Book Description

Today's workplace is facing a talent crisis. The economy is booming but companies are finding it harder to fill positions and keep good people. The Talent Solution holds the key to leveraging a company's most vital competitive advantage--its people. In this research-driven, ground-breaking book, Gubman shows top managers exactly how to boost performance by aligning strategy and employees. More than a quick fix, The Talent Solution will enable managers to transform their organization into a world-class competitor. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Leading edge strategy for exceeding company goals
THE TALENT SOLUTION is the first book to lead the best companies into the new millenium. Gubman explains how the merger and acquisition strategy of the 80's; and the cost cutting (generally people) tactics of the 90's now needs another change.

Both older strategies need to align a company's talent with the development of their people, and what they love to do, with their eagerness to serve shareholders and increase the value of their investment. What a simple idea! But most senior executives aren't prepared to address the harder job of developing talent...as incomprehensible as it seems, who's going to tackle this necessary task?

Some companies are already in the race that aknowlede today's shortage of talent. Most are not. When we look back on the first years of the coming decade, it will likely be known as the decade of Organizational Effectiveness...in which the companies that attained extraordinary results...accomplished their goals by focusing their talent.

THE TALENT SOLUTION is a must read for any manager, and all CEO's. I would very much like Gubman's team to work with any company I plan to invest in and I hope that his book becomes widely read, but most importantly, I hope managers will have the insight to implement his ideas.

Very useful reference in the search for talent!
A well thought through book written by a consultant with a vast amount of varied experience. The illustrative brief case studies were most helpful in understanding the thoughts, concepts, ideas and strategies. In a global economy where talent is an increasingly scarce resource, HR practitioners will find the book a very valuable resource to craft, adapt, adjust or align their practices to be more organisation and employee friendly. Mr Gubman strategic perspective of people in terms of organisational development and growth of people is indeed a very commendable effort and very insightful. The "Creating the Talent Solution" at the end of each chapter should provoke readers to critically look at their own organisation with a fresh perspective. It will help you draw a better road map in your talent search!

A Good Read!
Your strategic planning must incorporate the people who work for you, says author Edward L. Gubman in a book that gets high marks for its easy, bullet-point organization, but scores in the middle of the curve in terms of originality. Grubman preaches that you must create a strategic alliance between your company’s mission and competencies and the people who work there. Then, he describes how to motivate and involve people, and finally how to assess their performance. He uses research examples and starts each chapter with a bullet-point summary of key information. The book includes questions to ask yourself, and many useful charts and summary lists. However, the theoretical discussion of how to engage and reward employees seems oddly dry and analytical for a how-to guide on how to motivate and excite people. The areas of job matching, motivation, and assessment have been covered in many other books, but we... recommend Gubman’s authoritative approach to these topics.

"Improving Business Results with People"
"This book is about why it's essential to connect strategy and people to manage talent, and more importantly, how to do it. It rests on three key concepts: alignment, engagement, and measurement. Alignment means pointing people in the right direction. Engagement means fostering commitment to your basic purpose and direction. Measurement means providing connected and balanced ways for your company and employees to keep score about how you are doing. When you do all three things, you will be managing your talent and company to achieve extraordinary results" (from the Introduction p.9).

In this context, Edward L. Gubman introduces 'Improving Business Results with People (IBR) Model' used by Hewitt consultants as an alignment model. He argues that "The IBR model is designed to ensure you line up all the critical elements in talent management. If you pay attention to these pieces and execute them right, you will create alignment that enables you to achieve extraordinary business results" (p.32). Thus, he elaborates this model in more detailed throughout the book.

The stages of the IBR model can be outlined as follows:

1. 'Business Results and Strategies' describe the outcomes you are trying to achieve as a company and the strategies you are using to get there. Thus, he defines strong business results as:

* great value for customers,

* rewarding work situations for employees-including psychological, social, and financial rewards,

* high returns for shareholders. (more detailed discussion see Chapter 2).

