Book Description

In today’s fast paced, “right-sized,” competitive environment businesses increasingly need staff who are creative, think on their feet, take the unexpected in their stride, and work effectively in fluid teams.How can they instill and develop these critical skills?

The answer may be to improvise!Improvisational actors make up scenes, dialog and entire plays on the spot.They work collaboratively in front of paying customers who expect to be entertained and amazed.Improv actors use no script, cannot predict what will happen next, and have no chance to go back or rewrite.They rely on their knowledge, practiced skills and their colleagues.

This book is the first to apply the improv methodologies of the theater to developing the business skills that are in high demand.Kat Koppett—a professional trainer, management consultant and professional actor—demonstrates to trainers and managers how they can effectively transfer improv training techniques to their day to day business environment.

TRAINING TO IMAGINE translates the theories and exercises of improv into straightforward and practical guidelines and training activities.

This book is written for trainers, HR personnel, managers and team leaders who are interested in increasing their tool kit, and enhancing the impact, fun, and retention levels of their workshops.It assumes no previous experience with improvisation or performing, offers all the needed background and provides clear and practical instructions with a range of simple and effective exercises.Trainers and managers may find the book improves their own presentation and teaching skills. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Imaginative, and Effective, Training Activities
Over the last couple of years, I have become interested in adapting techniques from improv theatre to organizational training settings. Koppett's book helped me solidly solidify my thinking on the matter. She divides her book into two sections, Principles and Activities. The Principles section is broken into seven chapters that address trust, listening and awareness, non-verbal communications...all the kinds of things for which organizations seek training. The Activities sections has instructions for 50 activities, including an overview, the relevant principles, instructions and variations, and even questions that facilitate discussions after the activity is complete. For added value, the appendices break each activity down into improv principles (trust, spontaneity, etc.) or training application (team-building, creativity, problem-solving, etc.) I've used this resource dozens of times already. In fact, I've had trouble getting it back from several colleagues, and don't lend it out anymore!

Excellent, Readable Work
I enjoyed this book for two main reasons. First, it offers an engaging treatment of improvisation techniques that's certain to inform (and inspire) even those without background in the area. Second, it's an excellent compendium of training activities written in detailed prose perfect for people like me who do a lot of training, but who don't have the formal schooling in training methodology and techniques. In short, this is a worthwhile read and an excellent addition to one's library of training resources.

Go for Improv
I highly recommend this book for people interested in incorporating improv in their training, whatever the topic. The book is clear, to the point, very creative and also very practical. Ms Koppett has collected some tried-and-true improv exercises that are easy to use and really work. Even if you have never done any theatre or improv, you can use this book. Just imagine, a training session in which your participants are inspired, creative, collaborative, funny, cohesive.....

Best of the Year!
The subtitle tells the story: Practical Improvisational theatre Techniques to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership and Learning. Well it almost tells it all. This book teaches you in a very readable way about the concepts of improv, which is very interesting and a great read. THEN it provides you with 50 exercises that you can use immediately or tailor for your needs in training on almost any possible training topic. The best training book of the year.

Wow!
I have been in the training business for 30 years. Much of what our trainers do involves designing and delivering games and simulations to improve creativity, communication, team collaboration, problem-solving. Ms. Koppett's book, Training to Imagine contains the best collection of learning "jolts" I have ever read. They are fun. They create "ahas." They are easy to run. Her clear explanation of the principles and applications of improv techniques to training is well supported by research and practical experience. Well done, Ms. Koppett. I am looking forward to the next one. Maybe "Training 2: Imagine!" ... Read more

Book Description

L.E.T. has changed countless corporations and private businesses-including many Fortune 500 companies-with its down-to-earth communication and conflict resolution skills. Now, this indispensable source has been newly revised with updated research and timely case studies.

"The skill-building aspect is why L.E.T. training is a high priority for our managers and supervisors. The chance that leaders will make changes in this critical leadership skill area-the way they communicate-is higher with L.E.T. than with anything else that I've seen on the market." (H. Levine, Vice President, Business Consulting and Organizational Development, Merck & Co., Inc.)

"Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.) is the best, most practical book that I've ever read on management." (Kent Stickler, President, The Stickler Learning Group)

"L.E.T. is a ground-breaking book and training methodology that has proven to provide skills and tools to managers in a corporate setting.The skills and tools are timeless." (Liz Mazzotta, Training Director, Mutual of Omaha) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

LET Leader Effectiveness Training
Tom Gordon has a unique skill - being able to provide clear and concise models to complex human interactions. His needs-based approach to conflict resolution has been consistently reinforced by research. His listening skill approach is the best, a reflection of his work with Dr. Carl Rodgers at the University of Chicago.

If a leader wants to build their interpersonal skills and strengthen work relationships - i.e. build their "emotional quotient (EQ)" - this is the book for them.

LET Trainer - OD Leader
I was first introduced to Gordon's approach a couple of years ago. Sceptical at first, I took the time to read the book and found it very compelling. I immediately tried to apply the lessons at home and found success early in spite of the fact that some of the methods felt foriegn to me. The book and Gordon's philosophy are built on a model that respects the needs of both parties and that mutual respect becomes the foundation of a productive leader-follower relationship. The skills presented include active listening to help others, confrontive I-messages to help one's self and conflict resolution methods to build win-win solutions. Unlike other books on leadership, this book reads like a training program. You immediately know what to do with the information. I am a better leader, husband and father for having read the book and applied the approach.

Since then, I attended an L.E.T. program as a participant and an L.E.T. train the trainer program. I have now taught the course to dozens of grateful participants. It has become the foundation course in leadership at my company and has had a very positive impact on our culture. We are more productive and people are treated with more dignity and respect.

How to make leaders out of managers
This is the long-awaited update of the 1977 version of L.E.T. Dr. Gordon is a pioneer in teaching leaders to sharpen their most important skills: how to communicate, how to resolve conflicts so that no party loses, how to handle meetings, and provides an alternative to unproductive performance reviews.

Now that the economic (and political) future of the world seems so uncertain, this book is all the more timely and important. In fact, after September 11, nothing seems more important than improving our ability to resolve conflicts peacefully. Dr. Gordon - who is known for this book and his books for parents (P.E.T) and teachers (T.E.T.) - was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize because of how his work benefits our world.

But besides the high falutin' ideals about conflict resolution and its importance to the world, L.E.T. is all about skills that make your work easier, more productive and more rewarding. What this book does is simultaneously keep both feet firmly planted in two different worlds (a goal most business books don't even dream of achieving): it's both a life-changing philosophy of human relations and a book to give you and your company a competitive advantage.

I've been using this system for a few years now and it really works. It's not a magic cure, and it takes a commitment to learn and put the skills to use, but it's such a worthwhile payoff: problems with other people still pop up, but I don't get stuck dealing them like I used to and my blood pressure doesn't go nuts. Also, the communication and problem-solving skills you learn aren't ones you're able to just turn off and leave at the office -- they have a habit of insinuating themselves (and improving your relationships) when dealing with friends, spouses, kids.

Don't let the fact that this is a new version of a book that was originally published in 1977 keep you from buying it. Its concepts are universal and timeless. Lots of other books on leadership have come and gone in 25 years; there's definitely a good reason why this one's still around.

L.E.T. makes a great companion to Steven Covey's 7 Habits (another fine book, though it's not as straightforward and skill-laden as this one). ... Read more

Book Description

Roget"s II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition, allows the user to find the right synonym with a minimum of effort. Unlike many thesauruses, this easy-to-use reference lists main entry words alphabetically, as in a dictionary, for quick lookup. Each entry is divided into senses, with brief definitions and a full list of synonyms for each sense, to ensure that the selected usage is the most appropriate one. All special usages, such as slang terms, are labeled and grouped together at the end of each synonym list. Following each list is a cross-reference to a related entry in the thesaurus"s unique Category Index. This index leads the reader from the starting word to dozens of others that have related or opposite meanings. All these features make Roget"s II the best resource for finding the right word every time. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Roget's II The New Thesaurus
I was very pleased to have had the time and pleasure to have studied and read this reference book in question, i.e., Roget's II The New Thesaurus by Editors of The American Heritage Dictionaries (Editor). It is well written and is clear and easy to use. The index is well developed and the it is a joy to take it out and use it when one is in doubth whether one should use a word or not. Highly Recommended.

very poor
I would have to say that this is the biggest waste of a reference book that I have ever come across. There are very few synonyms and it reads more like a dictionary than a thesaurus.

For example, the word "fear" first gives a long definition and the following synonyms: affright, apprehension, dread, fearfulness, fright, funk, horror, panic, terror, trepidation. That's it, 11 synonyms! My pocket thesaurus, which I had intended to replace with this one, lists more than 60 synonyms!

