Source: https://futuredecoded.microsoft.com/enterprise-nation/ How well do you know your customers?  In the age of big data and personalization, something that we at Filtered feel extremely passionately about, companies want to know as much about their customers as physically possible. One extra piece of data could be the difference between a customer making a purchase or looking elsewhere.

Change is in the air. There's enormous - maybe unprecedented - change in L&D right now. It stands to reason: cloud services on the ascendancy as technology including bandwidth improvements and 4G; SCORM-constrained LMSs on the descendence; a growing (now near total) consensus that learning must be embedded in work; an awareness of and desire for the vast, mesmerising technology we all experience and enjoy as consumers.

Last year saw the revamp of the UK school curriculum to, for the first time, include computer programming or "coding". The logic behind this was sound. The next generation of young minds will have a far greater use of this than spending their ICT lessons learning how to use Microsoft Word or Excel, and by starting early this discipline will become engrained in the psyche of tomorrow’s workforce.

Let’s say you have a website, you know your lessons are valuable, and you have a marketing plan that will bring English learners onto your site and social media channels. It all sounds great, but…. You won’t get paying learners/customers if you don’t gain the trust of your au... The post Six Ways to Build Trust with English Learners Online appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

My thoughts on selling have changed dramatically over the past 2-3 years. At first, I held back. I didn’t feel comfortable selling what I offered. I guess this is because most people think about the worst type of used car salesmen when they see the word ‘sales’. Or Alec Baldwin in Glenn Garry Glenross (warning: strong language). […] The post Independent Teachers: Why You Need to Learn How to Sell appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

In this video, I talk about how I am progressing with my goals for 2015. I will have a full review at the end of the year, but I have been strategizing a lot recently and thought the time was apt for a quick update. Below you can find the notes from the video. Build […] The post A Quick Review of 2015 (Thus Far) appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

According to my writing app, I write between 12 - 15,000 words per week. This number includes words from articles, emails, social media posting, and other areas. I have introduced something new into my writing process that helps improve my articles and reduce the amount of mistakes I make. In the video below, I go […] The post My 3-Step Writing Progress: Blogging for Online Teachers appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

When I started my teaching business, I had one goal in mind: I wanted to earn more than I was earning in Spain by teaching one-to-one lessons online. I soon reached this goal and, for a while, I was comfortable with my situation. I didn’t have any aspirations to expand on what I was doing. […] The post Six Ways to Earn an Income as an Online Teacher appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

In one of my recent updates, I talked about how pleased I was with how 2015 was going so far. Sales for my courses have been great and I’m very proud of the positive results people have been getting from my training. This video is a little different. I go through three things that I’m struggling with […] The post What I’m Struggling with Right Now appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

A few months back, I interviewed Teacher Diane. It turned out to be one of the most popular interviews that I have done on this blog. We have kept in touch since and a few weeks ago, she sent me information about a new platform she is using called Two Sigmas. Diane connected me with […] The post Two Sigmas: a Platform for Online Teachers appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

The following is a guest post by Elena Mutonono. You can find out more about Elena at the bottom of the post. Take it away Elena… This weekend my almost-three-year-old son had his first language lesson … online. My son is growing up bilingual in a largely monolingual country. He goes to an American pre-school, […] The post The Advantages and Challenges of Teaching Online appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

When I first started teaching online, I made a lot of mistakes. Luckily, I have learned from them. And I want you to learn from them too. So, watch the video below and learn which mistakes you should avoid and what to do instead. Watch in HD! Not Connecting with other Teachers I was a […] The post Three Mistakes I Made When I Started Teaching Online appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

The following is a guest post from Rob Howard. Take it away, Rob… How many of you have ever been introduced as an English teacher at a party and the first response is "Can you help me?" This is nothing new. Doctors are always asked to look at a strange lump. Lawyers are always asked […] The post How to Deal with Learners who Want Everything for Free appeared first on Teaching ESL Online.

