The Training Manager’s Quick-Tip Sourcebook • Technology for Trainers • The E-Learning Revolution • The Conflict and Communication Activity Book • Speak with Confidence • Point, Click & Wow! • The AMA Handbook of Business Letters
Looking for an answer to that training question, or quick reference information on human resource development issues? Interested in recent trends and future directions in e-learning and in technologies available to trainers? The following books offer insights and roadmaps for seasoned practitioners or those new to the workplace education field.
Also reviewed are some practical resources for use in training programs or as self-study guides. They address many facets of communication skills and challenges: preparing and delivering effective public speeches and presentations; good business letters; impressive laptop presentations; and training interventions to help build working relationships, teamwork and conflict resolution.
The Training Manager’s Quick-Tip Sourcebook
By Susan C. Patterson, 276 pages, Jossey Bass Pfeiffer (2003) ISBN 0-7879-6252-X. Available from Wiley Canada, 1-800-567-4797, www.wiley.com
Training and development managers, design and delivery practitioners and professionals concerned with effective training evaluation will appreciate this ready reference book. It can also serve as an overview for those new to the field or just assuming responsibility for training and development.
The opening chapter on planning includes development of a vision statement, business plan, training request-for-proposal and budget, a business case for e-learning and ideas on building credibility for the training function. This is followed by sections on diagnosis and needs analysis, with advice on taking the pulse of programs, avoiding “snake oil” training approaches and selling and positioning training to move it from the periphery to a business partner role.
Other chapters address timely issues:
•analyzing the true costs of training;
•effective cost-control strategies;
•thorough return-on-investment steps and pitfalls;
•building a solid e-learning model; and
•strategies for running a small training department.
The book looks at performance improvement, expanding a training practitioner’s reach as a professional through coaching and mentoring and understanding the business value of training related to recruitment and hiring, safety, workplace fairness and supporting competitiveness. More than 50 topics are covered in separate sections, complete with exhibits, worksheets and examples.
Technology for Trainers
By Thomas Toth, 179 pages, ASTD Press (2003) ISBN 1-56286-321-5. 1-800-628-2783, www.astd.org
What is XML? How about XSL, ODBC, GUI, listserv, EPSS, asynchronous learning, ADL? The 400-term glossary of this “primer for the e-learning age” sheds light on these terms as well as concepts and practices ranging from distance education to learning portals and peer-to-peer networks.
The author, experienced as an instructional designer, project manager, HTML programmer, graphic designer and stand-up trainer, shares his knowledge with an overview of what every trainer needs to know about technology, how e-learning differs from other educational approaches and real-world examples of business applications.
Along the way, readers will find chapters on getting ready to work with a developer, creating interactive content to engage the learner, choosing graphics and animation to suit specific purposes and knowing enough about multimedia and coding to help make the right decisions.
The book has numerous illustrations and specific tech tips aimed at “the technology-hungry learning and performance professional… to explain the technology necessary to turn a training designer’s vision into a workable, functional e-learning solution.”
The E-Learning Revolution
By Martyn Sloman, 222 pages, Amacom (2002) ISBN 0-8144-7155-2. At bookstores or 1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
Here’s a call to action for managers “who are contemplating the transition to a new delivery of training in their organization” whether they are positioned in human resources, knowledge management, information technology or have more general line responsibilities. It’s a book for serious readers who are ready to be challenged in their thinking.
A sampling of the book’s key propositions for a fundamental new mindset and approach to training and development:
•The Internet changes everything, including training.
•There is a danger of becoming seduced by the functionality of the technology, rather than concentrating on its use.
•Training will move from events to interventions.
•There will be a convergence (or blurring) among knowledge management, performance management and training. All are strategies for gaining competitive advantage through people in the information age.
•Training managers should identify the appropriate wins in their organization rather than let the availability of technology determine their agenda.
•Any part of the training supply chain that does not add value will disappear. Other parts could well become commodity products.
E-learning has specific conditions for success. It’s best suited to the acquisition of knowledge and least suited where interpersonal interaction is needed for learning. Moreover, it works most effectively as part of a systematic approach involving classroom and experiential learning.
The U.K.-based author draws on concepts, models and research findings as well as case examples from organizations like the BBC, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola and Ernst &Young to demonstrate well-established, large and small scale e-learning initiatives.
