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CHAPTER SERVICES ADDRESS
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March
2009 |
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New look & New focus We hope you enjoy & find useful the new & improved CIASTD newsletter. Here’s what you’ll see - -
Mark your calendar for these upcoming monthly meetings
Yes, Tinseltown can give us hope! You know the training industry is in trouble. Trainers from across the country are facing the growing threat of downsizing, marginalization, or outright elimination. Want to secure your position at the corporate table? The answer is to attend the March 2009 CIASTD Meeting. Andy Janning will show you how memorable movie characters can help you gain respect in your workplace and secure your position. Save your seat TODAY for this event! It is the first step to gaining the following skills:
About the speaker:
"Why
aren't you using iTunes U®?" The question came innocently enough, though delivered in a manner that, at first glance, could be characterized as “cheeky young rebel” - a style, I must admit, I found intriguing. The intern’s question was posed to a group of learning professionals who high-fived the day we mastered the basics of webconferencing. We had two choices: barricade ourselves behind the “we’ve always done it this way/ IT won’t let us access the site.” Or, we could take her up on her challenge and explore the possibilities. By listening to the rationale behind the suggestion, we quickly found ourselves immersed in the world of podcasts, vodcasts, and other flavors of social media. The student truly became the teacher, and teach us she did – Lunch ‘n’ Learns, hands on tutorials, coaching, and challenges when she needed to be entertained (just kidding … kind of). That summer, and every summer since, interns remind us why we do what we do. They also challenge us to:
In roughly three months, we'll see our next wave of summer interns. I can't wait to see what we learn this year! Find out what the interns have to say about podcasting/vodcasting on Ning.
Great Question - many different options There were 126 million people born between 1965 and 1998. Maybe you’re one of them. Maybe you develop training materials for some of them. Maybe you are responsible for some of these people’s career development. What makes them tick? How are they different from the Boomers and the Silent Generation? Let’s find out. Let’s begin by defining some terms and outlining some broad generalizations about the different experiences and world views each group brings to the work place that might impact how they approach learning in the work place.
Gen X is very comfortable with technology – however Millennials assume technology. They cannot recall a time in which technology was not in play. Gen X is good at multitasking – Millennials multitask at lightening speed. Millennials tended to be latch key kids and perhaps part of blended families. As such, they are pragmatic, practical and very self-reliant. They mistrust institutions, and friends are very important to them. Gen X, however, tended to be nurtured and supported. They experienced helicopter parenting and, hence, family and friends are one and the same. Diane Thielfoldt and Devon Scheef note that approaches to mentoring might be adapted. A casual, friendly work environment appeal to Gen X, with the freedom and flexibility to learn. Millennials come with high expectations and like a bit more structure – with personalization and interactivity. To learn more, check out their article Fast Company explores two myths about these groups – around work ethic and the hours they are willing to work. Read more here HR.BLR.com offeres 4 Strategies for a Gen X friendly workplace And finally, from ASTD, an interesting article which defines best practices for Gen X – but these sound like best practices for any age group. What do you think? Join the conversation on Ning.
How does the latest technology craze impact the workplace? We’ve been hearing a lot recently about the newest generation in the workforce, and their fluency with technology. “Web 2.0” is the buzzword, but how useful are these types of technologies in the workplace? What is Web 2.0? Social Norms in a Web 2.0 World
The first norm, “you’re my friend”, indicates the rapid/instant trust in the peer group that characterizes social networking. Like the quaint “letters of introduction” that people carried a century ago, or like job references of today, the endorsement of a person can open his or her network to you. Along with this instant “friending” is an assumption that you can be candid… and beyond. Most people on the Internet are respectful, but there are still instances of “flames”, those sarcastic comments that leave virtual scorch marks on your psyche. Also, social networking sites are typically not hierarchical – either you’re a friend or you’re not. These combined norms may not be as valid in a workplace where the company has rights to any recorded medium on their networks, from e-mails to posting a comment. Lack of attention to status and hierarchy, or too much emphasis on clever sarcasm, could create issues for an employee. And – worst case – if that employee was dismissed he or she could indicate that the company gave little or no direction on appropriate behavior. The second norm, “we both have something to say” may also
be questionable. The assumption with blogs and tweets is that everyone’s
knowledge, experiences, & reactions are valid and valuable, at
least to their friends. So should you hesitate to contribute on a social
networking site? No; if you don’t contribute, you’re a "lurker“,
just using information without contributing to it. However, in a business
setting, a little more thought should be given to what you’re
contributing and who your audience is. And “lurking” may
be a more appropriate behavior, as you figure out the company norms. As an example, in December 2008, an e-mail was making the rounds. It announced that a list of companies such as J.Jill and Eddie Bauer were going out of business completely, so no one should buy gift cards from them for Christmas. In fact, some of these companies were headed for bankruptcy, but that does not always mean they would cease to exist or would not make good on their debts. In other cases, they were merely closing some stores and opening others, which is a normal process for any large retailer. Eddie Bauer sent announcements to their existing e-mail list notifying the public the company was still healthy, that all gift cards would be honored, and that they were only re-shifting the locations of some stores. It is unknown how much damage was done by this single e-mail, but it remains an example of how bad information can cause extreme damage to a business. Now imagine bad information on your company grapevine – but gone viral and extending out into the world of your customers and the media. You can see the danger. Still, the fact remains that Web 2.0 applications can be put to excellent use in a corporate setting, with a few important adaptations. Some guidelines are shown below:
Quick Start But, you may have more technology at your fingertips than you realize. Do you have Sharepoint? Then you can have wikis and threaded discussions. Do you have a website? Then you can create connections between people by allowing them to post comments or even just submit ideas. Do you use virtual meeting or classroom software? Then you can record sessions and post them – making a type of “podcast” all your own, even if it’s accessible on desktops, not iPods. Above all, talk with your Technology department about what’s possible. They are the ones who are most informed and most excited about new applications. We are always in the business of helping people perform. These new technologies and skills are just another means of meeting our goals as learning professionals. At CIASTD, we are already modeling the behavior of using new technologies through our website, e-mail lists, and the social networking site, Ning. If you haven’t tried Ning yet, try now. This is a safe place to get comfortable with the nuances of social networking, and learn from others how they are using Web 2.0 technologies in their workplaces.
