The pandemic has affected virtually every aspect of our lives in ways we never could have imagined. From mandated closures to lay-offs, furloughs, and remote working, all our strategic plans were turned upside down throughout 2020. Among the many casualties are the time and resources designated for training and development. With budget cuts, office closures, and restricted travel, few organizations have delivered instructor-led coaching or supported their employee’s learning and development needs effectively.
Four Alternatives to Annual Performance Reviews
It’s that time of year when the days become shorter and the leaves begin to change colors. And while I love the cool crisp air and pumpkin-spice everything, it is also a sign that something spooky is lurking around the corner. No, not Halloween—it’s annual performance review time. The ghosts and goblins of goal-setting past are ready to remind you what a long and exhausting year it has been. This is a perfect year to consider an alternative to the annual appraisal. The pandemic flipped 2020 upside down, and the goals you set in January are likely unachievable or simply … Read More
Let’s Talk About the Wall
This month marks an important milestone in our global pandemic experience. We’ve persevered through six months of mask wearing, social distancing, remote working, and lock-downs. Perhaps this is an accomplishment to be celebrated, as we made these choices in an effort to protect the health and well-being of our families, friends, colleagues, and strangers. These acts of kindness and care for one another have not been without consequence. Many small and mid-sized business are struggling to remain open and mental health challenges are mounting. While we should celebrate the impact we’ve made on flattening the curve and working to keep … Read More
Seven Universal Soft Skills Everyone Should Master: A Reminder
From our archives: A 256% net return on investment—it’s the holy grail of training outcomes and easier to achieve than you might think. A study conducted by Boston College, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan found that soft skills training does NOT create soft results. The study showed that even minimal time investments in each skill (5-12 hours) boosts productivity and retention 12 percent and those results last up to 9 months.
Questions that Drive Conversations
“Sounds like a great plan. Does anyone disagree?” It’s a question that makes me cringe every time I hear it. The fellow introverts on the call all glance at one another to see if any of them will be brave enough to share their thoughts. And some of the extroverts ponder expressing disagreement, but weigh it against their desire to wrap up the meeting quickly and return to their growing workload. After a few seconds of silence, the leader takes silence as agreement and moves on. Weeks later when the plan falls apart, everyone wonders what happened.
Be Careful with Your Kudos
Given the importance of recognizing the contributions of others, as well as the need to express gratitude frequently, it’s always encouraging to see organizations that embrace formal kudos awards. Whether the recognition appears in a newsletter, through an Employee of the Month award, or just a shout-out during team/company-wide meetings, the employee feels both seen and appreciated. It seems crazy to think that there could be any drawback to expressing appreciation and gratitude, but there are potential pitfalls that should be avoided to ensure the positive intent is not lost.