The Conflict and Communication Activity Book
By Bill Withers and Keami D. Lewis, 283 pages, Amacom (2003) ISBN 0-8144-7167-6. At bookstores or 1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
Every workplace has conflict, and this manual contains 30 exercises that can be adapted and integrated into programs to help managers and staff strengthen skills and gain insights. To use these interventions, trainers or facilitators require experience and an appreciation of why people are uncomfortable about conflict, what can get in the way of success in a workshop about conflict and how conflict can be turned into a constructive outcome.
A dozen of the exercises, presented under the banner, “My workshop starts in five minutes,” are intended to provide a ready conflict and communication exercise when a training practitioner has little time to prepare or when there is a need for something to relieve tension or resolve some dynamics in the middle of a program. The remainder require advance preparation.
Each exercise starts with an outline, followed by step-by-step instructions for conducting it, variations that may apply to a particular situation and insights to be discussed at the end.
A helpful matrix shows which exercises are most closely related to aims like building conflict skills, teamwork, diversity awareness or “centring” (calming, getting back to the objective, dealing with pressure.) The manual also contains sample agendas, handouts and material for flipcharts.
Speak with Confidence
By Dianna Booher, 238 pages, McGraw Hill (2003) ISBN 0-07-140805-3. At bookstores or 1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
A total of 497 tips comprise the body of this book, more than enough to help readers overcome what is often called the greatest fear — public speaking. Who can benefit from these tips? Executives and mangers, trainers and facilitators, salespeople, technical experts — nearly anyone who presents information to colleagues, clients, suppliers or other audiences.
The tips are a paragraph or a page in length and are organized to cover many facets of “powerful presentations that inform, inspire and persuade,” including:
•research and establish rapport with your audience;
•achieve “platform presence”;
•create, organize and polish content;
•use visuals that support, not sabotage, the goal;
•handle questions and answers: think on your feet under heat; and
•prepare the site, including audio and video conferencing.
Practice, persuasion, panache — it’s all here. Readers will learn about presenting technical information to non-technical audiences, being an effective emcee and evaluating results to learn from experience.
Point, Click & Wow!
By Claudyne Wilder and Jennifer Rotondo, 226 pages, Jossey Bass Pfeiffer (revised ed., 2002) ISBN 0-7879-5669-4. Available from Wiley Canada, 1-800-567-4797, www.wiley.com
The popular “Quick guide to brilliant laptop presentations” has been updated with pointers and illustrations on designing presentation slides for high impact based on four key elements:
•emotionally engage the audience;
•be understandable;
•look aesthetically pleasing; and
•create a story waiting to be told.
Advice includes how to develop a corporate blueprint and the need to avoid common errors like use of too much colour, too much text or numerical content, black backgrounds, excessive models and diagrams, over-complexity or inconsistency. The accompanying CD-ROM contains demos of charts and graphs, headings, backdrops, visuals, graphics and art, templates and a tutorial for business presenters.
The focus, however, is not entirely on computer-created material. Readers are given suggestions on connecting to the audience, organizing the presentation around an objective, preparing for success with technology and the all important ingredient: rehearsal and more rehearsal.
The AMA Handbook of Business Letters
By Jeffrey Seglin and Edward Coleman, 519 pages, Amacom (3rd ed., 2002). ISBN 0-8144-0665-3. At bookstores or
1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
Even in this age of e-mail, virtual meetings and Web sites, the basic skills of business letter writing are essential. Yet this task can be difficult even for seasoned and articulate managers and practitioners.
Using the 365 sample letters in this book and on the accompanying CD-ROM, anyone can get a head start.
Take an example, modify it to meet your purposes, and presto — task complete. The sample letters cover every conceivable category: sales, marketing and public relations; customer service; credit and collections; vendor and supplier communications; personnel and HR (including job offer, leave of absence, resignation, retirement and termination); and letters for various situations of transmittal, confirmation, requests, replies and permissions. There are even social and personal letters of congratulations, appreciation, invitation and condolence.
In addition to the sample letters, readers are guided through the stages of planning a letter, getting the components (such as language, grammar, tone, focus of attention and length) right, then creating the structure and appearance needed for maximum impact and getting the most from word processing software.
There are also pointers on punctuation, abbreviations and “words to watch” — for example, avoid using “aforesaid,” “in receipt of,” “irregardless,” “due to the fact that” and “very unique.” Be correct with affect versus effect, between and among, people and persons, principal versus principle, data and datum.
