Every organization’s most important asset is people. As such, Learning and Development (L&D) professionals play a vital role as they develop and grow people through training and, thus, have an impact on business success. That means it is crucial for L&D professionals to continuously build and enhance their own skills. But what exactly are the needed skills and how are they changing? As a profession, there are few agreed-upon, universal standards outlining exactly what L&D professionals need to know and do to help employees change their behavior and improve their skills. It’s about more than just mastering core competencies. It’s about identifying certain traits that allow L&D professionals to meet today’s needs and move nimbly into the future. This white paper aims to identify the factors that separate the good from the great by exploring the traits and competencies that characterize the best-of-the-best L&D professionals and what skills will be needed in the future. The goal is twofold: To identify the traits and competencies of the highest echelon of L&D professionals To lay the groundwork for creating a master class curriculum that can propel L&D professionals from proficiency to mastery of their profession. What form that curriculum may take remains to be determined; this white paper is the first step in the process.

Are you missing the opportunity to deliver training to franchisees, manufacturers, suppliers, resellers or your own customers?  Learning, shared objectives, skills, and behaviors are more important than ever to your organization's contingent workforce, yet many are failing at this.    Read Totara Learning’s Extended Enterprise Insights Guide to discover how to create successful learning programs for workers both inside and outside your organization, including:  What audiences organizations need to consider when they are creating a learning program. The business benefits of delivering training to the extended enterprise. How to manage extended enterprise learning.          Download your guide today to discover more about extended enterprise learning. 

Get a competitive edge by developing your emotional intelligence Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is a fairly new concept, but it's quickly becoming a highly desirable trait for many employers. In a time when technology has allowed us to automate many processes, the ability to relate, empathize, and connect is more important than ever. There are several factors that make up emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, and relationship management. Taking time to improve each of these can set you and your organization apart. Individuals with high EQ have stronger relationships in and out of the office, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and lower employee turnover rates. But strong relationships are just one benefit of high EQ. Employees with high EQ tend to have higher productivity and profitability rates, solid problem solving skills, and the ability to control their emotions during stressful situations. Not only do these traits make the workplace more enjoyable, they can also drive business results and keep the organization competitive. Everyone has some degree of emotional intelligence, but there's always room for growth, especially as your role or circumstances change. This ebook has prompts and practices to help you improve your emotional intelligence. You'll also learn: Tips for becoming a more active listener  How to have effective conversations Ways to manage your emotions  How developing your emotional intelligence improves business results

What's the reality of training today?    Poor engagement, low completion rates and next to no knowledge retention. Despite learning leaders aiming for the exact opposite. Here are the numbers: ·  6.5% of learners complete their training (excluding mandatory training) ·  87% of training is forgotten within one month of training ·  80% of new skills are lost within one week of training if not used  Bridge the gap between corporate training and real work outcomes   How are we still getting training wrong? Corporate training programs are designed in a way that’s inherently flawed, focusing mainly on passive content delivery. Action-based learning helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, and leads to an 18X higher knowledge retention rate and 4X higher completion rate.    Download the eBook and learn how to apply action-based learning to deliver a stellar ROI for your company.

Stress can wreak havoc on a workplace. From tight deadlines to budget crunches, personal problems to health issues, stress of all kinds can decrease productivity and affect employee morale. And certain seasons—especially the end of the year, with the pressure of the holiday—can bring extra stress. What can an empathetic employer do to help? Click below to download this White paper.

