you’re a consultant who wants to offer the training to clients, but a one-time charge isn’t going to work? Then call me and we’ll work something out. This is too important not to address. Mike Lair, owner of Lair Learning Alliance LLC., is one of our new Affiliate Marketing partners. Let us know if you’d like to partner with Training-Modules.com. Susan’s Picks is a new button on our website highlighting friends who offer entirely different experiences than "training." Ruth Shilling, who leads awe-inspiring trips to Egypt, was just mentioned in our recent newsletter. Check out the Team Meetings content on my blog for the months of June and July. Connect with me through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. And don’t forget the NASAGA conference (the North American Simulation and Gaming Association), which is being held October 15-18 in Indianapolis, IN. Here’s to a tall, cool beverage to assist in our relaxation! Cheers! Updated: 7/28/08 Summer is off and running and if you’re like us, you love the warm weather! Through the month of June, we are offering the Giving and Receiving Feedback module at a 20% discount - save $1000!!. We’ve just added a new module to my website – Six Steps Six Figure Job Search. Lauri Williams, an expert in the field, partnered with us to create the module. Deborah Thomas, owner of SillyMonkey is a partner in my new venture, Affiliate Marketing. Let us know if you’d like to partner with us. We’ve added a few more articles to our website:
Don’t forget to take advantage of our eWorkbooks, AudioCasts, and Training Kit! Check out our blog and connect with us through LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, and Namyz. Don’t forget to use your sunscreen and drink plenty of water. May you sizzle with excitement through the summer season! Updated: 6/20/08 We just launched our new AudioCasts. Check out our free download – Feedback: An Introduction. If you love what you hear, consider purchasing the Steps for Giving Positive Feedback AudioCast and Steps for Giving Constructive Feedback AudioCast. Buy them individually or bundle them and save money. You can save even more when you buy the Feedback Training Kit which includes both AudioCasts with the Giving and Receiving Feedback eWorkbook. If you haven’t commented on our blog entrees, consider doing so. I’d love to know what you think. If you haven’t noticed, we’ve given the website a new look. We’d love your feedback. And remember, we welcome your feedback on our new AudioCasts, eWorkbooks, and blog as well as our other products and services. Thanks, in advance, for letting us know how we’re doing! New articles added to our website are:
May this spring season launch you to new heights. Updated: 4/15/08 We’re preparing to launch our new podcasts. Depending on their success, we’ll continue to add more. In other words, we intend to pilot the podcast project to see if you like to “read” our content through the eWorkbooks or “listen” to our content through podcasts. We continue to add eWorkbooks to our website. We now have Both are available for only $9.99…or get them both for $18.00. Check out the new article that has been added to our site. Don’t forget to join me in cyber space on Facebook, Plaxo, and Linkedin. Updated: 2/19/08 We’re celebrating 10 years in business! Thank you for being part of this journey. We continue to add eWorkbooks to our web site. We now have: As always, these are available for only $9.99. Check out the new articles that have been added to our site. Want to connect with me in new areas of cyber space? If so, join with me on Facebook, Plaxo, and Linkedin. Updated: 1/22/08 We are pleased to announce the availability of three new quick and easy eWorkbooks – Delegation, Time Management, and Coping and Stress. They contain detailed information about various ideas, knowledge, and skills that may be important to you as you work with others. Each eWorkbook contains questions with possible answers, benefits, and tips. An action plans spurs you to use the content each eWorkbook contains. Sangeeta Nayak, who is proofing the final drafts of each eWorkbook, has found the content and their thought-provoking ideas very beneficial to her as she applies the concepts in her new position. And, Kevin Eikenberry, a colleague and friend, wrote a fabulous endorsement of our eWorkbooks in his recent newsletter. Be sure to notice that we’re now selling our Modules – the Word version – for the .pdf price. You will find that our modules are now more affordable, plus you can now make modifications/customizations yourself. Remember, you and your staff do not have to be “certified” to teach our materials and you can make as many copies of the materials as you like when you need them. Look and decide what Modules to purchase, especially those that complement our new eWorkbooks. Ask us to “walk” you through the content and activities before you decide to buy. The Modules are great investments. Check out the testimonials as proof. Four new Articles have been added to our web site. Many of the authors have recently released books and provide other valuable services to address your business needs. If you are an HR professional, be sure to check out Steve Browne’s article and networking opportunity. And don't forget to kick around some fallen leaves prior to the first snowfall. Updated: 11/15/07 We are pleased to announce the availability of our new quick and easy eWorkbooks. They contain detailed information about various ideas, knowledge, and skills that may be important to you as you work with others. Each eWorkbook contains questions with possible answers, benefits, and tips. Some eWorkbooks have actual action plans to spur you to use the content each workbook contains. Be sure to check out the new Articles available on our web site. Many of the authors, who graciously share these