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Casual Articles - Train Me a Habit - How Organizations Are Using Training to Gain a Competitive Edge
For many years I felt that if you scratched any American you were scratching an entrepreneur. This is the country where entrepreneurial activity is most possible and seemingly every citizen has an idea with commercial potential. Sadly, over time, I realized I was wrong. If you scratch most Americans you are most likely scratching a dreamer.The difference between a dreamer and a doer is profound. Successful entrepreneurs might have initially dreamt of success, but they will not stop there. The drive to accomplish necessary tasks to insure successful outcomes separates them from the dreamy class, which includes most people. Success is a goal that requires drive, determination, courage, fearlessness, planning, discipline, sacrifice and passion. It is not easy, or everyone would be successful.What makes one opportunity succeed while another, even more promising idea, fails? It always comes down to the individual and their makeup. A few no’s and the dreamer folds their tent. The successful entrepreneur recognizes no as a hurdle, not a deal closer. The opportunity to overcome the objection represented by the word no is an absolute necessity for any individual seeking success as an entrepreneur.Dreamers take shortcuts. Dreamers make guesses. Dreamers defer tedious research. Dreamers hope somebody else will do the work for them. Dreamers cannot succeed. And, most unfortunately, many perfectly wonderful commercial opportunities are lost because of this dreamscape approach.Successful entrepreneurs are always doers! They overcome the often seemingly endless obstacles placed in their path. The road to success is a curvy one, very seldom taking a linear approach. Doers find a way to answer each obstacle and move ahead in the process. Doers do not fear criticism, but see this as an opportunity to improve their business model. Doers are realists, no fantasy allowed.Most importantly, doers are positive realists. Most dreamers are negative. Dreamers see hurdles as absolute barriers. Doers find a way, try
At Hickok Cole Architects (HCA), an award-winning regional architectu
Having been involved in business and politics and watched government attack us business folk and thus having been on all sides of this equation, it is readily apparent to me that the humans are just doing what humans do anyway. Humans are inherently problematic, often very deceptive and not such honest beings in general.If we thrust the human animal into a modern civilization and the system does not take into consideration human nature it will not be fair and no one should expect it to be. Yet, if we will all step back from the situation and look at what we really have going here we will see what needs to be done and then we can start from there.You see, as it stands now; Prosecutors often have political ambitions and judgeships are a political event. Lawmakers have interests in remaining in power and need money to do so and adjust the laws for lobbyists with special interest. Lawyers make money by hijacking the law. Cops have IQ of under 103 or they are not allowed to be police and one-third are criminals themselves hiding in broad daylight as protectors of peace? Every criminal I have ever met says they are innocent and every victim I meet wants revenge. So all this is human nature. The system is not taking all this into consideration.So instead of fixing it all, we make more laws, more complex that no one can understand, totally ambiguous making a perfect breeding ground for lawyers to modify interpretation in order cheat the system, all for a fee. Throw in the financial gain of the free market place and now you have a free for all and what on Earth did you expect in a system filled with humans and system that does not take into consideration its own flaws? Consider all this in 2006.
How does a speaker compete with cell phones going off in the same room as the presentation? What about other executives walking in on a training class to yank a key employee out of the room? It might be even more challenging to implement a training program when the team being trained is expected to be performing their regular jobs too. According to the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD), US Corporations spend $109.25 Billion on employee learning and development annually with one quarter of this amount going to outside training sources. This translates into $1,616 per employee in 2005 over an approximate 43-hour period.
How can an organization make sure their investment in training is being properly realized? And how can training be used to gain a competitive edge? For starters, organizations need to change their definition of training. They also need to realize training will improve their performance and the best place to gain a competitive edge in training is through the use of technology.
Change the Learning Mindset
The key to an effective training program is more than requesting cell phones to be placed in the off position and holding a training class off-site to minimize distractions. The key to creating a learning organization is changing the training mindset. In Learning Organizations: Developing Cultures for Tomorrow's Workplace , by Fred Kofman and Peter Senge, the authors state, "Why do we derive our self-esteem from knowing as opposed to learning? Why do we persist in fragmentation and piecemeal analysis as the world becomes more and more interconnected? We are discovering that moving forward is an exercise in personal commitment and community building." True organizational transformation first takes place with personal transformation and the commitment to a lifetime learning process. In other words, the role of the motivated individual who wants to learn more and grow will always be pivotal to the training process.