2. 'Business Capabilities' refer to your distinctive abilities as an organization to use money, technology, information, people, and other resources to create a competitive advantage. He argues that "Your goal in developing these capabilities is to build unique abilities that competitors have difficulty copying so you have the advantage" (p.46).(more detailed discussion see Chapter 3).

3. 'People Requirements' are the things you demand from people to exercise your capabilities-what you need from them to be successful. He describes these requirements as the Three Cs: culture, competencies, and contract, and argues that "These three are interrelated so it's hard to separate them completely" (p.57).(more detailed discussion see Chapter 4).

4. 'Employee Priorities' are the 'bottom-up' of the equation. In this stage, he focuses on the changing nature of the employement relationship as a context for engaging employees, what engagement is and how you can increase it, and the psychology of engagement and change.(more detailed discussion see Chapters 9 to 11).

5. 'Workforce Strategies' are the distinctive plans you have for acquiring, developing, deploying, and retaining your people for competitive advantage. He argues that "Smart companies build plans for their workforce just like they build plans for the other parts of their business" (p.75). Hence, he describes elements of a workforce strategy: (a).people requirement-the cultural values, competencies, and contract, (b).employees' needs, fears, and goals, (c).the resulting employement relationship, (d).organization design, and (e).priorities for change.(more deatailed discussion see Chapter 5).

6. 'Management Practices' describe the ways you enact your workforce strategies. In this stage, he examines (1) three major criteria for excellent management practices-alignment, integration, and execution, and (2) five management practices-staffing, organizing, learning, performing, and rewarding.(more detailed discussion see Chapters 6 to 7).

7. 'Business Interactions' is where all business results occur. He argues that "All business results come from interactions-leaders with employees, employees with employees, and employees with customers. These interactions are changing, and some are becoming much more electronic. Sometimes the 'employee' now is an ATM machine, a voice-mail box, home page, or voice response circuit" (p.143). Hence, in this stage, he examines these interaction processes.(more detailed discussion see Chapter 8).

8. 'Balanced Measurements' are both the business and individual measurements that gauge how well you and your employees are doing. He argues that "Measurement is the last of the three processes you need to connect talent to strategy to deliver outstanding results" (p.225).(more detailed discussion see Chapters 12 to 14).

Finally, as conclusion, he rightly argues that "The growing effects of the information economy, globalization, and changing demographics are coinciding to create a new era in business-the era of talent. Your ability to attract, manage, and retain talent will determine whether you succeed. This wasn't always true in the past. Before, you could succeed if you controlled enough physical resources. Today, talent is the fundamental resource in business" (p.292).

Highly recommended.

PROVES, AGAIN, THAT THE RACE GOES TO THE MOST TALENTED!
The key theme of this work is that the competitive advantage goes to those companies that are best at finding, motivating, and retaining talent to fill critical positions-especially in high technology sectors. The book is filled with good advice on staffing, recruiting, motivating, managing, and retaining people. Adding to its value, Gubman gives many references to what leading companies are doing. Plenty of sound advise and examples make this worthwhile reading. Reviewed by Yvette Borcia, co-founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's Sourcefinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder. ... Read more

Book Description

An effective and engaging way employees can learn Six Sigma and put its concepts into play

Part of the popular Big Book of Games series, which capitalizes on the proven effective method for workplace training, this first book of training games for Six Sigma ensures that employees will better retain Six Sigma's complex topics.