articles, provide great services that could address your business needs. Jana Kemp book, No! How One Simple Word Can Transform Your Life My good friend and colleague, Kevin Eikenberry, has just released his new book, Remarkable Leadership Wishing you an abundant harvest from your carefully cultivated spring and summer planting Updated: 10/08/07 The Business Ethics module is now available at a 10% discount through August 31st, 2007. Consider rolling out an ethics reminder this fall for your organization. Mark your calendar for the NASAGA conference in Atlanta being held October 10-13! Plan on magical fun and surprises, while learning new games and meeting new people. Check it out at www.nasaga.org. Check out all the new articles and see what exciting books and games the various authors have written to enhance your business acumen. (Updated: 6/22/07) Jana Kemp’s book, NO! For April’s Stress Awareness month, receive 10% off of the Stress Management module. The offer is good through May 31, 2007. We have added THREE new Articles on our web site. We are still #1 on Yahoo’s and MSN’s search engines for "training modules" and in the Top 10 on Google. (Posted: 4/23/07) Check them out, we have FOUR new Articles on our web site. Good news! We are still #1 on Yahoo’s and MSN’s search engines for "training modules" and in the Top 10 on Google. I was the guest interviewee in Thiagi’s Gameletter in January and because of that I had 59 downloads of my Business Ethics Module. This is twice as many as my next best month. Thanks Thiagi!! (Posted: 01/31/07) We’re also pleased to have taken a small part in Impact 100, where the organization gave approximately $129,000 to two different non-profit organizations. That's right - $258,000! The lucky recipients were the:
For those of you interested in getting involved next year, please let me know and/or check it out at http://impact100.org/. (Posted: 12/13/06) And while you’re here, check out the six new Articles on our web site. (Posted: 12/13/06) And, finally, but most importantly, we supported Heifer International and the Neediest Kids of All so as to brighten someone’s life. Be a star to someone yourself. (Posted: 12/13/06) It seems that coaching trainers is becoming even more popular. Susan is coaching "technical" trainers on formatting material as well as how to use activities and games in the training to assist the adult learner in retaining and applying the content. (Posted: 09/27/06) Designing Training for Fun and Outcomes is becoming a popular topic with clients and local ASTD chapters. Check out the pictures and what attendees have said. (Posted: 09/27/06) More clients – YEAH!!! And with that, our Coaching, Feedback, and DiSCovering Why modules have been very popular as has the development of customized content. Oh, and the variety. (Posted: 09/27/06) Check out this article by my colleague, Debbie Friedman, Outsourcing Success: Getting the Right Start. If you want more detail, you can buy her book at Amazon.com While you’re at the Article section of the website, check out all the additional articles from colleagues around the states. (Posted: 09/25/06) Exciting news! One of our clients just had a 1-hour training module, Professional Behavior, translated into seven different languages – Danish, German, Italian, Dutch, Hungarian, Czech, and French Canadian. Jana Kemp's book, No!, the basis for my module, Decision Making: The Power of No, is now published in Polish, Dutch, and Turkish! Stay tuned, we may need to translate the Facilitator and Participant Guides materials soon, too! The Western Ohio Chapter of ASTD recently welcomed Susan to speak at their evening meeting. She introduced ASTD members to her eight general guidelines for modules. According to their evaluations, it was a huge success. One of my games was published in The 2006 ASTD Training and Performance Sourcebook, which is edited by Mel Silberman and Patricia Philips. Are you a Facilitator, a Trainer, or a Presenter? Not sure. Check this out...and you still might not be sure. :-) Top of Page |
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I am looking for a client who would be interested in partnering with me to pilot my 
My web designer, Brett, and his wife, Cheryl, have been blessed with a baby boy. Noah entered the world the day after my birthday, May 28th. Congrats, Brett and Cheryl...or should I say Noah, since he'll have such great parents!
As I mentioned in my April newsletter, I presented at the Project Management Institute (PMI) Southwest Ohio Chapter's 3rd Annual Mega Event. I had a blast facilitating Coaching versus Feedback and DiSCovering Why: Your Behavior and Others'. Everyone was so engaged in, and positive about, the experience, and willing to participate...and for some...that meant stepping out of their comfort zone. 
Our eWorkbooks contain:
The 
Great News
Great news! One of my favorite nonprofits, Impact 100, had over 300 women contribute $218,000 for 2010 making two $109,000 grants to local nonprofits possible. I feel fortunate to be part of such a giving organization.
This was the title of our 
Many of you know that I believe in the power of attracting that which you want in your life. A new book called Living the Law of Attraction: Real Stories of People Manifesting Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Rich German and Robin Hoch contains stories about everyday people who have experienced incredible results in their lives by harnessing the power of the Law of Attraction. An insightful introduction with Rich’s “Six Steps to Manifestation” will clearly explain how to implement this universal law in your life.
by Mackey McNeil
by Kate Nelson and Stacy Aaron
by Kate Nelson and Stacy Aaron
by Dr. Linda Gravett and Robin Throckmorton
has recently been translated into Chinese. Be sure to check out 
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