Let's face it, employee engagement, proficiency and productivity are the most important attributes to the success of an organization. Therefore, the primary goal of corporate learning programs should be to improve each and every employee and to measure the impact of these efforts on business or organizational goals. Furthermore, corporate learning programs must introduce leading indicators of performance related to knowledge, skills and engagement. Plus, designing a continuous and agile program that is highly relevant and contextual to an individual's job and company is necessary to build the capabilities needed for the maximum impact on business outcomes. In this eBook, we will: Explain inherent barriers to proving ROI of learning programs Encourage L&D professionals to reconsider learning metrics and ROI measures Demonstrate how best-practice microlearning improves employee proficiency and impacts performance Describe how to build a measurable learning business case for the C-suite audience

You are about to embark on a journey that is going to help you to book, sell, and retain like never before. This book reveals: What has changed in our B2B industry/profession, how to cope with the change, and what skills should one acquire to thrive? What should you change/improve to book, close, and retain more than ever? What resources are valuable to keep on your road to success? "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." ― Alvin Toffler Click below to download this eBook.

Mentoring. Managing. Counseling. Coaching. Many people use these terms more or less interchangeably when referring to people management in the workplace. However, the truth is managing someone is fundamentally different than mentoring someone. When it comes to the concept of coaching in the workplace, the difference is even more stark.

In sales, we often find ourselves grappling with a false choice - do we focus on relationship building with the customer, or focus more on winning the deal at all costs? It can often seem like there is no middle ground, we have to either perform like a hardliner or try and gain the customer's favor. But it is not, in fact, an either/or situation. This white paper explores the middle ground between building relationships and winning the deal and offers helpful tips on ways to nurture both your relationship with the customer while keeping your eye on the prize. Read more to discover how it might be the way salespeople think about their customer relationships that prevents them from focusing on and winning the deal. JMReid Group is a training company that provides sales programs with this middle ground at top of mind. If you like what you read, contact us in the interest of your sales team at www.jmreidgroup.com.

How to choose an online training solution that drives business results.  Did you know that 94% of employees would stay at an organization longer if it invested in their career? Employers are investing more time and money in their employee training programs in an effort to develop and retain top talent in the midst of record turnover. Because employees today are frequently interrupted and have only a small percentage of the workweek to dedicate to training, organizations are leaving traditional classroom and in-person training by the wayside in favor of online training that meets the needs of the modern learner. There are a lot of moving parts that make up a successful online training program. A complete training solution can help you streamline administrative training tasks, while also engaging employees and driving business results. But what does a complete training solution look like? You need quality content, an easy-to-use learning management system, and a strategic partner who can help you maximize your training program. This eBook will help you learn how to evaluate all three and find an online learning solution that keeps your organization competitive. You'll also learn: -How investing in a complete learning solution improves business results -How to choose the right training partner for your organization -What a quality content library should look like -How a strategic partner helps you get maximum ROI for your training program

The world we live and work in isn’t slowing down. Today's challenge for organizations: change how you do what you do at a faster rate than ever before. That means leaders must foster both organizational innovation, and the ability to change and act on the new ideas and opportunities. Innovation is one of the most important factors for an organization’s success and growth. Teams need to be able to implement and execute on new strategies and ideas, quickly and collaboratively. Download this free ebook to get actionable tips and practical advice on: How to identify in-house innovators Four key questions you need to ask What to do to accelerate your innovation journey Creating a company wide culture of innovation You’ll also get a bonus cheat sheet, with resources to kickstart your DIY innovation! How can your organization use human-centered design to get unstuck and take on any challenge? Download our ebook to find out.

Career Acrobatics 101: Why Flexibility is the New Path to Success Traditional career paths have long been on the decline, and that predictable, linear climb is not likely making a comeback any time soon. After all, 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven't even been invented yet!¹ While career paths may not be as straightforward as they once were, a tremendous opportunity has also presented itself - for those with the right mindset about career development. So how can HR and L&D leaders cultivate career acrobatic skills to ensure their employees are more versatile, flexible, and adaptable to workplace change? This guide, featuring insights from Julie Winkle Giulioni - co-author of the bestselling book "Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Organizations Need and Employees Want" - includes a 3-minute quiz your people can take to help them determine their career agility quotient. Employees can then use the results and actionable best practices outlined in the guide to help future-proof their careers, keep up with evolving business dynamics and successfully navigate the changing world of work. Download this guide to find out why career agility is the new competitive advantage - and how your people can become career acrobats to propel their career to new heights!