This week’s Fierce resource was originally published on Fortune and explores the most important lesson a former Navy SEAL has learned in his career.As a leadership development company, we constantly get asked what the secret formula to great leadership is. If a simple answer actually existed, there is no telling what we could accomplish. We might even find the solution for lasting world peace. But the truth is there aren’t any shortcuts.Great leaders spend years developing their business acumen and interpersonal skills. Above all else, they are extremely self-aware. In The One Quality a Leader Should Never Lack, a former Navy Seal states it perfectly: "Leadership is about continuously assessing how you are performing and always striving to create the most value for both your clients and your team."So I ask: Are you removing chaos from your team or adding to it?"Knowing who you are as a person and as a leader enables you to extract the best performance out of yourself. Your negative behaviors are almost certainly impacting your team. If you’re not aware of them or have no plan to address them, you’re holding back your team and limiting its potential — a big cost to your bottom line in today’s increasingly competitive business world."Read the article.The post Fierce Resource: The One Quality A Leader Should Never Lack appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

You are starting a week that is historically full of high expectations. With Thanksgiving looming in the United States, many businesses are pushing hard for deliverables. This often creates overtime and extra hours. So if you look at your employees, I ask: Do you say you want them to take time off and then email them with expectations? Or do you withhold and create white space for them to produce and exceed expectations? Are you doing it for them, or do you do it for yourself as a leader?These are serious questions. We commonly hear from clients that there are never enough hours, never enough resources, and that there is definitely not enough recognition for what they do. This is a reality for many. So what do we do?I encourage everyone to keep this in mind. Just stay aware. This week’s tip is to squash the stress. Find ways to turn deliverables and expectations into a positive force. It means you are doing important work. It means you influence and matter.And for coping on an individual level, can you go to the gym or yoga? Have lunch with an old friend or colleague? This is the time to really schedule space to breathe, to reflect, and to visualize the finish line.And as a leader, how can you help to dissipate tension that is building? One no-brainer way is to take your team to lunch. Or perhaps have one-on-one conversations that focus on appreciation.You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to ask. And then, yes, truly listen.The post Fierce Tip of the Week: Squash the Stress appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

Black Friday is approaching us. For some, this day may create pure joy with visions of scoring the perfect holiday gift…for half the price. For others, the stress of angry, aggressive customers can overwhelm you.As a retailer, it is critical for you to take care of both your employees and customers on this significant shopping day. With the increased appeal to sit on couches (or at desks) and shop online, it is up to you to make the effort of driving or walking to your store worthwhile. Yes, more than ever you need to earn patronage. And for employees, make them proud to work for you and truly show up. There are many companies they can choose to work for.Here at Fierce, we work with many global retailers who intertwine the fierce principles and ideas to customer service and their store environment. Here are three tips to make Black Friday merrier for us all:Inspire your employees to be their authentic selves.Don’t mandate that your employees put on their "customer face" on Black Friday. It is artificial and people see right through it. Ask your employees to show up as themselves and truly connect. Talk about the products that they love. Your employees will appreciate it, and you will reap the benefits of more loyal customers.Empower your employees to take personal responsibility for the day.Troubleshoot scenarios as a team. This means preparing to go "off script" and responding to the real needs of the customer. At the end of the day, managers can’t be everywhere at all times, especially on days like Black Friday. Encourage your managers to delegate to high performing employees who can make critical decisions when time is of the essence. In the end, delegation is not just about giving tasks - it is about allowing employees to serve the customers.When employees know they are supported by management and the organization, they are more likely to go above and beyond for your customers. They also are more likely to take responsibility for mistakes made by the organization. (Extra bonus for you!)Stop generalizing your customers.In the age of big data, it really is unacceptable. And your customers are on top of it. Market research suggests that more than ever customers want their needs and desires understood. However, as Susan states in Fierce Leadership, "Many organizations view exchanges with their customers or stakeholders as merely transactional, to be completed as quickly as possible." On Black Friday are you creating a transaction or an experience?It is your job to give your customers and employees the opportunity to truly engage with your brand. Think this through. If your loyalty program only consists of customers getting the credit card with your company’s logo on it, you aren’t offering more than a series of transactions. Customers demand more. Use next week to ask questions and really learn. What other tips have you heard or used to help alleviate stress on Black Friday?The post A Note to Retailers: 3 Tips to Make Black Friday Better for Your Employees and Customers appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

