Employee engagement

Use the 6 Step MASTER Plan for a Better Learning Experience!

In their book ‘Accelerated Learning for the 21st Century’, Colin Rose and Malcolm J. Nichol laid out their 6-step ‘MASTER Plan’ for better learning – both taking training and giving it: Motivate your mind – get excited about the information you’re about to digest Acquire the information – gather information in the way that works […]

Use the 6 Step MASTER Plan for a Better Learning Experience! Read More »

Accelerate Learning With Meier’s Four Phases

In his book, The Accelerated Learning Handbook, Dave Meier lays out 4 phases of Learning. Those of you who have heard of PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) will recognize the format. It’s not exactly the same, but the flow sure feels familiar! His four phases look like this… Preparation The goal of the Preparation Phase is

Accelerate Learning With Meier’s Four Phases Read More »

Getting More Out of Your Training Dollars

Brinkerhoff and Gill in 1994 estimated that 90% of every training dollar spent was wasted. Other research supported this to a degree, but it doesn’t seem to be quite that bad according to Don Clark at NW LINK. Remember that ISO 9001:2015 clause 7.2 Competence requires that you assess the effectiveness of any interventions you

Getting More Out of Your Training Dollars Read More »

Why Management Training Doesn’t Work…and what to do about it…

We all give training to new managers. It seems weak at best, and might even make things worse in some cases. Disengaged employees as a result of poor management may be costing your company as much as 34% of your wage costs in lost productivity. This figure comes from an article posted by Katy Tynan

Why Management Training Doesn’t Work…and what to do about it… Read More »

Why ‘Management by the Numbers’ Doesn’t Work…

Daniel Markovitz posted a blog called ‘The Folly of Stretch Goals’ in the Harvard Business Review. He outlined the dangers of using ‘stretch goals’ and gives some examples of unwanted behaviours that can result. He identifies three areas where ‘stretch goals’ can result in ‘off the rails’ behaviours. Stretch Goals Can be Demotivating When an

Why ‘Management by the Numbers’ Doesn’t Work… Read More »

From ‘Thinking’ to ‘Action’

This is a solid set of steps developed by James P. Womack in his book Lean Thinking. He was into the Lean stream very early and has done some great work. He mentions Taiichi Ohno and The Toyota Production System in his work as well. Womack’s 8 steps to get from ‘Thinking’ to ‘Action’: Overcome inertia

From ‘Thinking’ to ‘Action’ Read More »

Unleash Potential…Drive Out FEAR!

You may recognize Deming’s 8th ‘Point’ – Drive Out Fear. There’s no better way to get people ‘engaged’ (ISO 9001, 5.1.1 h) than creating a work environment where people feel listened to and respected for their expertise, no matter how ‘basic’ that expertise is! In this Point, he talks about 4 things to do to

Unleash Potential…Drive Out FEAR! Read More »

Are People Your Problem?

John Seddon in Freedom From Command and Control identified three things that employees need to get the results you’re looking for:1. Clear Instructions and purpose – what does the ‘right result’ look like?2. Methods that work and make sense3. The willingness to do the work well I’ve added 2 more:4. Infrastructure – all the appropriate

Are People Your Problem? Read More »

A New Twist on PDCA

John Seddon, Vanguard Consulting, released a great book called ‘Freedom From Command and Control’. There are plenty of great ideas in there, and I enjoy sharing them with you! Seddon started applying the ‘Toyota Production System’ to the service industry back in the 90s. You’ll find his insights very helpful. Systems Thinking is what he

A New Twist on PDCA Read More »