Many L&D leaders dream of creating the ideal learning experience. An experience that is motivating, engaging and accessible by everyone AND leaves their people feeling empowered to succeed. However, many fall short of this vision. Why? Because they focus too much on the learning experience itself. Instead, the emphasis should be on aligning learning with overall performance goals and business objectives in order to deliver results that matter. In this eBook, featuring research-backed strategies from the analysts at Brandon Hall Group, you'll see how learning leaders need to take a step back from the chase for the best learning experience and instead, focus on the business outcomes they hope to achieve through their learning initiatives. You'll gain insights into: The Learning and Performance Convergence Model 4 steps for developing a strategic learning experience aligned to business objectives Key elements of a modern learning experience, including mobile learning, video, coaching and informal learning How to use technology to deliver on this strategy and measure the results that matter Download this eBook from Saba Software today and start designing a better learning experience for your people and your business!

Is it time to life-save your learning?  Healthcare today is more reliant on technology than ever before, and this applies not only to the procurement of healthcare services but also the way training is delivered across the industry.  Totara's latest Healthcare Sector Guide is designed to help you understand new developments in the delivery of healthcare training, including:  The key challenges facing healthcare organizations today How to manage healthcare learning programs and compliance effectively Preparing for the future of training in the healthcare sector When your learning is saving lives, it's crucial that it's pulling its weight. Download your copy of the latest Healthcare Sector Guide today! 

There was a time not so long ago when the concept of leadership development within an organization was all about developing an emerging leader’s professional skills and competencies.   How could they drive results and better align their teams with organizational objectives? How could they more effectively develop strategic insights to drive greater efficiencies? How could they skillfully cultivate innovation to drive new product offerings? Click below to download this White Paper.

Develop your next generation of leaders now The workforce is changing. Every day, baby boomers are retiring, and Gen Z'ers are entering the workplace. This shift in the workforce means millennials will be moving into leadership roles in the next five to 10 years. It's important to get a better understanding of millennials, so you can unlock their potential as leaders. Despite their reputation for being job hoppers, millennials actually value opportunities for growth and development within their organization more than previous generations. In order to retain talent and stay competitive, you need to provide opportunities to turn millennial employees into leaders now. This infographic will help you create a strategic plan to develop millennial leaders who can help you overcome challenges and meet business goals. You'll learn: How to set goals that drive business results when developing a leader What millennials value in the workplace  How to measure the development of your leaders The role mentors can play in turning an employee into a leader

Every job has its nuances. Every organization has its own customs and culture. Every employee, therefore, ends up with knowledge that no one else has. And that knowledge is not only rare but valuable. Call it "unique knowledge." It consists of everything an employee gains through specialized training and insider learning. Unique knowledge varies from organization to organization and from position to position. But it’s instrumental in tackling the complex problems and unexpected challenges that employees encounter at work more or less every day. On the one hand, this is fantastic. We all have our areas of expertise, hard-earned and distinct. On the other hand, it’s problematic. Most places of work don’t have a formal way of capturing unique knowledge and sharing it throughout the organization. So, more often than not, it remains stuck inside people’s heads. There are two big reasons to care about this. One is romantic: Knowledge is valuable, and it’s a shame to let good ideas go to waste. The other is practical: Unshared knowledge costs money. Click below to download this White Paper.

From a generational perspective, we have frankly been fixated on Millennials. Countless articles have been written about Millennials (born 1981-1996) and how they have fundamentally changed societal norms. They're not buying homes. They refuse to get married. They don't eat cereal. They're killing golf. You name it. The reality is, however, that as the oldest Millennials approach their 40s, they are starting to fall into more traditional conventions. They are getting married. They are buying homes. They are having kids. And when it comes to the workplace, they are starting to settle into leadership roles and are adopting the organizational expectations that come with that.