This week’s Fierce resource was originally published on Fast Company and explores how leading companies combat workplace stress.Countless studies show that stress not only affects our mood and general outlook on life, it can also adversely affect our health. According to the Behavioral Science and Policy Association, overwhelming work-related demands up the odds of having an illness by 35% and long work hours have shown to increase mortality by nearly 20%.No one wants to live their life in a constant state of unhappiness. Yet, when we search for ways to eliminate our stress, we are typically offered the useless advice we have heard time and time again. "Focus on the positive." "Eliminate the stress in your life."Let’s be honest, these options are either impossible or are completely intangible. In How Google and Others Help Employees Burn Off Stress in Unique Ways, companies are adopting unconventional approaches to help employees better manage their stress.Are you working to remove stress from you team or are you adding to it?"While venting about the boss or job has long been reserved for hushed cubicle whispers or happy-hour rants outside the office, Appster, which has around 380 employees across offices in the U.S., Australia, and India, put in place what McDonald refers to as a "weekly vent report," an online board where employees can post complaints and concerns anonymously and publicly."Read the article.The post Fierce Resource: How Google and Others Help Employees Burn Off Stress in Unique Ways appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

During the Thanksgiving holidays in the United States, we often focus on giving thanks to family and friends. We eat and celebrate during our days off and have much needed relaxation time. Some of us travel to the other side of the country to reconnect. Others curl up at home.Before you leave the office (mentally or physically) to enjoy the holiday, this week’s tip is to show gratitude and encourage its expression in your workplace. Think about your colleagues and teammates. You most likely spend more time with them than your family and friends.What stands out to you? What will you do to show appreciation? How can you help your team show it?One idea is to supply cards for team members to write notes to one another expressing appreciation. The goal is to make each note very specific and share why it is significant to the team and/or organization. Encourage employees to focus on how colleagues make their lives easier and/or more enjoyable.What other ways are you going to show gratitude in your workplace this week? (And bonus, if you want a gratitude exercise for your Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends, here is my family’s.)The post Fierce Tip of the Week: Don’t Be Shy, Show Gratitude in Your Workplace appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

Gratitude is in the air this time of year. While we all want it, the harsh reality is that many work environments can be quite thankless. From "always busy" managers to ever changing agendas, feeling recognized is a scarce commodity at times.With an emphasis on meeting deadlines and hitting revenue or sales goals, especially at the end of the year, the numbers seem to get all the attention. However, that intense focus on numbers rather than the people driving them may be what ultimately costs a company its success. The health of the organization and the bottom line are directly affected by the strength and satisfaction of each individual. In fact, employees that are happy are 10 to 12 percent more productive, so ensuring employee happiness is critical to the long-term success of any organization.Last week during a status update call, we were discussing a client’s employee engagement survey results. The executives on the line wished that their people leaders would share suggestions and improvements to the current systems. Inevitably, they can’t have the weight of everyone’s happiness on their back. This is where we all come into play - we all must work to make our environments better for everyone, including ourselves.Below are three thankless work environments that we regularly encounter and some tips on how you should navigate.Churn and Burn Central This office is where you work ungodly hours, and your efforts are not recognized. "Gratitude" is primarily shown through corporate programs that give appreciation in a less than timely manner. At this office, it is common to hear comments like, "It’s hard, but I was in that role a few years ago, and you have to pay your dues."Fierce Tip: You must ask for what you need in this environment - don’t sit around and be a victim. Make sure your needs align with what is best for the business, and make your suggestion is tangible. For example, if you are feeling burned out, ask your manager to leave the office on a certain day every week to do something for yourself like yoga or golf. Emphasize that your goal is to increase your overall wellbeing and bring your "A game".Beauty Pageant This office primarily recognizes the shiniest and most grandiose achievements while ignoring the others. People who get recognized are often the top sales producers, award-winning contributors, or the ones who toot their own horns. Oftentimes people stop contributing or sharing their discretionary efforts, because they know that people won’t notice or even acknowledge them.Fierce Tip: It is important to share your achievements and efforts. Do not sulk in your lack of recognition, instead do something about it. Share your actions with your manager and a peer, and better yet, tell them how you would like to be recognized in the future. Many organizations are not very savvy with asking their people how they want to be recognized. When the topic comes up, management usually welcomes feedback and ideas.Land of Empty Promises This office contains people who share their gratitude and recognition, which is positive. The catch is carrots are dangled in front of you that do not come to fruition in a timely manner. In this office, management may say things like, "We think you are going to be one of our next leaders. Keep at it, and it will come." When you push to get a timeline…crickets. You may bring up the topic many times and never hear enough detail for it to feel real.Fierce Tip: You need to confront the issue at hand. If you have been promised something that doesn’t not feel real, you need to be grounded and share that you need more details. Here you can ask more questions: What can I provide to make the future plans more tangible? What do you see getting in the way? This conversation is an opportunity to gain a large understanding of the big picture, and the new knowledge can help you partner better.To be fierce in these situations, you must take the accountable stance. If anything is to change, it is up to you - regardless of the side of the table you are on. Are you in one of these environments? What tips do you have?The post Three Thankless Offices and What to Do appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