At Hickok Cole Architects (HCA), an award-winning regional architectur
Whatever your business may be, we all have something in common. We could benefit from the wise counsel of a trusted business partner.The good news is that this partner is already here but has been sadly underused and neglected. Your business partner is a powerful force with all the wisdom of the universe and always has your best interests at heart. It’s your Higher Power or Higher Consciousness—the Divine Wisdom within you that you can access at any time for a wealth of information, ideas, support and guidance.You don’t have to know all the answers; you just need to know where to look. And often the place to look is inside to make decisions, solve problems and come up with creative ideas. By following these 10 universal principles, you can create, manage and grow a business that is meaningful, prosperous and full of joy.1) Tap into Divine Wisdom: Your Inner Guidance is Calling. Are you looking for an innovative way to pursue new business or increase your productivity? Try these five strategies: meditation, intuition, dreams, prayer and “God Winks,” which is paying attention to coincidences or synchronicities.2) Define Your Life Purpose: Setting Intentions. When your life purpose is in alignment with your life’s work, all the pieces seem to fall into place and your work becomes play. Look at what motivates you, your deepest values and your natural gifts to help you define your life purpose and set intentions to support it. My Life Purpose Statement is: Through support and by example, I inspire others to follow their dreams and live joyfully on purpose. That statement inspired me to write my book.3) Embrace Prosperity: You Deserve Unlimited Abundance. Once you realize that abundance is your birthright and you need to circulate money for it to grow, you will begin to experience the effortless flow of prosperity in all aspects of your business.4) Clean Out the Clutter: The Universe Will Fill the Vacuum. A cluttered workplace distracts us and drains our ener
How does a speaker compete with cell phones going off in the same room as the presentation? What about other executives walking in on a training class to yank a key employee out of the room? It might be even more challenging to implement a training program when the team being trained is expected to be performing their regular jobs too. According to the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD), US Corporations spend $109.25 Billion on employee learning and development annually with one quarter of this amount going to outside training sources. This translates into $1,616 per employee in 2005 over an approximate 43-hour period.
How can an organization make sure their investment in training is being properly realized? And how can training be used to gain a competitive edge? For starters, organizations need to change their definition of training. They also need to realize training will improve their performance and the best place to gain a competitive edge in training is through the use of technology.
Change the Learning Mindset
The key to an effective training program is more than requesting cell phones to be placed in the off position and holding a training class off-site to minimize distractions. The key to creating a learning organization is changing the training mindset. In Learning Organizations: Developing Cultures for Tomorrow's Workplace , by Fred Kofman and Peter Senge, the authors state, "Why do we derive our self-esteem from knowing as opposed to learning? Why do we persist in fragmentation and piecemeal analysis as the world becomes more and more interconnected? We are discovering that moving forward is an exercise in personal commitment and community building." True organizational transformation first takes place with personal transformation and the commitment to a lifetime learning process. In other words, the role of the motivated individual who wants to learn more and grow will always be pivotal to the training process.
At Hickok Cole Architects (HCA), an award-winning regional architectu
What I’m about to reveal to you is “classified” information. Top secret stuff.Okay… maybe not top secret… but you should know some entrepreneurs pay big bucks for the information I’m about to reveal to you. And that’s no fib either.If your business is listed in the yellow pages this strategy will send lots of customers your way… resulting in more sales.It’s a simple tactic, but works in a big way. Yet hardly anyone uses it. I’m not sure why. I’m guessing it has something to do with a tendency us to go along with a crowd without even consciously thinking about it.When it comes to marketing, we want our customers to buy from us or hire us. Then again, we’re often afraid of appearing too different from other businesses.So what’s this got to do with advertising in the Yellow Pages? Plenty.In fact … I can prove it. Just go right and grab your local Yellow Pages Directory. Alright now… open it up… and tell me what you see.Lots of ads, right? Problem is… they look alike.Right at the top of 99% of these Yellow Page Ads is the business name. For example, under the “Haircutters and Stylists” listings we might see something like the following at the top of each ad block:“Sally Jones Hair Salon”“Theresa’s Hair Care”“Quickie Cuts”“The Family Hair Gallery”Now… if you’re thinking, “Sure Joe, but EVERYONE structures their Yellow Pages Ad like that…”Uh huh. You see where I’m coming from?Most people are afraid of looking too different from everyone else in business. And this is especially true in their advertising.That’s no good. For one thing, your advertising is supposed to set you “apart” from the crowd… tell readers what’s unique about you. And second… you’re paying big bucks for a Yellow Page Listing.So make your yellow page advertising count!The person who opens up the yellow pages is looking for something. They’re either looking for a particular item, or they’re looking for something to sol
How can an organization make sure their investment in training is being properly realized? And how can training be used to gain a competitive edge? For starters, organizations need to change their definition of training. They also need to realize training will improve their performance and the best place to gain a competitive edge in training is through the use of technology.
Change the Learning Mindset
The key to an effective training program is more than requesting cell phones to be placed in the off position and holding a training class off-site to minimize distractions. The key to creating a learning organization is changing the training mindset. In Learning Organizations: Developing Cultures for Tomorrow's Workplace , by Fred Kofman and Peter Senge, the authors state, "Why do we derive our self-esteem from knowing as opposed to learning? Why do we persist in fragmentation and piecemeal analysis as the world becomes more and more interconnected? We are discovering that moving forward is an exercise in personal commitment and community building." True organizational transformation first takes place with personal transformation and the commitment to a lifetime learning process. In other words, the role of the motivated individual who wants to learn more and grow will always be pivotal to the training process.
