I adore being a learning and development specialist.  Being with people. Lots of people. Different and diverse people. And with them, creating a process that unfurls the heads of confusing question marks into tall and proud exclamation marks. I get it! I never thought of it like that. That's … [Read more...] about Confessions of an introverted trainer
Top 100 Tools for Learning in 2010
Since 2007 Jane Hart, of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies, has been putting together an annual list of top learning tools. The completed 2010 list is at the end of this post and the emerging 2011 list is here. I tried out a couple that were new to me; Glogster, for making … [Read more...] about Top 100 Tools for Learning in 2010
Attention! Attention! A test of your attention.
The Heath brothers have written in Made to Stick that our brains are more like a sieve than a sponge. Instead of soaking up what catches our eye, we're more likely to strain out things that don't catch our attention, leaving behind the big chunky bits in the sieve that is our brain. Watch the … [Read more...] about Attention! Attention! A test of your attention.
Looking for inspiration? Try an ad (especially these unusual ones from Fast Company)
The roots of engaging training can be found anywhere. You do however have be on the lookout. Some of my ideas have come from advertisements - yep ads. When I say I'm going to be talking about hairy, naked guy (above specimen) I can see participant's question marks dancing in the air. … [Read more...] about Looking for inspiration? Try an ad (especially these unusual ones from Fast Company)
There are years that ask questions and years that answer
In the book Their Eyes Were Watching God author Zora Neale Hurston writes there were years that ask questions and years that answer. Besides being a sentence that made me jolt to a stop and ponder, it's a great way to frame the new year. Which will it be for you? Which worldview will broaden your … [Read more...] about There are years that ask questions and years that answer
Theatre of the mind – Ted Williams & dancing with dichotomy
Theatre of the mind. That's what Ted Williams, the homeless man who has become a Youtube sensation, calls radio. That's some perspective. Especially considering his background. As someone who has fought the demons of drugs and alcohol and who has made his home on the streets, his velvety voice is … [Read more...] about Theatre of the mind – Ted Williams & dancing with dichotomy
The results are in (again): the collated creativity E.S.C.A.P.E. assessment (where do you measure up?)
How creative are you? I wrote a blog post back in July explaining the E.S.C.A.P.E. method for increasing your creativity because any and all humans can afford to be more creative (that includes us trainers). Creativity is the numero uno ingredient for success. Doing the same ol' same ol' … [Read more...] about The results are in (again): the collated creativity E.S.C.A.P.E. assessment (where do you measure up?)
Time for audience participation (that means you): we see what we expect to see
I love traveling by train so when I found myself on the platform in Amsterdam looking for the right platform I was like a kid looking forward to an ice cream cone on a hot summer's day. (The fact that I was headed to Paris didn't hurt either.) Despite a well-organized system though I couldn't find … [Read more...] about Time for audience participation (that means you): we see what we expect to see
20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Know what Toska means? How about Jayus? Jason White wrote an article about '20 awesomely untranslatable worlds from around the world for Matador Abroad. Toska and jayus are two of 20 untranslatable (or at least tough to translate) words from other languages. Toska is a Russian word meaning … [Read more...] about 20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Ditching dichotomous thinking: blending old & new
Dichotomous thinking gets us into trouble. old / new love / hate either / or yes / no black / white right / wrong Forcing our brain to think along these dichotomous lines causes us to loose opportunities, get boxed into a corner and what's more makes creativity and innovation tank. How … [Read more...] about Ditching dichotomous thinking: blending old & new
Where's your off switch?
When I was doing some training for the United Nations in East Africa a while back, some friends and I got together one night at a house to watch a movie and make cookies. The cookie dough never made it to the oven (a destination few cookie dough batches in my world meet) and the movie was … [Read more...] about Where's your off switch?
The blind leading the blind … literally
Remember the old joke about 3 blind men describing an elephant? One man, holding the tail, describes it entirely differently than another man who is touching its truck, which is yet again different from the man touching its tusk. Perspective. It can be a potential killer. Limited perspective … [Read more...] about The blind leading the blind … literally