In addition, many words that I looked up - common words like "novice" don't even have their own entries! As an aspiring writer, I find Roget's New Thesaurus absolutely useless. If you have any concept of the English language, don't buy this book. You'll be sorely disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great for starters
I have only just begun my quest for practical speed reading techniques, but already I have seen dramatic improvements (at least doubled my previous reading speed).

This book makes it easy for a motivated individual to get started at reading faster.

I gained the most out of the 3rd and 4th chapter and got very little out of the others.

In the 3rd chapter he identifies the major hindrances to fast reading. In the 4th chapter he offers a technique to help overcome some of the problems mentioned in the previous chapter.
Those two chapters opened me up to a whole new approach to reading.

The next evening I went on to read "The Evelyn Wood 7-Day Speed Reading & Learning Program" by Stanley D. Frank and I highly recommend it as a follow-up to Moidel's book. In fact, I felt like Moidel's book was a condensed and slightly modified version of the Evelyn Wood Program.

I always used to label myself as a slow reader - about 160wpm.
I easily doubled my reading speed within the first 2 days alone after reading Moidel's book (with practice - not his drills, though - instead I just practiced reading in groups of words without vocalizing). I am reading even faster now that I incorporated some of what I learned from the Evelyn Wood Program (the book).

Of course speed varies with the material being read, but what I'm most excited about is that my approach to reading has changed drastically and with it my speed has increased dramatically.

My biggest downfall in the past was reading word-by-word (focusing on each and every word rather than grouping words) and vocalizing. (Now I realize it's not necessary to read "word-by-word" and I realize to what extent word-by-word reading as well vocalizing slows one down).

Excellent book for speed reading
Among all the speed reading books, I think this book is one of the best. It's definitely works for me because it's simple and concise. All you need to do is follow the steps that the book said and practice as often as you can. I was a 212 word per minute reader with 60% comprehension skill, after I followed the 3-2-1 practice as stated in the book, I've litereally increasing my speed reading to 1200 wpm with 56% comprehension skill. My husband read this book a year earlier, and now his speed reading is 3000wpm with 80% comprehension skill. So I am stilling working on it. It's a great book though. You shouldn't miss this one if you want to improve your speed reading.

Practice makes perfect.
Some of the items explained in the book might seem corny, and you might not want to do them. The thing is that if you carry out the instructions of the book you will develop the ability of improving your reading speed. It's all about practice, without it you will not improve your reading skills or speed.

Clear understanding about dimensions of reading, and works!
After reviewing several books about speed reading --some of them very expensive--, I found it. And I strongly recommend it. The book allows you to understand and to train separately three different dimensions of reading:

- Speed, understanding and recalling.

Contrasting with another "speed reading in 5 minutes" offers, this book does not sell you miracles: you need to practice and practice to speed up your reading skills.

as a minus, I personally found the chapter about Internet useless. Do we need to read a complete chapter to learn that "Much of Internet reading is prereading or scanning"?
I don't think so.

If I would recommend a book to start with speed reading, this will be the first one.

Practical, sound advice
I'll start off by saying that if you want to become a proficient speed reader, it takes work and effort. Having said this, Moidel's book is the way to go about it. The book outlines the most common hindrances to speed reading and then illustrates how to conquer them. Within an hour I doubled my reading speed by using some of the basic pointers.

To get full use of this book, you must dedicate time to practising the numerous drills that are offered. With perseverence, you should be pushing 1000 words per minute with excellent comprehension. This book is fairly small and offers lots of no nonsense advice to get you on your way to speed reading. ... Read more

Book Description

If You Are A Sales Professional, Don’t Read This Book. Live It!

Ever wondered which selling approaches really work?Of course you have.But if you’re like many salespeople you’ve never considered the obvious: asking the buyer what he or she wants.Buyer-Approved Selling - the inaugural title in the Approved Series of business books - does it for you.

Like the rest of the Approved Series, Buyer-Approved Selling is research based.The Marketshare Research Institute team asked purchasing professionals from 228 companies across America what gets them to buy - and what makes them (silently) say "No way."The results, documented in no-nonsense, bite-sized practical tips, read like a "sales trip" through the buyer’s mind.Start living these tips now.After all, who better to tell you how to sell than the very people you sell to?