Ray Brillinger is a senior consultant with IBM Business Consulting Services. He provides change management, business transformation and organization effectiveness strategy and implementation support to clients. He can be reached at (905) 316-8733 or [email protected].
Also reviewed are some practical resources for use in training programs or as self-study guides. They address many facets of communication skills and challenges: preparing and delivering effective public speeches and presentations; good business letters; impressive laptop presentations; and training interventions to help build working relationships, teamwork and conflict resolution.
The Training Manager’s Quick-Tip Sourcebook
By Susan C. Patterson, 276 pages, Jossey Bass Pfeiffer (2003) ISBN 0-7879-6252-X. Available from Wiley Canada, 1-800-567-4797, www.wiley.com
Training and development managers, design and delivery practitioners and professionals concerned with effective training evaluation will appreciate this ready reference book. It can also serve as an overview for those new to the field or just assuming responsibility for training and development.
The opening chapter on planning includes development of a vision statement, business plan, training request-for-proposal and budget, a business case for e-learning and ideas on building credibility for the training function. This is followed by sections on diagnosis and needs analysis, with advice on taking the pulse of programs, avoiding “snake oil” training approaches and selling and positioning training to move it from the periphery to a business partner role.
Other chapters address timely issues:
•analyzing the true costs of training;
•effective cost-control strategies;
•thorough return-on-investment steps and pitfalls;
•building a solid e-learning model; and
•strategies for running a small training department.
The book looks at performance improvement, expanding a training practitioner’s reach as a professional through coaching and mentoring and understanding the business value of training related to recruitment and hiring, safety, workplace fairness and supporting competitiveness. More than 50 topics are covered in separate sections, complete with exhibits, worksheets and examples.
Technology for Trainers
By Thomas Toth, 179 pages, ASTD Press (2003) ISBN 1-56286-321-5. 1-800-628-2783, www.astd.org
What is XML? How about XSL, ODBC, GUI, listserv, EPSS, asynchronous learning, ADL? The 400-term glossary of this “primer for the e-learning age” sheds light on these terms as well as concepts and practices ranging from distance education to learning portals and peer-to-peer networks.
The author, experienced as an instructional designer, project manager, HTML programmer, graphic designer and stand-up trainer, shares his knowledge with an overview of what every trainer needs to know about technology, how e-learning differs from other educational approaches and real-world examples of business applications.
Along the way, readers will find chapters on getting ready to work with a developer, creating interactive content to engage the learner, choosing graphics and animation to suit specific purposes and knowing enough about multimedia and coding to help make the right decisions.
The book has numerous illustrations and specific tech tips aimed at “the technology-hungry learning and performance professional… to explain the technology necessary to turn a training designer’s vision into a workable, functional e-learning solution.”
The E-Learning Revolution
By Martyn Sloman, 222 pages, Amacom (2002) ISBN 0-8144-7155-2. At bookstores or 1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
Here’s a call to action for managers “who are contemplating the transition to a new delivery of training in their organization” whether they are positioned in human resources, knowledge management, information technology or have more general line responsibilities. It’s a book for serious readers who are ready to be challenged in their thinking.
A sampling of the book’s key propositions for a fundamental new mindset and approach to training and development:
•The Internet changes everything, including training.
•There is a danger of becoming seduced by the functionality of the technology, rather than concentrating on its use.
•Training will move from events to interventions.
•There will be a convergence (or blurring) among knowledge management, performance management and training. All are strategies for gaining competitive advantage through people in the information age.
•Training managers should identify the appropriate wins in their organization rather than let the availability of technology determine their agenda.
•Any part of the training supply chain that does not add value will disappear. Other parts could well become commodity products.
E-learning has specific conditions for success. It’s best suited to the acquisition of knowledge and least suited where interpersonal interaction is needed for learning. Moreover, it works most effectively as part of a systematic approach involving classroom and experiential learning.
The U.K.-based author draws on concepts, models and research findings as well as case examples from organizations like the BBC, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola and Ernst &Young to demonstrate well-established, large and small scale e-learning initiatives.
The Conflict and Communication Activity Book
By Bill Withers and Keami D. Lewis, 283 pages, Amacom (2003) ISBN 0-8144-7167-6. At bookstores or 1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
Every workplace has conflict, and this manual contains 30 exercises that can be adapted and integrated into programs to help managers and staff strengthen skills and gain insights. To use these interventions, trainers or facilitators require experience and an appreciation of why people are uncomfortable about conflict, what can get in the way of success in a workshop about conflict and how conflict can be turned into a constructive outcome.