This week’s Fierce resource was originally published on Fortune and uncovers the real reason behind REI’s decision to opt out of Black Friday.When REI announced they would be closing all 143 of their stores on Black Friday, Wall Street was shocked and horrified. How could a retail company close on the busiest shopping day of the year? They are voluntarily taking themselves out of the running for the millions of dollars in consumer spending that is traditionally up for grabs.Their decision isn’t just a PR ploy, it reflects something deeper. According to the article Behind REI’s Black Friday Rebellion, the choice aligns with the company’s mission and shows their commitment to employee welfare. For REI, it’s about giving back to the people who are the ultimate source of their success.Is your organization staying true to its mission?"It’s no coincidence that REI is one of only 13 companies that have made the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list every year since its inception in 1998. The companies on this list are characterized by strong trust-based relationships and values-based decision making. As such, REI is well-equipped to say no to Black Friday because they’ve had plenty of practice in choosing to uphold their company values when challenged by the norm."Read the article.The post Fierce Resource: Behind REI’s Black Friday Rebellion appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

"How we spend our days is how we spend our lives." - Annie Dillard According to a recent mobileinsurance.com survey, the average person spends up to 23 days a year staring at their phone screens. Almost a month per year! That’s a big deal.So I ask: Does the time on your screen each day add more value to your life? Or does it detract from it? This week’s tip is simple - make your screen time worthwhile. Use technology to enhance your relationships and your work. If you feel yourself wasting time on it, practice shutting down.Oftentimes we get caught up in our emails and social media. We let time slip away, although we know time it is a valuable asset. We are not alone.If you are desperate, use technology to help your technology issue - yes, it sounds counterintuitive. Yet, there are many apps that track your usage like Moment. This is its description:Moment is an iOS app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. If you’re using your phone too much, you can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit. We all need help sometimes. Do you have any other tips you use?The post Fierce Tip of the Week: Make Your Screen Time Meaningful appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

The first text message was sent on December 3, 1992 by a Canadian test engineer. It said Merry Christmas. On the eve of text messaging’s 13th year anniversary, it is only appropriate to talk about how text messaging has affected our communication. We often get asked so many questions around technology use in companies and how texting should and should not be used.First and foremost, the simple answer is that you must obey your instincts about when and how to use texts. Your "gut" does act as an internal compass that can serve as a powerful guide. The best part is that it happens automatically - you simply have to tune in and listen. Then check your results.If you notoriously do not get the results you want when texting, then you need to reassess. Here are a few pointers on dos and don’ts. And for those who say it is common sense, use it as a reference when you are triggered or feeling emotional. We all have days where it can go awry.Do Use Text to…Communicate logistics and more directive statementsShare small praises and appreciationConnect on special occasionsTalk through simple scenariosDon’t Use Texting to…Convey more than three sentences of thoughts at a time - a novel is not appropriateTalk about complex emotional thoughtsShare confidential informationConfront someone Come on master texters - what would you add? The post To Text or Not to Text: That Is the Question appeared first on Fierce, Inc..

Many people today talk about leadership who’ve never led anything more complex than a high school marching band.  They offer this or that principle as if proven under fire when, in fact, their experience has been limited to launching missiles in a game of Battleship. But that’s not to say that you can’t learn from these neophytes or even failed leaders. On the contrary. As volunteers or especially as victims in their experiments, you often have a front-row seat to observe their inappropriate actions and inactions. You learn not to repeat their leadership lapses:

Ever find yourself on a team or in an organization that’s struggling because of a leader’s poor decision? Citizens clamor about such crippling effects by their politicians routinely. You sit back and reflect on the leader personally and wonder why a savvy, experienced, and ordinarily capable person could make such a stupid decision or policy—one that wrecks a project or destroys the morale of so many people.