Buyer-Approved Selling: read today…use tomorrow. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Unique Approach to Customer Relationships
Schell's approach is unique in that he focuses almost entirely on the sales process (both cultivation and solicitation) from "the buyer's side of the desk." He organizes his material in a series of eight parts. In each, he offers specific tips which, for those with extensive sales experience and sustained success, may seem obvious. While many of his suggestions are obvious, such as organizing your prospect database or developing an Industry-Specific Positioning Statement (ISPS), the fact remains that his tips offer substantial value if only as reminders. Everyone in sales encounters a period of failure when they begin to question what they are doing wrong. Reviewing Schell's key points will reveal what they have taken for granted, ignored, neglected or bungled.

In addition, Schell includes dozens of comments from 228 buyers who agreed to 330 interviews and provided responses to 4,327 questions. In one of the most interesting chapters entitled, "How to annoy buyers-guaranteed," respondents warrant the guarantee. They confirm that the most successful salespeople know which questions to ask of both prospects and customers. They spend at least 80% of the time listening to the buyer's responses. He also includes a Planning Guide with each chapter using a "Permission-Based Model." This book is both a manual and a workbook, one whose material each reader should modify to accommodate her or his specific needs, interests, goals, and circumstances.

Here's a suggestion: Select ten to fifteen customers and schedule a meeting with each. Ask two questions. "What do you like best about doing business with me? and "What more can I do to be of greater service to you and to your company?" The responses may surprise you. You may also be surprised by how eager the buyers are to respond. Why? In all probability, they are seldom asked those two questions. What does that reveal about your own customer relationships? Of equal (if not greater) importance, what does that reveal about your competitors? If you now lack a decisive competitive advantage, a frank conversation with several of your customers may well identify one for you. ... Read more

Book Description

Every consultant needs a clear and concise change model that can drive thesuccess of a wide range of change projects. Seven C's of Consulting, Second Editionoffers just such a model, Mick Cope's proven 7Cs--client, clarify, create,change, confirm, continue and close. This book offers both new andexperienced consultants a solid framework for managing any consultingassignment. Mick Cope shows how to use the 7Cs model to improve your professionalism, and deliver clearer and more measurable results to your clients andbring them back for more. This completely revised Second Edition includesextensive coverage of new models, as well as entirely new coverage of ethicalconsulting in the era after Arthur Andersen. ... Read more

Book Description

A fresh, impassioned guide on the art of question-asking--withpowerful examples to use in every workplace situation.

What's wrong with this picture? On the one hand, a passive, unquestioningattitude is considered detrimental to a person's career and to an organization'sgrowth. On the other hand, focused, probing questions are rarely encouraged, andthe skills needed to ask them almost never taught.

QUESTIONS THAT WORK is here to change that. Written by a seasoned businessreporter and manager, this provocative "questioning manifesto" and practical"how-to" book gives people the insights and tools to ask thoughtful questions inevery realm of their professional lives. It is also a powerful tool to helpbusiness leaders create a progressive environment where questions flow freelyand creatively--boosting knowledge and performance at all levels of theorganization.

Best yet, the book supplies hundreds of pre-prepared, carefully craftedquestions that readers can use to find the right job, negotiate the best pay,hire the right team, sell an idea, or change their company.

When companies collapse, it is often a lack of questioning that contributed tothe crisis. When careers falter, it is a lack of questions that created thefailure. In the words of the author: "Your success depends on what questions youask. Workers of the world, question!" ... Read more

Reviews (6)

questions you never thought to ask
A lot of work went into this book. You can tell the author interviewed many people in many lines of work to come up with all of these questions. The book received a good review from the ALA which recommended it to their librarians. The book was described as sagacious. When you look it up, that's means it has keen practical sense. We need more books like that. Hope this review helps.

A Useful Tool and Enjoyable, Insightful Read
I read this book and found it to be extremely useful in a number of applications. In particular if you are looking for a job or career advancement, this book gives you great ideas to help you analyze your own objectives as well as the value that you bring to your company.

I think this book would be of great help to college students as well as they write papers or apply for internships. It helps you isolate what is important and to research appropriately.

I would highly recommend this book. A great read on business trips - gets you thinking.

