written by Calhoun Wick, Roy Pollock, Andrew Jefferson, and Richard Flanagan
This take on the age-old problem of "making training sticky" is spot on. The fundamental concept is: "let's move the finish line from the training event to a point past that in the workplace with behavior that produces results."
So, rather than "welcome to this training class" the approach would be more along the lines of: "welcome to this program that will help you improve your on-time delivery of your service by 10% in the next 90 days. We will begin with this training class and your manager will be focused on helping you implement the changes needed to be successful!" This focus on the power of the immediate manager/supervisor to make or break positive outcomes from learning is clear, concise, and useful.
I am aware that this principle is not new, but the approach to the principles taken in this book is excellent. It may well be what you need to read and understand so you can make the change you have known for the last few years that you need to make.
Also, the Fort Hill website is wonderful! http://www.forthillcompany.com/. Watch all of the videos. Then click on the arrow to the right (it's greyed out so it looks like it's not available) and watch the five extra videos. I particularly like the one entitled "Follow it Up."
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Exceptional Presenter
written by Timothy J. Koegel
This was a surprising favorite for me! I was expecting much less and have been completely caught off guard by the easy usability of this book. I have trained and presented hundreds of times over the last 15 plus years. I seem to do a decent job of it. When I first opened this book I immediately found two tidbits that I think will help me improve how I present, and also will help me explain some of what I have learned in train-the-trainer environments.
Koegel has incorporated commentary, examples, simple sketches, quotes, and reference materials in a remarkable way. If you are a trainer or presenter, newby or old-timer, I recommend this book as a great resource to teach and refresh relevant presenting skills.
This was a surprising favorite for me! I was expecting much less and have been completely caught off guard by the easy usability of this book. I have trained and presented hundreds of times over the last 15 plus years. I seem to do a decent job of it. When I first opened this book I immediately found two tidbits that I think will help me improve how I present, and also will help me explain some of what I have learned in train-the-trainer environments.
Koegel has incorporated commentary, examples, simple sketches, quotes, and reference materials in a remarkable way. If you are a trainer or presenter, newby or old-timer, I recommend this book as a great resource to teach and refresh relevant presenting skills.
Crucial Conversations
written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler (http://www.vitalsmarts.com/)
Crucial Conversations focuses on a, if not "the" problem of our age, tough conversations. As the digital world pulls us further and further from face-to-face communication experience, and as popular culture promulgates communication as a series of put-downs, snide remarks, and clever jabs, our collective ability to effectively hold difficult conversations may be slipping.
A delightful aspect of this book is that it avoids the victim approach that suggests that you somehow have your act together while the people around you are defective. A brief and helpful overview of what physiolocially happens when we enter a tough conversation explains why we are often at our worst at the very moment we need to be at our best. A simple suggestion to diffuse that physiological effect is helpful, as are the tools proposed.
I highly recommend this book as a foundational primer for effective and influential communication skills. Not only will it give you tools and perspective to dramatically increase your ability to be a respected communicator, but it is fun to read.
Crucial Conversations focuses on a, if not "the" problem of our age, tough conversations. As the digital world pulls us further and further from face-to-face communication experience, and as popular culture promulgates communication as a series of put-downs, snide remarks, and clever jabs, our collective ability to effectively hold difficult conversations may be slipping.
A delightful aspect of this book is that it avoids the victim approach that suggests that you somehow have your act together while the people around you are defective. A brief and helpful overview of what physiolocially happens when we enter a tough conversation explains why we are often at our worst at the very moment we need to be at our best. A simple suggestion to diffuse that physiological effect is helpful, as are the tools proposed.
I highly recommend this book as a foundational primer for effective and influential communication skills. Not only will it give you tools and perspective to dramatically increase your ability to be a respected communicator, but it is fun to read.
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