This invaluable tool offers 50 experiential activities that teach the core improvement approach of Six Sigma, called DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control), as well as many of the popular statistical improvement tools, including Pareto charts and Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA). These games:

• Teach Six Sigma roles and organization
• Gear the team up for success
• Identify problems and generate solutions
• Teach project management
• Help teams understand the need for Six Sigma

Book Description

Most people in organizations tend to manage projects either as realists or humanists. You Don't Have to Do It Alone brings together the practical view of the realist and the people-oriented view of the humanist, combining the best of both approaches into one role: the "Pragmatic Involver." Covering everything from solving a nagging long-term problem at work that could save a company millions of dollars, to launching a community movement to improve local schools, the book shows how involving others in a project while maintaining one's focus on the nuts-and-bolts details can make big things happen. Using the authors' six major questions - each of which is explored in detail - You Don't Have to Do It Alone shows how success can be attained in a project on any scale, from redesigning a manufacturing process at a paper mill to creating an effective youth center. ... Read more

Book Description

Many managers believe that effective mentoring is most often the lucky result of personal chemistry between two people. But in this book, author Margo Murray lays that myth to rest. Her guide gives you all the expert advice, tools, and case studies you'll need to harness the power of mentoring. Building on the solid principles outlined in the first book, this revised edition adds examples of mentoring from recent publications and the author's client experience. It also includes international examples. It reveals how mentoring can maximize employee productivity and provides information on how to assess organizational needs and link them to the mentoring process.Includes all the information needed to evaluate the effectiveness of a mentoring program.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Magic of Finding a Mentor
It's Not Magic!

Mentoring is so important in the world today. Having a mentor, as this book details, helps people reach the next level in their careers. Mentoring is truly invaluable. A tough thing though is finding a mentor. Where does one look? Well now there is a place to both find a mentor and also be a mentor to share your knowledge. The site is Advance Mentoring, www.Advancementoring.com

You can search to find a mentor in any industry, or to be a mentor, or even both. Now the job of finding a mentor has gotten much easier. The site offers over a tremendous number of members from over 40 countries, so you are sure to find a mentor or a mentee. Good luck. http://www.advancementoring.com

Noah Cirincione, CEO
Advance Mentoring
http://www.advancementoring.com ... Read more

Book Description

Teach your learners to work smarter, not harder!

The Accelerated Learning Fieldbook gives you the tools you need to ensure that maximum learning and maximum retention are taking place in your training sessions, sales sessions, and classrooms.

You'll learn how to:

Book Description

Authors Dowling and Mielenz provide their readers with a step-by-step practical approach to mentoring that combines successful management methods with down-to-earth parenting practices.This thoughtful and insightful guide teaches how to build respectful, collaborative relationships at work and at home. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mentor Manager, Mentor Parent
Overall, the book is an easy, good read for anyone interested in improving their communication skills and relationships in general, both at home and in the work place. The authors provide a revealing self-test at the start of the book as well as worksheets throughout. (Hint, hold onto your answers from the self-test as you will use them throughout the other chapters in the book)!
The authors describe four control styles or personality types. Don't be surprised if your style at home and at work differ. Once you know your style, you can glean the advice and suggestions that apply to you personally. The book does not speak condescendingly to any particular group, in fact, it is as the title suggests, in mentors and encourages and even provides worksheets for practice (pssst....no one has to see your worksheets but you)!
It will help to reveal your strengths and weaknesses and better equip you to resolve conflict both on a personal and professional level. Of course, taking into consideration the emotions and values of both parties involved in the communication process. Whether intended or not, it seems as though the underlying principle involved is the value of each person as an individual, their beliefs and their emotions. We have no control over the emotions as they arise, but we do to some degree have control as to how we deal with them and how we deal with our emotions affects others.
Although the authors coin the term "control style," the book does not promote controlling behavior in a negative sense. Rather, it promotes a mentoring behavior that preserves the relationship, nurturing the relationship and the individual.
The book takes you from the place of identifying your values and relating them to the child or employee. Once that has been established, you eventually work up to the point of letting go. The passing of ownership of choices, decisions and responsiblity of actions to the child or employee, whatever the case may be. That is the goal of the book, to produce responsible, self-directed persons while preserving your relationship in the process.
Overall, I liked the book and the motivational style in which it was written. If I had any dislikes, it would have been some of the real life scenario's and the seemingly perfect endings. One begins to think, this is too good to be true. But those thoughts are quickly diminished as you read further along in the book to find that not every scenario is a win-win.
I would recommend this book for personal and professional use. It is not often you find a book with universal principles that can be applied to all aspects of your life.