Wonderful! - I recommend this book to my MBA students
Recent research suggests that questioning and listening are important but often neglected skills for MBA students. Therefore this past summer I surveyed the available books on this topic to see if there was a book I could use as a resource for my new course (at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley), which requires the students to do a significant amount of interviewing. I was delighted to discover "Questions that Work." Finlayson's argument is that in this time of constant change we each need to cultivate a "personal questioning network" of people with all sorts of expertise to whom we can go for help. His book is an inspiring and practical how-to guide for the construction of, and graceful and effective use of, such a network. I recommend it highly.

High hopes, but disappointed
I have always been a strong advocate for intelligent questioning, so was excited to see a book devoted to this topic. There were definitely some good points, but overall, I felt like I do after seeing a long movie I was anticipating to be wonderful, but turns out to be a waste of my time...I want my money back!

A few nice ideas but too long
Asking questions is an important skill and this book contains some useful ideas and techniques. However, it would benefit from some serious editing as it is far too long and is badly arranged. About 150 pages less would be about right. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Coulda Saved Me a Lot of Early Career Money!!
At age 24, with a degree in Finance and International Business and one year working for a major accounting firm in London, I came to Los Angeles with dreams of landing a financial position in the entertainment industry. Smart enough to know that THE FRONT DOOR was being used by everyone, I invested a couple grand with a career coaching firm that taught me how to get in THE BACK DOOR. Within a couple months, I met with 7 CFOs of the top studios and landed a job with MGM/UA. TOO BAD I didn't have Katharine Hansen's "A Foot In The Door" then!

Now, as a 15-year recruiting veteran, career coach, and careers author, I teach this backdoor method myself. For both beginners in the job market, or beginners to the idea of informational interviewing and backdoor job search (which many of my 40-50 year-old clients are), this is a great career manual. Katharine walks the uninitiated through the entire philosophy, psychology, and practical steps of non-lemming job finding--doing it differently. Since 80% of all jobs are filled BEFORE being advertised, the technique of tapping the "hidden job market" as Katharine describes is crucial to long-term career management. Plus, experts say we are moving away from the traditional "permanent job," so knowledge of formalized networking will be a REQUIRED SKILL in tomorrow's economy.

I did well in college because 4 months earlier I found a little book called "How to Make Straight A's in College by Beating the System". "A Foot In The Door" is the same type of book to read after college and before any career change...because this is about beating the job search system.

Thanks for spelling it all out Katharine!

Good for beginners
Everything in here is good for the college grad. If you've done any networking before then you are past this book.

Networking for College Grads
If you are just out of College, get this book otherwise forget it! Executive level positions need much more sophisticated book to be successful.

An excellent resource for job seekers and career changers...
I'm a career counselor and I recommend this book all the time. Since most people who want to change or advance their careers know that they are "supposed" to network but aren't sure where to start, Katharine Hansen's book on career networking is very helpful because it provides so many concrete suggestions about what to do. Rather than hunting all over the Internet or reading a dozen different books, purchasing this guide is definitely worth the investment. ... Read more

Book Description

The move to teams has largely failed, say Harvey Robbins and Michael Finley, mainly because teams themselves are failing to think through the human implications of teaming. The NEW Why Teams Dont Work is a handbook for team members and team leaders to maintain the highest possible level of team intelligencethe skills, attitudes, and emotional flexibility to get the most out of a teams inherent differences.

Describing what teams are really like, not how they ought to be, the book teaches people how to work together to make decisions, stay in budget, and achieve team goals. Robbins and Finley show, for instance, how to get hidden agendas on the table, clarify individual roles, learn what team members expect and want from each other, choose the right decision-making process, and much more.

Updated throughout, the book includes completely new material on team intelligence, team technology, collaboration vs. teamwork, team balance, teams at the top, the team of one, plus all new and updated examples. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Making Teams Work Right
I was first introduced to Robbins & Finley, when I purchased a copy of the audiotape version of the original Why Teams Don't Work a couple of years ago (the book itself was out of print at the time). Like many others, I found the title compelling. Among the endless list of books touting teams as the pancea for all organizational problems, here was a book that provided a fresh, honest look at teams and their all-too-human members.

For those who have never been exposed to the original book, you are in for a real treat! In this new version, Robbins & Finley present the real-life lessons of teamwork that most of us have learned the hard way with all the wit and social satire of a Mark Twain novel. For those that have experienced the original book, you will find all of the wit and wisdom of the original plus some delightful new insights into human behavior in teams. The section on team myths alone is worth purchasing the new book.