Now more than ever, business innovators like you are investing in higher education partnerships. Attracting, retaining and developing today’s workforce is more crucial-and more difficult-than ever before. As a leader, you face multiple human resource challenges, including: • Recruiting and retaining top talent in a low unemployment market • Offering the variety of benefits your diverse employee base demands • Demonstrating commitment to your employees • Supporting your organization’s need to grow and develop future leaders   Investing in higher education partnerships helps address these challenges head-on, while allowing you to positively impact your organization. And as Benjamin Franklin said best, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." In this briefing, we’ll explore the reasons why today’s business innovators invest in higher education opportunities for their employees.

How to develop tomorrow's leaders today Baby boomers are retiring at a rapid rate - we're at an average of 10,000 each day! This means the workforce is losing its most knowledgeable and experienced employees every day. This also means the workforce is losing high-level leaders. Employee turnover, especially leadership turnover, can leave organizations in chaos, but it doesn't have to be this way. Smart organizations are being proactive and developing succession plans to prepare for the inevitable changes in leadership. An important part of succession planning is identifying and developing the next generations of leaders now. Another important part is getting those employees to stay and succeed in an initial leadership role. When employees believe they're gaining skills and experience to develop their careers, 37% are more likely to stay with an organization. This shows the importance of creating effective development plans! It can be hard to prioritize succession planning because it might feel like there are more pressing problems that need your attention now. Or you may not know where to start. In this ebook, we'll provide tips to help you develop a plan and create seamlessness in times of personnel change. You'll learn:   Practical approaches to succession planning  How to identify, develop, and retain high potential employees  Three key ways managers can customize experiences for their employees to reduce turnover  How to build effective development plans 

Hot off the press! The Omnipress annual Training Trends Report is now available! For the third consecutive year, Omnipress conducted a survey of more than 100 training and continuing education professionals. The results reveal emerging trends in learning, technology and program delivery. They also give insight into how other organizations are managing both the opportunities and challenges facing today’s education professionals.  The 2019 Training Trends report provides industry data you can use to leverage your organization’s greatest asset for engaging new and existing learners—education.   2019 Training Trends Report   This year’s report indicates that 51% of respondents currently offer at least 11 different programs or courses, with 60% of respondents expecting to increase that number in 2019. The good news is that the perceived value of ongoing training and continuing education for industry professionals is on a steady rise. But this increase in programming does present some significant challenges for training pros who already manage a broad portfolio and wide array of responsibilities—particularly as they are also tasked with navigating changes in learner preferences and emerging trends and technologies.   Some of the questions and themes explored in this report include: How are organizations delivering their educational programs today, and what changes to they foresee in the future? What challenges are organizations facing in delivering this content? How much are organizations focusing on new and emerging trends? Are organizations prepared for young professionals?

Only 39% of companies are prepared for a compliance audit. Are you?   Compliance training is a top priority, but it’s only half the battle. In the latest Insight Compliance Guide from Totara Learning, discover why the right learning technology can help ensure your organization is meeting industry regulations and requirements, and get useful tips on what to look for in your next learning platform. Click below to download this eBook.

Inside organizations coaching has become common practice to address issues such as developing talent, 'onboarding' key leaders and supporting senior executives. Yet, there is clearly widespread opportunity to integrate some of the skills and competencies inherent in coaching into the roles of managers and contributors at all levels in an organization. We call this: the Coaching Mindset. Click below to download this White Paper.

ASK MORE, TELL LESS Many of the skills of a great coach are equally effective for a great leader - emotional intelligence, able to provide feedback, capable of creating strong working relationships, comfortable challenging the thinking of another, willing to ‘speak the truth’ when it’s most important, and the list goes on. Of course the question is which coaching skills might a leader adopt to get the best results in these all-important human interactions. Click below to download this White Paper.