Great book!
Combines management tips with proven parenting advice that I can use at home and at work. ... Read more

Book Description

Get 'em started and keep 'em going ? quick! Choose from the 75 hands-on activities in this book to:
* Raise the comfort level of your participants
* Jumpstart a training session
* Energize a presentation
* Stimulate group discussion The key word here is quick! While there are tons of books containing icebreakers and energizers, many of the activities are too involved for the limited time available. This book solves that problem
. "A great way to get your session off to an active start is by adding Energize Your Audience! to your bookshelf. Lorraine Ukens has that special knack of writing exercises that immediately capture and energize your audience. And, isn't that what you want in an icebreaker?"
-Steve Sugar, coauthor, Games That Teach Teams
"Energize your audience. Easy to say and hard to do. This is a great resource to help deliver your message by capturing participants' attention so you can be heard."
-Ed Rose, author, 50 Ways To Teach Your Learner and Presenting and Training with Magic
"Energize Your Audience! is a treasure trove of energizing, creative, and easy-to-facilitate activities. Guaranteed to delight, motivate, and engage any training group, this collection is a 'must-have' on every trainer's bookshelf." -Karen Lawson, CSP, Lawson Consulting Group, Inc.
All of these exercises are reproducible and can be easily facilitated in 15 minutes or less, leaving most of your valuable time to focus on the topic of the training session. Keep your participants alert and actively engaged in the learning process with the help of this invaluable resource! ... Read more

Book Description

If you need quick, targeted baseline knowledge about using technology for teaching and learning, Making Sense of Online Learning is for you. This practical, no-nonsense primer will help you understand how online learning technologies work and how they fit into your organization. You’ll gain a working knowledge of important topics such as design, infrastructure, and evaluation and the confidence to make informed decisions that will help your learners and organization thrive. Since information about online learning changes at Internet speed, the book is supported with a dedicated Web site (www.learningpeaks.com/msoll/) filled with up-to-the-minute suggestions for tools and resources. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

E-learning for Dummies?
The audience for this book is the person who wants to take their first step into traditional online learning. And by traditional, I mean self-contained courses and the management systems that support them (as opposed to deeper simulations or integration with knowledge management or ERP or CRM systems, etc., etc.,) For these people, the tone, the content, and the sympathy are dead on. Before going to a conference, or reading any deeper books, or subscribing to any of the current magazines, or meeting with your boss or advisor, this should be required reading.

Not Just for Beginners
Like many instructional design professionals, I struggle to stay abreast of the lighting-fast developments in online learning. Replacing the comfortable and relatively stable vocabularies and design considerations of yesteryear are rapidly evolving media, terms, technologies, and standards.

Both veterans and novices alike may now know a great deal about some things and very little about others. We need resources that can help us fill the gaps in our understanding and enable us to speak intelligently to our clients, colleagues, and employers. We also need simplified ways of explaining these topics to our audiences.

Patti and Amy have provided just such a resource. By peeling away the jargon and complexity in an even-handed and measured way, they have clarified many mind-numbing subjects. Along the way, they have taken care to point out universal considerations, such as the importance of designing for usability and building training around real-world challenges. They have also provided excellent checklists to use when considering the acquisition of expensive technologies, such as learning management and content management systems. These tools alone can help organizations avoid costly and frustrating blunders.

Patti and Amy have successfully blended sensible guidance; classic learning theories; online learning terms, definitions, and applications; and many excellent resources into a "must read" book and companion Web site. Readers will hardly realize the plane has left the ground by the time they touch down gently but firmly at the end of a smooth and delightful journey.

Current, fun, and accurate
Very few of us have the time or the patience to read a non-fiction book front to back. We want current information, solutions to the problems we are experiencing today, and answers to questions we can not answer ourselves. We want to find these golden nuggets of information quickly and easily and, we do not want a lot of theoretical or academic fluff.