I highly recommend the book to team members everywhere who struggle in the trenches to get their teams on track while juggling the performance demands of today's fast moving organizations. As Robbins and Finley point out, teams are a natural vehicle for human accomplishment but effective teams don't happen by accident. Or, as Forrest Gump might say, "Bubba told me a lot about teamwork, but you know what I learned, teamwork is hard."

The book may not turn your current team around, but it will certainly give you the insight to understand what went wrong and how to make it right next time.

Witty and Intelligent!
Robbins and Finley are highly witty and intelligent. They know their subjects and address them well. This is the first business book that has made me laugh out loud. Having experience as a team leader, I know these truths of which they speak. They offer very real solutions to very real problems.

Great read for teams and team leaders!

This is not a happy talk book about teams.
Read Chapter 5 on "misplaced goals, confused objectives," and you'll start getting a good handle on where most team problems lie. How many of us really understand what Demming meant when he stated that a good goal is not a number? The authors do. They know that a good goal is something that brings out passion. A good goal gives people something to respond to, buy into, claim ownership over. This is not a happy talk book about teams. With all the things that can go wrong with teams, and do, it's surprising they work at all. "Teams are trouble." Having this book available on your reference shelf will help you handle and minimize the inevitable missteps the next time you're asked to serve on a team, or lead it.

A Good Read!
Of teams and families it might be said, "Each is dysfunctional in its own special way." Today's corporate litany states that to succeed we must learn to cooperate more closely. The testing ground for this idea becomes trendy "cross-functional teams" or task forces. Here, antisocial tendencies and hidden agendas are sprinkled across meeting-room tables like dragon's teeth, springing up to mortally wound the best interests of your organization. The good news is that you can do something to help your organization's teams operate more effectively. Robbins and Finley are a couple of skilled veterans who say that "trust is the blood of teams." If you believe better teamwork is critical to your company's future, we think you will find the lessons in this book absolutely essential - whether you're a member of a team or the leader who serves them.

How to work with others to make decisions
In The New Why Teams Don't Work: What Goes Wrong And How To Make It Right, Harvey Robbins and Michael Finley effectively collaborate to explain how to work with others to make decisions, stay in budget, and achieve team goals. They also reveal how to get hidden agendas on the table, clarify individual roles, learn what team members expect and want form each other, and to choose the right decision-making process for the task at hand. This updated and revised edition of The New Why Teams Don't Work features a new section on team leadership which explores the necessary qualities and skills a leader must have; new concepts for addressing team problems such a boundary management; an in depth examination of "team of one" mentality and how to eliminate it; an expanded definition of teams that sees teams and their problems everywhere; the myths of teams and why a sports team is a fitting metaphor or template for like a business team. The New Why Teams Don't Work is very highly recommended and informative reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of team leadership, membership, or management. ... Read more

Book Description

This authoritative sourcebook is a timely decision-making tool for companies making the transition to (or already using) e-learning.Featuring all-original contributions from high-profile practitioners and renowned theorists, the book reveals how top companies are implementing andusing this crucial employee development tool. Topics include:

* analyzing organizational need* selling e-learning to the organization * learning management systems* synchronous collaboration* learning portals* repurposing materials* outsourcing and vendor relations.

Other chapters focus on motivation and retention, technological and software options, measuring ROI, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For any who want to incorporate an e-learning strategy
AMA Handbook of E-Learning features essays by the author and almost thirty world experts on workplace learning, addressing all questions and concerns that organizations may have on e-learning. Experts were asked over twenty questions chosen from a survey of practitioners who were asked about the concerns. Each expert answered several questions ranging from technical problems to expect in the e-learning environment to what the right blend of e-learning and software is. An essential guide for any who want to incorporate an e-learning strategy into their organization or education.

Hands-on, not just theory
I was particularly impressed with the hands-on information. We certainly get enough E-Learning theory, but this book does give some real advice, particularly in the actual production of e-learning modules. For example, the chapter on Webcasting by Michael Fink explains the ins and outs of what it actually takes to get this part of the process done. Excellent!