A dozen of the exercises, presented under the banner, “My workshop starts in five minutes,” are intended to provide a ready conflict and communication exercise when a training practitioner has little time to prepare or when there is a need for something to relieve tension or resolve some dynamics in the middle of a program. The remainder require advance preparation.
Each exercise starts with an outline, followed by step-by-step instructions for conducting it, variations that may apply to a particular situation and insights to be discussed at the end.
A helpful matrix shows which exercises are most closely related to aims like building conflict skills, teamwork, diversity awareness or “centring” (calming, getting back to the objective, dealing with pressure.) The manual also contains sample agendas, handouts and material for flipcharts.
Speak with Confidence
By Dianna Booher, 238 pages, McGraw Hill (2003) ISBN 0-07-140805-3. At bookstores or 1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
A total of 497 tips comprise the body of this book, more than enough to help readers overcome what is often called the greatest fear — public speaking. Who can benefit from these tips? Executives and mangers, trainers and facilitators, salespeople, technical experts — nearly anyone who presents information to colleagues, clients, suppliers or other audiences.
The tips are a paragraph or a page in length and are organized to cover many facets of “powerful presentations that inform, inspire and persuade,” including:
•research and establish rapport with your audience;
•achieve “platform presence”;
•create, organize and polish content;
•use visuals that support, not sabotage, the goal;
•handle questions and answers: think on your feet under heat; and
•prepare the site, including audio and video conferencing.
Practice, persuasion, panache — it’s all here. Readers will learn about presenting technical information to non-technical audiences, being an effective emcee and evaluating results to learn from experience.
Point, Click & Wow!
By Claudyne Wilder and Jennifer Rotondo, 226 pages, Jossey Bass Pfeiffer (revised ed., 2002) ISBN 0-7879-5669-4. Available from Wiley Canada, 1-800-567-4797, www.wiley.com
The popular “Quick guide to brilliant laptop presentations” has been updated with pointers and illustrations on designing presentation slides for high impact based on four key elements:
•emotionally engage the audience;
•be understandable;
•look aesthetically pleasing; and
•create a story waiting to be told.
Advice includes how to develop a corporate blueprint and the need to avoid common errors like use of too much colour, too much text or numerical content, black backgrounds, excessive models and diagrams, over-complexity or inconsistency. The accompanying CD-ROM contains demos of charts and graphs, headings, backdrops, visuals, graphics and art, templates and a tutorial for business presenters.
The focus, however, is not entirely on computer-created material. Readers are given suggestions on connecting to the audience, organizing the presentation around an objective, preparing for success with technology and the all important ingredient: rehearsal and more rehearsal.
The AMA Handbook of Business Letters
By Jeffrey Seglin and Edward Coleman, 519 pages, Amacom (3rd ed., 2002). ISBN 0-8144-0665-3. At bookstores or
1-800-565-5758, www.mcgrawhill.ca
Even in this age of e-mail, virtual meetings and Web sites, the basic skills of business letter writing are essential. Yet this task can be difficult even for seasoned and articulate managers and practitioners.
Using the 365 sample letters in this book and on the accompanying CD-ROM, anyone can get a head start.
Take an example, modify it to meet your purposes, and presto — task complete. The sample letters cover every conceivable category: sales, marketing and public relations; customer service; credit and collections; vendor and supplier communications; personnel and HR (including job offer, leave of absence, resignation, retirement and termination); and letters for various situations of transmittal, confirmation, requests, replies and permissions. There are even social and personal letters of congratulations, appreciation, invitation and condolence.
In addition to the sample letters, readers are guided through the stages of planning a letter, getting the components (such as language, grammar, tone, focus of attention and length) right, then creating the structure and appearance needed for maximum impact and getting the most from word processing software.
There are also pointers on punctuation, abbreviations and “words to watch” — for example, avoid using “aforesaid,” “in receipt of,” “irregardless,” “due to the fact that” and “very unique.” Be correct with affect versus effect, between and among, people and persons, principal versus principle, data and datum.
Ray Brillinger is a senior consultant with IBM Business Consulting Services. He provides change management, business transformation and organization effectiveness strategy and implementation support to clients. He can be reached at (905) 316-8733 or [email protected].