"Making Sense of Online Learning" meets those requirements. The Shank and Sitze book and companion website are perfect "just-in-time" resources for anyone involved in online learning. Whatever your level of experience and expertise with online learning, I am sure you will find lots of useful and insightful information in the book and the website. While I have designed, developed, and taught various online courses, I still found the book and the website valuable. I know it will help me, my clients, and my students. Thanks, Patti and Amy!

Jackie Dobrovolny, Ph.D.
Instructional technology consultant & IT faculty at University of Colorado at Denver.

This is your first easy step in a journey of 1000 miles.
Patti and Amy have taken on a subject that is thought of as being complex and intimidating and have made it accessible. This book is a great start to build your confidence if you are interested in starting or have been assigned the task of developing e-Learning courses. Their expertise is apparent from the beginning as they gently guide you through this foreign world.
-The companion website is worth ten times the value of the book. There is so much reference info on that website that you could be reading for days. I will continue to use this as my primary starting point. Sorry Google!
-The "Bottomline" segments and chapter conclusions are a worthwhile synopsis that contain good hints.
-There is a good history of e-learning.
-The Terminology and Acronyms will quickly make you feel like an old pro.
-References to look at future and previous chapters are helpful.
-Great Q's for "Are we Ready..." Table 1.2
-Very Good Q's to ask LMS/LCMS providers.
-Good thought provoking evaluation Q's on p.128

Here are the areas that were slightly confusing for me;

-Some of the tables and figures especially, Table 2.5 and Fig 4.1, were a bit hard to comprehend. At times it seemed that tables/figures were added because that is how the academic world works or the editor wanted something more.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Online Learning. This is your first easy step in a journey of 1000 miles.

Excellent Intro and Overview. Rest Easy--You Can Do It !
The book is an excellent introduction to both online learning and to the basics of solid instructional design. The old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out" is still relevant. If you don't do a good job of understanding the "who, what, and why," then understanding the "how" of online learning won't do you much good. Fortunately, Shank and Sitze demystify all of it.

Witty, comforting, and with lots of charts, diagrams, checklists, and examples, the book offers a wealth of information--but without overloading the reader.

As a long time trainer, instructional designer, and web course developer I still learned from this fabulous book. Patti has a real flair for making technical topics understandable and giving readers the confidence that they, too, can do it.

Now that prices for technical expertise and software have come down from the stratospheric altitudes of the late '90s dotcom craziness, developing online learning is more affordable than ever.

The book is a joy to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Approaches to Training and Development provides a comprehensive and practical introduction to the field of organizational training and human-resource development. It surveys the methods, functions, and goals of training--from needs assessment to implementation--illustrating each step of an effective training program. This new edition includes updates throughout, with fresh examples and current references, with an emphasis on evaluating and explaining new training. Comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible, this new edition will prove an essential resource to a new generation of trainers, HRD professionals, educators, and managers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Solid book!
This is a thorough and up-to-date textbook on the training and development of human resources. No gimmicks and excellent references.The writing is straight-forward with a nice balance between theory and practice. The authors don't preach and don't talk down to readers.

Practical Guide for Training & Development
Dugan's book is an excellent resource for both instructor's and T&D managers.It is filled with useful information covering the entire spectrum of training in organizations in an easy to understand format. Despite it's relative age, the information is current and beneficial.Iwould highly recommend this book for anyone in a training position, andespecially as a guide for new training managers. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on five years of research in high school and community college programs, this book explores the potential for using work-based learning as part of a broad education reform strategy. ... Read more

