The Right Questions

We have discussed the need to use questions to get buy-in from the people we coach. There are questions and there are questions, however:

- Some go for depth in a helpful way and gain buy-in

- Others sound like a prosecuting attorney

When using questions, don't fall into the trap of sounding like an interrogator. Find ways to make your questions supportive. You’ll find it is a Win/Win method of coaching.

Leveraging Technology - Moodle

Moodle is a free software e-learning platform typically referred to as a Learning Management Systems (LMS). As of 2011, it had a worldwide base of over 57 million users. Wow!

The construct of Moodle contends that learners can contribute to the educational experience in many ways. Moodle's features reflect an enormous range of possibilities in its design aspects (e.g. forum, learning activities, wikis, quizzes, and much more). It embraces a broad range of learning philosophies, from constructivism to focused outcome-oriented methodologies.

As has been discussed previously in this blog, the days of doing all training in traditional classroom settings is past. Fulfilling your company's educational requirements through the use of powerful tech solutions such as Moodle is not the future, it is now!

More Thoughts on Time Management

Time Management is such an important topic for every business professional. Let’s look at it a bit further this week. "If I only had a bit more time", we all say. What we are really concerned about, however, is Productivity!

Five Things That Get in the Way of Being Productive

1.People Keep Stuff in Their Head

2.They Don’t Decide What They Need to Do About the Stuff They Know They Need to Do Something About

3.They Don’t Organize Action Reminders and Support Materials in Functional Categories

4.They Don’t Maintain and Review a Complete Inventory of Their Commitments

5.They Waste Energy and Burn Out, Allowing Their Busyness to be Driven by What is Latest and Loudest

Productivity - That's what it is all about...

Managing Your Commitments

Managing Your Commitments is a vital first step in time management:

1. First, if it’s on your mind, your mind isn’t clear
2. Anything you consider unfinished must be captured in a trusted system outside your mind:
3. 
   –Outlook email inbox
   –Physical in-basket
   –Voice recorder

You should have as few “collection buckets” as are adequate (and as many as are necessary).

You should not try to "keep things in your head". I am sure you can remember several instances when that did not work). Free up your mind for the task at hand; don't clutter it with "I have to be sure to remember to...".

Adult Learning Theory

Since the 1970s, Adult Learning Theory has been based on Four Assumptions:

1. As they mature, adults tend to prefer Self-Direction.

2. Adults' experiences are a rich resource for learning. Active Participation in planned experiences—such as discussions or problem solving exercises can create a powerful learning experience.

3. Adult learners' needs and interests are the starting points and serve as Guideposts for training activities.

4. Adults are Competency-Based Learners, meaning that they want to learn a skill or acquire knowledge that they can apply to their immediate circumstances.


"The Ultimate Educator" by Edmunds, C., K. Lowe, M. Murray, and A. Seymour, 1999.

The Keirsey Tests

The Keirsey Temperament and Character tests are interesting and resemble the Meyers-Briggs test. The following link takes you to a location on line (scored immediately.)

Participants will enjoy taking the tests and learning about themselves from the scores they receive. The scores can also be used by instructors at the beginning of courses to learn about students and better plan instructional strategies, emphases, and individualized responses.

http://www.keirsey.com/

Give it a try; it is interesting and rather fun...

Coaching Feedback

Another Essential Rule of Coaching in the workplace is:

Be Comfortable with Feedback

“Not so easy”, you say? Like so many things in our personal as well as professional lives, this can be a learned skill. Practice giving and receiving feedback. Consider the following:

• What if a coach is Uncomfortable giving or getting feedback?

• That Discomfort will probably be projected

• A Negative attitude is contagious

• But, so is a Positive one!

Feedback: Going out and coming in – One of the Essentials to success in the workplace.

TeacherTube Rocks!

Another great technology resource (that is Free!) is TeacherTube:

TeacherTube is an online community for sharing instructional videos. It is a site where teachers can post videos designed for students to view in order to learn a concept or skill.

Among other things, with TeacherTube, community members can:

1.Upload, tag and share videos worldwide.

2.Browse hundreds of videos uploaded by community members.

3.Integrate TeacherTube videos on websites using video embeds or APIs.

4.Make videos public or private - users can elect to broadcast their videos publicly or share them privately with those they invite.

TeacherTube - Try it out!  http://www.teachertube.com/index.php

Measuring Outputs

The Measurement of Outputs in business is Critical to any organization. What is important, of course, is making sure what is being measured is Germane to the Success of the venture.

Two Ways of measuring outputs are to look at the Voice of the Process and the Voice of the Customer:

The Voice of the Process
Output measures that describe the Actual Outputs and capabilities of the process

The Voice of the Customer
Output measures that describe Customer’s needs, wants, and expectations

Both measurements are important to understand what is needed by the customer, and what the system is delivering to satisfy those needs.