CIASTD Monthly Newsletter

Last month I introduced the concept that we in our business are members of the “workplace learning profession.” I believe that many of us have thought of ourselves as professionals for a long time and may be a bit surprised by this new twist. My sense is that we are just beginning to get a grasp on what it means to be part of a profession.

As you talk with your fellow members of CIASTD think how many of them identify themselves as a “sales trainer,” or a “technical trainer,” or belong in that fuzzy area of us who have focused on “leadership development.” Then you ask the bigger question of what it really takes to be in our business and many times you get a shrug of the shoulders and a response that I was really good at what I did and I could stand up and talk so they made me a trainer.

ASTD is working to bring the concept of the workplace learning profession together to create two of the elements that really identify a profession: a recognized body of knowledge, and standards for recognition of competency in that profession.

The first item, the recognized body of knowledge is coming in the form of the ASTD Competency Model that came from a large study done by ASTD. Many of you may have participated in that study last year. To see more on the ASTD Competency Model go to http://www.astd.org/astd/Research/competency_study/competency_study.htm. That page shows the model and provides answers to some of your questions. Another resource to see where you are at is the Competency Challenge section of the ASTD website which provides scenarios to test your knowledge of the various elements of the model (http://www.astd.org/astd/Publications/ASTD_Links
/2005/February2005/InPractice_CompChallenge.htm).

The broader Human Resource community recognized the need for standards for recognition of competency years ago and instituted the PHR and SPHR certification programs. Many of you, I’m sure, have had the pleasure of taking the test for those certifications. Our community is now launching a similar certification process. That process is being piloted this year and the full launch is expected in 2006.

Watch your CIASTD program announcements this year. One of our goals is to help prepare you for this change in focus by linking our programs with elements of the competency model. You’ll see much more on this and certification as the year rolls on.

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February Meeting

Beyond PowerPoint: Designing Effective Materials
Friday, February 25

Join us for the upcoming February meeting with the program “Beyond PowerPoint: Designing Effective Materials.” Presenting will be Jennifer Dzwonar, Vice President at Borshoff Johnson Matthews, supported by Jennifer Berry and Beth Millett from 2Fold Creative. The presentation will run from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a cranberry juice cocktail networking session starting at 7:30 a.m.

Your supporting materials should be as dynamic as your presentation! PowerPoint has become both a blessing and a curse. Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to determine the most effective visual aids and materials to use for each presentation, create effective PowerPoint presentations, and design compelling and attractive visual aids – on a small budget, in little time and without an army of graphic designers.

The effectiveness of visual materials can make or break a program that you are presenting to learners. This workshop will help you design materials that enhance, and not detract from, your message.

Cost for the program is $25 for members, $35 for non-members, and $15 for students. There is, however, an additional $5 fee for walk-in registrations. You can register at the CIASTD website by clicking on the following link: Register Now!

The meeting will be held at The Marott, located at 2625 N. Meridian Street, near the intersection of Fall Creek Blvd. and Meridian.

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January Meeting

Developing Leadership

The January CIASTD meeting featured a program titled, “Best Practices in Leadership Development…Programs that Get Results.” Jay McNaught from Cinergy spoke about best practices research he conducted and then panelists described leadership development in their organizations. The panel consisted of (Left to right below) Bill Fanelli (Eli Lilly and Company), Tena Frazer (Anthem), Sandra Dean (Roche), and Hugh Harvey (Rolls Royce).

Strong leadership is critical for organizations to compete in today’s constantly changing environment. Many companies have recognized the need for leadership development, and in most organizations, the responsibility for leadership development has fallen squarely on the shoulders of the Training and Development departments. The January program discussed what is currently being done in Leadership Development by organizations that have successful programs in place.

The audience submitted questions to the panelist in a lively give-and-take. At the end of the program, there were still many questions that the panel didn’t get a chance to answer. Those questions were compiled and various panel members have responded to them in writing. To view the unanswered questions and to see how the panelists have responded to them, click on this link. http://www.ciastd.com/ciastdpreviousprograms.htm

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HPI Classes

REGISTER NOW...SELECTING & MANAGING PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT INTERVENTIONS

Limited space is still available for the next course in the ASTD Human Performance Certificate Program. Selecting & Managing Performance Improvement Interventions is scheduled for March 18, April 15, and April 22 at the Carmel Community Life and Learning Center, 515 E. Main Street in Carmel. There is no prerequisite required to attend this class, though some experience in training, organizational development, and/or performance improvement is helpful. Contact Ron Lindle, 274-5045, at IUPUI Continuing Studies for registration details or Dan Johnson, 791-0570, for course information.

Selecting & Managing Performance Improvement Interventions features five intervention classification systems and six methods for selecting interventions that are invaluable tools for the HPI practitioner. This flexible set of tools can be used in any type of work environment. Participants in the Selecting & Managing Interventions class will be able to:

Distinguish between causes, problems, interventions, and solutions;
Assess the potential worth of desired performance and the value of improved performance using the Potential for Improved Performance (PIP) analysis;
Identify root causes of performance problems and differentiate root causes from symptoms;
Identify constraints and limitations of possible interventions;
Utilize any of the five intervention classification systems and six intervention selection processes;
Overcome client biases for certain interventions and handle client resistance;
Successfully plan and manage performance improvement interventions including sequencing, planning for contingencies, establishing milestones, scheduling, budgeting, and tracking progress.

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Books in Review

Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success
By John C. Maxwell
2004, Time Warner Book Group, New York
Review by Jay McNaught

If you are a Maxwell fan, you need to read this book. Even if you are not a Maxwell fan, if you feel time-pressured and unable to do things that matter, then this book may be exactly what you need. The premise of the book is that you build tomorrow by what you do today. Maxwell urges us to make today a masterpiece. He describes his daily dozen, twelve areas that we should practice every day to grow future success. Years ago, I remember reading a book by Dennis Waitely called The Seeds of Greatness. Today Matters is very reminiscent of Waitely’s book. The little things we do today may seem insignificant, but when they take root in our lives they can grow large and become powerful and meaningful.

This book is full of great quotes. There is a section where he quotes the writing of Oscar Wilde, who experienced tremendous success early in life, but died bankrupt at the age of 46. He didn’t take care of “today” and let the passions of the moment rule his life. Other quotes include:
• “Yesterday ended last night.”
• “When opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare.” – John Wooden
• “The 57 rules of success:
#1 Deliver the goods
#2 The other 56 don’t matter”
• “Successful people make right decisions early and manage those decisions daily.” – Maxwell

This is an excellent motivational book. Reading it inspired me to connect totally with the present and to make each day count. Today matters!

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New Members

In each issue of The Facilitator, we will list members that have joined or re-joined CIASTD since the previous issue. Since the last issue of The Facilitator, we have had these new members.

Juli Strattman
Mike Foster
Cynthia Ammerman
Cynthia Kiesel
Glenna Fetters
Sandra Dean

Leisa McDonald
Adrienne Sims
Lisa Tabor
Judy Ronk
Brenda Smotherman
Connie Haehnel

If you are a member of CIASTD, and would like access to the complete membership list, it is available on our web site at www.ciastd.com.

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