Book Description

Is it possible to develop a fun and effective training program? Most workers view attending a training session as they do going to the dentist, which leaves trainers feeling very unappreciated and frustrated. Effective Safety and Health Training can turn trainers into Santa Claus - everyone will look forward to their visits. The presents they bring: interesting topics and trainee involving methods, wrapped in respect for workers and a consideration for their needs.Hilyer takes you from ground zero through the process of planning, preparing, delivering and evaluating an adult training session of from one to one hundred hours. She teaches you how to motivate your trainees. They will understand and retain the information, enjoy the course, and apply the learning to their work and their lives.Effective Safety and Health Training provides the educational theory and the practical guidelines to train effectively and enjoyably. A nuts-and-bolts book, it takes you through the development and delivery of effective safety and health training programs. Best of all, your trainees will have fun! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent for those struggling to train effectively.
This book is so helpful, especially for people who are uncomfortable with public speaking, looking for ways to liven up their training classes, and/or frustrated from the lack of participation or enthusiam from the audience. I have been struggling so hard with our training programs and this book has really given me some great ideas. It tells you how to format the training, get people to actually learn something, and even enjoy the training too (gasp!). I highly recommend this book. I have found it extremely motivational.

For anybody who does training
This is a very practical and very inspirational guide to developing and presenting health and safety training programs. The authors have conducted training for a wide variety of audiences and experience both good and bad sessions from both sides of the aisle. They provide both empathy and technical advice for people in similar situations.

Their emphasis is on participatory training: the basic thesis of the book is that Lectures are Boring and they provide a number of suggestions for breaking down the barrier between a trainer and their audience. They also provide exercises to help "Train the Trainers" and generate new approaches to delivering similar material to a wide variety of audiences.

In addition to general theoretical and abstract advice, the book addresses specific topics important to people developing training programs today, such as how to work with Generation X audiences, how to work with jaded audiences and the role of computers and the Internet in the training picture.

It is clear from the tone of the book that the authors love their work and believe in its value to themselves and the audiences they serve. Their focus on practical advice and breaking down traditional barriers facing health and safety trainers makes this a worthwhile investment for anyone facing the task of conducting health and safety training sessions. ... Read more

Book Description

Learning Paths is a down-to-earth practical resource that is filled with illustrative examples, methods, techniques, strategies, processes, and tools for making company-wide, real-time training possible. Created to be flexible, the Learning Path approach can be customized to fit your organization no matter what its type or size. Learning Paths is divided into three sections:

The Learning Path Methodology: Walks the reader through the major steps and strategies needed for building Learning Paths. 

Doing the Right Training: Offers a wide-range of strategies, methods and techniques that can be targeted to the training within a Learning Path and tied to an organization’s particular business needs.

Do the Training Right: Shows how to ensure the training within a Learning Path is delivered in the most cost-effective manner and introduces methods for structuring training so that it transfers to the job easily and effectively. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

perhaps the best of it kind
I've had to read many learning organizational books for my graduate studies -- this was one of my favorites out of maybe 10 I've read. One, it's fun to read! The examples are erudite, taken from other disciplines like science and math, not just business. The 10 steps are easy to follow, logical and well represented. The authors rely on concrete examples that everyone can relate to. If I had to train a group of people or point an organization towards achieving its goals as a learning organization, I would rely on this book as my bible. Great writing style, great examples -- overall one of the most enjoyable I've read!

From the Information Age to the Age of Relationships
While there are many books about brain-compatible learning, systems thinking, communication, organizational and culture change, multiple intelligences..., this book has integrated them all into a very practical, wise and interesting manual for organizational growth. Ideally, people in any organization should start with the assessment tool and go sequentially through all the ten steps: 2. promote positive, 3. safe thinking, 4. risk taking, 5. people as resources, 6. learning power, 7. map the vision, 8. model the vision, 9. systems thinking, 10. get show on the road. But there are so many useful guidelines, stories and exercises, you can dip into any page and be enriched and enlightened. Just take "16 principles that promote learning" (pp. 16-19) or the 36 assessment items (pp. 66-67), they are very specific goals for us to aim at. "Why most training doesn't work" (pp. 168-171) should be required reading for all trainers. In fact, the whole book should be required reading by all those in management or interested in fostering growth through participative learning. For follow-up, it helps to read Peter Kline's The Everyday Genius, that gives a more comprehensive background to the Integrative Learning that underlies the present book. People can also go on to Peter Senge and team's books--if they haven't done so. In another revised edition, it might help to include an index and also update the checklist on 7 multiple intelligences to include the natural and existential intelligences.