I'm still browsing, but I think the editor George Piskurich should be congratulated. ... Read more

Book Description

The New Office Professional"s Handbook is an indispensable tool for every modern office. Whether you work at corporate headquarters, for an Internet startup, or in a home-based business, you"ll find the information you need in this all-new revision of the authoritative handbook for today"s office professional. The book"s features include

• the latest information on the electronic office, including technical information as well as tips on "netiquette"
• comprehensive coverage of modern office procedures
• practical guidance on career development, including tips on using Internet resources
• suggestions for how to handle human relationships in the office: your boss, coworkers, and assistants
• practical advice on how to plan, arrange, and conduct meetings and conferences
• country profiles with up-to-date information
• grammar, usage, and punctuation guidance in an accessible format
• advice on how to create, edit, proofread, send, and file professional business documents
• information on basic accounting procedures and the fundamentals of business law
• new and updated illustrations, charts, and tables
• an easy-to-use format with a comprehensive index ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Reflects changes in technology and business management
This fourth updated edition of a classic reflects ongoing changes in technology and business management, providing an important tool for modern offices and home business users alike. From a comprehensive coverage of modern office procedures and Internet resources to advice on conducting meetings and using basic accounting programs, this is packed with practical tips. ... Read more

Book Description

Gregg Quick Filing Practice 4e by Stewart continues to use a concise, user-friendly format to teach the essentials of manual filing. The compact, 20-hour boxed practice set reflects the most up-to-date business standards. A Student Text-Guide provides basic filing procedures for indexing names of people, names of businesses, government names, and addresses for alphabetic, subject, geographic, numeric, and chronological filing. The 12 rules used to teach indexing are ARMA-compatible. This practice set includes a storage envelope to hold loose filing documents; a Student Text-Guide; a pad of miniature filing documents; file guides, file folders, and file frame; and a 3.5" filing tutorial disk. ... Read more

Book Description

A witty and original guide to tapping into your natural abilities, taking chances, and reaping the benefits in the business world and in life.

People who want to succeed in this fast-paced, competitive world need to think like improv actors. Lightning-quick responses, razor-sharp powers of observation, confidence, and creativity are qualities that can help anyone go far. This unique guide, written by a trio of professional improv trainers and performers, teaches the art of spontaneity and can vastly improve the way we respond to situations in the business world -- or anywhere.

Businesses are sending their top managers to improvisational classes to learn how to give presentations, how to talk to clients, and how to finesse difficult situations. But those same skills can be mastered with the help of the simple and fun exercises found in this book. The authors explain how improvisation comes into play in our daily lives, and the rewards of taking risks in those situations. They show how to ignite the creative spark, break repetitive habits, and talk so others know you're listening. They give suggestions for building a dynamic group environment, and for encouraging others to think outside the box. Improvise This! is filled with true-to-life business scenarios and offers methods for not only surviving but triumphing in those situations, making this a valuable and entertaining resource for everyone who understands that success in business is equal parts perspiration, inspiration, and improvisation. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Dog-eared with a broken spine
I pull this book off the shelf so often that I'm thinking of naming it and teaching it to fetch. As an acting teacher, I not only find the games energizing and useful for my students, but I value the advice and suggestions. It really helps with the side-coaching, with reviving the essential spirit of the work that got all of us into this. As a mostly human being, I sometimes let this book jump up onto my lap simply for the giggles. These are people who not only know what they're talking about, but who write with great wit about wit. Hey . . . this book may be the solution to that pesky old form vs. function debate. This is a really, really good book that continually inspires.

I love the messege!
In a world where the corporate climate is becoming more and more concerned about don'ts, than dos, more worried about what can't be said, than what can, this delightful book is the perfect reminder of the power of play. I love the messege. Let's get out of our heads and have some fun. Then let's see how that fun effects our work product.

The authors give us inspiring examples of humor in the workplace, and a series of excerises to loosen up even the most button downed office. They manage to give sound advice while keeping tongues firmly in cheek. I found it an easy read, perfect for the airplane.

This is a great beginner's book for Improv in the workplace. Now,I would love to see a more in-depth work from this joyful team. Improvise This! has whet my appetite.

Encounter difficult situations? Use Improv Techniques!
As a public speaker and trainer, no matter how well prepared I am for an engagement, I encounter situations, audiences and questions that can catch me off guard. This book offers concrete tools, suggestions and examples of how to handle these types of situations using various improvisational techniques.

It is also a witty, fun and playful reminder to trust our instincts and tap into the natural creativity that we are born with. A definite must have on your book shelf!

Maybe the best in a small genre, but not satisfying
I talk and act for a living (yep, I'm in a sort-of sales position), so I wasn't as excited about this book after reading it as I thought I'd be. Some good exercises that are included just didn't strike me as too much different that a day working with a people with varying knowledge, maturity, and educational levels.