At Hickok Cole Architects (HCA), an award-winning regional architectu
More and more people are looking to gain an edge in their working environments. One method that business people are increasingly turning to is feng shui. Feng shui promises that by arranging your office environment correctly, it is possible to create a better energy in your office, and that energy can promote further opportunity and advancement. In feng shui, there are a few very basic, yet potent, guidelines to creating an effective office environment – and that can instantly boost the career quotient of almost any office inhabitant. Although, some offices may require more extensive rearrangement to help promote success, most offices only require a few modest changes. Use these suggestions to help you create your own “Power Office.” 1. Sit in the power position. This is situated opposite and diagonal from the door or opening to the room. The desk should be here facing the door. Draw more emphasis to this area by creating a focal point with a lamp, artwork, tall plant, etc. This also helps create a straight line of sight to this area, imbuing even more power and authority. What’s more, this corner is also considered the lucky corner of any room – so you definitely want your desk there! 2. Sit behind a power desk.A power desk is one that is substantially-sized and correctly placed. A power desk is never an L-shaped desk (the shape of which is like a cleaver or hatchet, and is thought to cut the person sitting at the desk). It also has specific dimensions. Here are dimensions for an auspicious desk (in inches):75Lx43WX33H or 66-70Lx24-27Wx32-33HSmall desks are deemed inauspicious and thwart future growth. 3. Sit in a power chair.A good chair is one with a high back and arm rests (solid, if possible). Although the chairs that are designed for the back are very popular right now, their open weave does not provide good symbolic support for the person occupying them. 4. Put power be
Change the Learning Mindset
The key to an effective training program is more than requesting cell phones to be placed in the off position and holding a training class off-site to minimize distractions. The key to creating a learning organization is changing the training mindset. In Learning Organizations: Developing Cultures for Tomorrow's Workplace , by Fred Kofman and Peter Senge, the authors state, "Why do we derive our self-esteem from knowing as opposed to learning? Why do we persist in fragmentation and piecemeal analysis as the world becomes more and more interconnected? We are discovering that moving forward is an exercise in personal commitment and community building." True organizational transformation first takes place with personal transformation and the commitment to a lifetime learning process. In other words, the role of the motivated individual who wants to learn more and grow will always be pivotal to the training process.
At Hickok Cole Architects (HCA), an award-winning regional architectu
A use case details a flow of events that are executed in order to accomplish some business task. A use case can be as simple as documenting how a help ticket gets escalated or as complex as defining how a customer gets charged for shipping parts of an order to multiple addresses.The term "actor" is used to define a role that a person or some object plays in executing a use case. The actor might be a Customer Service Representative who is processing a refund request, or a server that processes credit card transactions.Writing usable use cases is an excellent way to derive functional requirements and to the software development process as a whole.Often times new analysts, or people finding themselves in an analyst's role with no training or experience, often wonder what should go into a good use case. Although some organizations may have strict requirements that conflict with the information presented in this article, you can safely assume that you'll cover all of the normal essential elements if you follow these tips:- Use Descriptive Names The name of the use case should leave no doubt as to its purpose. A name like "Contact Past Due Customers" is better than "Collections".- Assign a Unique identifier to Each Use CaseAssigning an identifier or label to each use case makes it easier to refer to a use case in other project artifacts.- Create a use Case SummaryCreating an "executive" summary allows other stakeholders to gain a high-level understanding of the use case's purpose without having to read the entire document.- Use Case FrequencyDocument how often this use case is executed by the actors.- Use Case PreconditionsDocument any situations or conditions that must exist prior to the use case being invoked.- Use Case Post-ConditionsDocument any conditions that must be true or false after the use case is invoked.- Basic Use Case LogicDocument the main or happy path that the user takes throughout the use case.
At Hickok Cole Architects (HCA), an award-winning regional architectural firm, their main motivation for providing training to 21 of their key designers (architects) was to improve their presentation ability in front of potential clients. The reasoning went as follows. If their designers were able to spend more time honing their presentation in the Quality Quadrant, they would be able to increase the ability to connect with their client audience. This connection would happen over a few simple, yet powerful messages. These powerful messages could make the difference in getting a project approved or obtaining the sale. However, as the program progressed and they began to see improvements in terms of employee excitement and presentation results, the topic of conversation shifted from one of mere training to creating an environment of 'presentation excellence.' They felt the time invested in presentation content and delivery would 'raise the bar' for the entire firm a little bit at a time.
HCA also integrated their current client workload with their desire to make an investment in their employees. This meant they started their training program a few hours before the start of a normal business day. I have often heard this thinking referred to as 'taking one step backwards in order to get two (or more) steps ahead.' Real self-improvement of any kind is really an investment in oneself and something that taken collectively within an organization will definitely provide 'an order of magnitude' benefit. Even though the major training program has been completed at HCA, they have shifted their mindset to spend as much time as possible in the Quality Quadrant. It is no secret that this commitment to training came from the top.
Training as Strategic Value
C-Level Perceptions of the Strategic Value of Learning , a joint research paper by ASTD and IBM, written in January 2006, echoes this change in mindset. The paper highlights research conducted with 53 C-Level (CEO, CFO, CTO, COO, etc.) Executives and stated, "Learning provides strategic value to the enterprise, business unit and individual capability level of an organization." The paper went on to further state, "Perceptions of stakeholders are a key indicator of learning's value." Clearly HCA successfully shifted the perceptions of their designers through creati
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