Amazing
This book is amazing from the point of view of a H.R Professional.As the head of HR for a Global Multi National Corp I have been looking at a concise book which will help me to sell the idea of a Learning Organization to the top management.

I'am planning to distribute a copy of this book to each of the Executive Committe Members in my Company.

The 10 steps outlined in the book are Simple and Clear which will motivate any Top Mgmt to go towards creating a Valuable Organization.

A must read for every H.R Professional. ... Read more

Book Description

Research proves that employees will work harder and produce more when they feel appreciated, valued, and understood. Easier said than done?

Effective Coaching explains how you can:
Apply good coaching methods in the workplace;
Quickly establish the discipline you need in a cooperative, non-threatening atmosphere
Instinctively use effective problem solving strategies in every situation

You know your company needs its employees. Make sure they know that. Management strategies and techniques presented in Effective Coaching will help you dramatically improve employee performance, and maximize the measurable value received from each employee. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A fine overview of the dynamics of interpersonal leadership.
After reading the book Effective Coaching, by Marshall J. Cook, I now have some helpful insights about the role of coaching. I initially wanted to see how closely the role of coach and mentor was, and decided to see if this could help make that distinction. As I soon discovered the many hats that coaches wear, I began to see that all the "hats" started to look very similar. Coaching and mentoring are similarly focused disciplines.

Coaching is not about control; it is empowerment, and leading by example. The role of coach is very dynamic. Many good intentions drive a coach to reach the learner, and depending on what situations are presented, the coach must be prepared and skilled to handle it. This book illustrates effective coaching techniques through the use of various scenarios.

The chapters are organized into sub groups of the different roles a coach can be. "As a coach, you must be problem solver, trainer, teacher, mentor and corrector." Some of the skills covered are good questioning, being a good listener, problem solving, addressing change, overcoming obstacles, and valuable communication strategies. Plus bonus principles for good coaching and good living. All chapters have smart management tips that incorporate these skills to help you avoid potential real-life roadblocks and to put you into the Coach's and learner's perspectives.

Throughout the book, the margins have helpful keys to the terms and the author has flavored each chapter with cases that relate to the chapter's theme. I enjoyed the voice the author used to express himself in each chapter. You find yourself quickly acknowledging the main points that are introduced. Each chapter concludes with a coach's checklist where all the pertinent points are restated. This is a book that I have underlined and highlighted for future reference. ... Read more

Book Description

Training dynamite!

Training mastermind Arthur VanGundy, author of the best-selling Brain Boosters for Business Advantage, has assembled 101 original games and activities guaranteed to satisfy almost every conceivable training need.

These dynamic exercises are accompanied by:

Book Description

A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Frontline techniques and strategies for making employees feel appreciated and improving their performance at every level

Internationally known motivational author and speaker Barbara Glanz provides managers and supervisors with innovative techniques for engaging, developing, and motivating employees. Glanz outlines a framework based on the CARE model­­Creative Communication, Atmosphere and Appreciation for all, Respect and Reason for being, Empathy and Enthusiasm­­ for understanding what employees really want from managers. The book is based on research with 1,200 employees at dozens of organizations and includes hundreds of practical ways managers can motivate employees to peak performance while creating an organizational culture that is supportive instead of cutthroat, enjoyable instead of intimidating, and profitable on every level.

Reviews (2)

Gobs Of Ideas
Barb has a way of making things practical but even better than that there are so many wonderful ideas packed into one book! You are bound to find ideas that will work within your setting. Stories from so many different kinds of companies make it a sure bet that this will be something you can use within your environment. Retention is a common problem but even more making sure the people that stay are motivated and involved is an ongoing challenge - especially in this economy. Her ideas and stories with make a difference in your workplace and in your life!