How to Navigate Cultural Differences When running a kickoff meeting, it's important to get down to business
immediately, right? And when you complete that project, isn't it
great to take the team out to a nice steakhouse, and maybe even (in
better economic times) buy them a round of drinks? In some cultures, jumping right into a meeting without taking the time to know something about one another is considered rude and counterproductive. And what you think is a reward (steak and a martini) might create an awkward moment for a team member who is vegetarian or who doesn't drink, for religious or other reasons. Clearly, it's important to be aware of the friction points which can arise in a diverse workplace. You may be traveling the globe, or may simply have people from various cultures and backgrounds to work with here at home. Either way, here are some key distinctions to consider:
One final thought: how are you setting up meetings, if you have participants across the globe? Consider the effect on those in other time zones, and balance how frequently you ask them to accommodate early or late calls. And, it’s always nice to ask about holidays when setting up a meeting schedule. You don’t have to know every holiday in every country or religion, but you can be respectful of holidays as an issue. Diversity in your workplace can be a great source of innovation and learning for your organization. Respect is the key word: it’s what makes the difference between conflict and synergy.
When I
look at the world I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I
am optimistic. The power within will trump the circumstance every time. Put your
trust and faith in people and the surrounding circumstances look much
brighter. Your brain needs to eat more than once a month! Feed it at the Food for Thought sessions! By: Kris Taylor Would you benefit from meeting CIASTD member in smaller, more informal groups for learning and networking? And how about the opportunity to do this close to home or work? Starting
in a few weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to
join your peers at various locations across town. These
will be quarterly “Food for Thought” sessions to
meet, over breakfast or lunch, with other workplace learning
professionals
to discuss relevant topics and to share ideas and resources.
Facilitators will lead the discussions in various areas
around the city – which means you’ll be able to
find a group near your work place. Sites will be offered in
the following areas: northwest, northeast, center city,
airport area, east, and virtual. There is no to attend
- other than the cost of your own meal. Watch the CIASTD web
site for more details!
Extra resources for you to explore While waiting for the next conference call to start put those few extra minutes you have to good use by checking out these resources.
Check out all that's going on! The Programming Committee is busy with a record setting February meeting, an outdoor experiential learning activity coming soon, podcasts and webcasts on the horizon. Investigate all the ways they are taking your suggestions! February Monthly Program Sets New Attendance Record James Kirkpatrick spoke to a record crowd of 132 members and guests on February 27th with his “Training On Trial” presentation. He has agreed to do a follow up via a webinar – look for details soon. Thanks to all who came out that day. Let’s continue to make this a record setting year! Special Events Taking Shape A Great Line Up Moving Us Forward We Heard You Our focus in programming this year is to focus on high value for members. To realize this goal, we began by asking members what was important to them. When asked about interest in the competency areas, we found strong interest in all 9 areas. Adding together the responses that indicated members were either interested or very interested in competency areas, we found that even Career planning and talent management, the lowest area of interest, still appealed to 55% of our members. Our take-away? Provide a wide variety of programming that covers all the competency areas. Being more effective as a business partner appeared
to be the theme as we asked about specific skills members would
like to
develop. Top skills included thinking strategically, needs analysis
and solution development, developing effective e-learning, and
influencing stakeholders. As such, we started the year focusing
on business acumen and measuring results. Later this year, we’ll
forces on e-learning, change and HPI. We also found that members
were interested in new and different ways to learn and to network. We Want to Continue to Hear From You!
Come see who's joined the CIASTD member ranks! CIASTD is an ever-growing group of those dedicated to helping others learn. Since the last issue of The Facilitator, we have signed 6 members. Jodi Underwood, Citizens Energy Group
Bundles & Packages Do Just That! Need to renew your CIASTD membership? Check out the new membership bundles! Also, buy your monthly meeting tickets in a package to save on per meeting costs.
CIASTD is always looking for new contributors both to the monthly programs and The Facilitator newsletter.
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By: Andrea Moore