Maybe I got [pulled] into the idea that (1) I like improv comedy, and (2) I'm always interested in some self-improvement. But I get to laugh and learn everyday just by showing up at the office at 8:00 a.m.

If you are in a serious, stuffy workplace that could use some fun and constructive play, this book might be more enjoyable than it was for me.

Spontaneity, Play and Having Fun
The authors have attempted to teach what most of us having reached adulthood and in the corporate world has forgotten - spontaneity, play and having fun. Some of the playshops would form a good basis for team building.

Forms an interesting read but did not break new ground. You might learn more from talking to playschool teachers who are in touch with the masters of spontaneity, play and having fun every day - young children! ... Read more

Book Description

Business people, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, parents, students, teachers, and people from all walks of life can improve their lives by learning how to brainstorm. Successfully implementing an idea is what generates success and results, whether it's a business or personal challenge. Here is a fun, easy-to-read, upbeat book designed to help people boost creativity by learning how to brainstorm and transform their best ideas into reality. Starting with the basics, this book discusses the anatomy of ideas and how they're generated. Focusing on various brainstorming techniques, it offers step-by-step directions for using these techniques as an individual or in a group situation. It helps readers analyze their ideas, pick out the best ones, and implement those ideas to produce positive and measurable results. This book also features in-depth interviews and profiles of a handful of well known people whose brainstorming skills have led them to incredible success. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Good Read!
Jason R. Rich has used his creative juices to write a book that promises to help your brain come up with its own storm of ideas. The book covers the basics of using a creative environment to brainstorm and develop new ideas. While some of the concepts discussed are fundamental, they are also classics. About 40% of the book consists of interviews with highly regarded creative thinkers in various fields - a key asset given the premise that one way to become creative is to learn from those who have already mastered this art form. In today's "by-the-numbers" corporate culture, finding new and better ways to get the job done is a valuable skill. We strongly recommends this book to those who need a more creative approach to daily tasks. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
As a former student of Dr. Bienvenu's, I know that everything in this book is right on target for success in the real world. I took everything she taught me in school and use it in my career, and my presentations looked top-notch professional from the very first day. Now I'm using this book as a training guide--and as gifts for my colleagues.
Dr. Bienvenu is direct and to the point, yet she leaves nothing out. As I read this book, I feel like she is still with me as my professional coach.

Now I'm Prepared!
I was looking for a book that would be my "best friend" when I had to prepare presentations. After reading this book and doing everything Dr. Bienvenu said to do, I did SO WELL that I was asked to teach a class! Everything I needed to know was in this book, and I was confident from the beginning.

Ideal resource for busy professionals
I work with a small group of engineers who give sales and technical presentations to a broad spectrum of audiences. Our customer and distribution base is global, therefore presentations span the gamut from live groups of 6 - 300 to internet webinars broadcast live the world. I prepared a small workshop for our group to enhance our presentation skills in delivering the content and constructing the visual aids with MS Powerpoint.
I purchased seven books on the subject to prepare this workshop and "The Presentation Skills Workshop" is the only source that really provides a useful format to put together meaningful content quickly and easily. I was thrilled that I did not need to read 300 pages of text and then start from scratch to organize the content into the presentation for my group. I especially like the flexibility in constructing a half-day, full-day or comprehensive week long format.
Thank you for a truly useful resource.

Too Basic -- Will work only for the inexperienced
If you are going to be teaching a workshop on this subject for any but the most inexperienced group, look elsewhere. Although well-intentioned, this material will work only for a novice audience, one which has never given too much thought to presentations or meeting management. The "communications skill model" -- around which this book is based -- is self-evident and signals that the reader will be directing his or her workshop to an unsophisticated audience. Actually, I am not even sure this stuff will work for ANY audience. It is just too simplistic. You likely already know what is being presented here -- and that to my mind is not good news.

Perfect Resource!
Bienvenu covers everything the presentation skills trainer needs from how to sell the training to management to exactly what to say in class. I had some experience presenting and training, but when I had to prepare a presentation workshop, this book saved my life! I got it right--with confidence! I recommend this book for trainer and presenters alike. Thanks for a great book! ... Read more

Book Description

DK's best-selling Essential Managers series are ideal for managers at every level. These compact references demonstrate the techniques and skills that are useful in any work environment, making this series the most accessible single-subject business guides on the market. ... Read more