Lots of Proven Ideas for Managers and Supervisors
If you want to retain employees, motivate them and care for them. OK, no-brainer. Arguing with that kind of a statement is like being against Motherhood and Apple Pie. So, there has to be something more to this book. And there is . . . after just a little bit of digging.

The book begins with a chapter on the research of what motivates employees. Not much new here. In chapter 2, the author reports the results of her original research into what motivates front-line workers. She surveyed 1200 employees. There is some thought-provoking information here, but nothing dramatic if you've spent much time in this kind of human resources research. For those who have not been exposed to this kind of data, this will be interesting material.

The real meat of this book is the author's C.A.R.E. model for motivating and retaining employees. The acronym represents Creative Communication, Atmosphere and Appreciation for All, Respect and Reason for Being,and Empathy and Enthusiasm. The model is explained, completing Part 1 of the book.

Part 2 consist of Ideas and Stories from Managers, Employees, and Organizations Who Care. Some interesting case studies here. Chapter 6 includes a six page list of ideas from employees. Great checklist of reward opportunities. Chapter 7 presents a brief survey used by one company to gain input from employees about what kind of rewards they prefer.

In Part 3, the book begins to bubble with value. In over 200 pages, Glanz delivers dozens of ideas, explaining each idea and giving real-life examples of how the ideas are actually implemented in a wide range of employer organizations. Chapter after chapter--full of ideas organized in an easy-to-follow format according to the author's C.A.R.E. formula. This section of the book is the real power which earns this book a good rating. The quality of the content and presentation in this section overcomes the weaker beginning.

Four appendices add value, providing self-evaluations for managers (useful for trainers), a sample employee survey, a culture test, and a bibliography. A worthwhile book for managers and supervisors. ... Read more

Book Description

Contains the industry's most powerful methods for marketing and selling your company's recruiting services to prospective clients.

Tape One: The Power of Candidate Marketing

How to gain access to decision makers -- Storyboard your marketing script -- Discover hidden business opportunities -- Handle common objections and concerns -- Build name recognition and credibility through associations -- Establish high-quality dialogue -- Turn prospects into clients by closing on commitments.

Tape Two: Aggressive Sales, Research and Lead Generation

How to improve your selling skills -- Set higher standards for your prospects -- Qualify early to increase your odds -- Follow the paper trail to high-quality leads -- Create a market genealogy to guide your research -- Utilize the Internet and other sources of unpaid advertising -- Maximize your advertising and direct marketing results.

Plus, answers to these common questions:

Should I market outside my area of specialty? What if my marketing presentation falls flat? How often do I visit my prospects? Is it wise to market my service to internal recruiters? ... Read more

Book Description

Employee Training and Development, 3rd Edition, by Ray Noe continues to set the standard in this course area. First introduced in 1999, Noe's ETD became the market-leading and market-defining text in this area within 6 months of publication. Instructors and students celebrated the arrival of lively and inspiring text that includes coverage of the most up-to-date developments in training and research and in practice, including the strategic role of training and the use of new technologies in training. Noe's ETD finds a real balance between research and real company practices. The text provides students with a solid background in the fundamentals of training and development - needs assessment, transfer of training, designing a learning environment, methods, and evaluation. In addition, the role of training is broadening due to its strategic nature, the changing nature of the workplace, and availability of technology. Current topics such as strategic training and development process, e-learning, blended learning, learning management systems, knowledge management, older workers, issues in work life balance and work life balance programs, protean career are discussed. ... Read more

Book Description

You'll get:

• Brainteasers
• Personality tests
• Jigsaw puzzles . . . and much more

Help your participants start the session right. Get them engaged and prepared the minute they arrive with these inventive warmups. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent resource for material
This book is an excellent collection of activities for working with classroom participants.Useful not only for ice-breakers, but for anytime you feel your audience needs a quick break.Only drawback is cost, whichis pretty high for a paperback. ... Read more