Training Tips, Tools, and Icebreakers

Tired of spending time searching for an ice breaker and then, spending the time necessary to redesign the ice breaker for your needs? You can develop an ice breaker that will warm up the conversation in your training class, reinforce the topic of the training session, and ensure that participants enjoy the training. Sure, you can find an ice...

The members of every team and work group develop particular ways of interacting with each other over time. Effective interpersonal communication among members and successful communication with managers and employees external to the team are critical components of team functioning. With the potential power of the impact of these interactions on team success, why leave team interaction to chance? Form team relationship guidelines or team norms early to ensure team success. Learn about team norms.

The members of every team and work group develop particular ways of interacting with each other over time. Effective interpersonal communication among group members and successful communication with managers and employees external to the team are critical components of group functioning. With the potential power of the impact of these interactions on group success, why leave group member interaction to chance? Adopt group relationship guidelines or group norms early to ensure group success.

Want to quickly learn the training needs of a group of employees who have similar jobs? Yet, you don't want to develop and implement a survey, put the questions in a computer program, or run analyses on demographic information you collect. This training needs assessment works best in small to mid-sized organizations. It will give you a quick assessment of the training needs of an employee group. This training needs assessment helps find common training programs for a group of employees.

One key factor in employee motivation and retention is the opportunity to continue to grow and develop job and career enhancing skills. There are a couple of secrets to what employees want from training and development opportunities, however. Plus, training and development opportunities are not just found in training classes and seminars. Learn...

In a team building exercise I have used for years, participants are asked to name their favorite color. Then, they are asked to list words that describe their favorite color. The consistently most popular color selected has been blue, then red. Blue words have included sky, serene, and calming. Red words have included exciting, daring, and noticeable. What is your favorite color and why?

Are you the planner of the monthly or periodic company or department meeting? They can be deadly dull if you're not careful. You know the drill. A bunch of talking heads line up to give people important company information. People are interested, but the most effective meetings woo their attention with thought-provoking questions and answers,...