Comments on: A True Story: Transforming Disengagement Into Employee Engagement

By: Training Employees in a Tight Economy • EffortlessHR Blog

Training Employees in a Tight Economy • EffortlessHR Blog — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:06:00 +0000

[...] Training, just like other functions, is a process. If you plan ahead and put a good, solid program together, training will only benefit your organization. With proper training, you can transform disengagement into employee engagement. [...]

By: David Zinger

David Zinger — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:04:35 +0000

Michael,
Good points, I am so pleased that the formerly disengaged can now be the first to be involved in training new employees.
David

By: Michael L. Gooch, SPHR

Michael L. Gooch, SPHR — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:47:45 +0000

At the end of this article, I noted the section regarding training. This is an area where we tend to fail and an extremely important aspect to starting an employee off as an engaged member of our organization. So sad, that we bypass or disregard the importance of new employee training. As a whole, we all developed our training model after old Mrs. Snodgrass in the third grade. She was the teacher, you were the pupil, and you better sit there and be quiet as she drones on about the ABCs. Adult learners are quite different. Unlike third-graders, most adults see themselves as responsible for their own decisions and lives. Adult need to know why they need to learn something. In addition, each class may have a wide variety of ages in attendance. As much as it hurts me, I will be the first to confess that the older people need more time to learn than the younger set. People in their fifties, sixties, and seventies can learn new techniques and acquire new knowledge just as well as younger people. However, the older ones will need a little more time. When you mix your training class with both young and old, you will have some who are bored and some who are struggling. Be aware of this and come up with creative solutions. Michael L. Gooch, SPHR http://www.michaellgooch.com

By: David Zinger

David Zinger — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:30:31 +0000

Alison,
I love the term cynic to ambassador or even evangelist.
The story and the listening to the story are so important.
Good points and I love the site your team provides.
David

By: Alison Esse

Alison Esse — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:23:27 +0000

Another excellent post from the Zingmeister! It reminds me of a question I am often asked about cynics within organisations, and how to turn them into ambassadors. We often see people who have been totally cynical turn into evangelists, just by listening to them tell their own story. Cynics aren’t cynics because they naturally disgruntled human beings…it is usually because they are frustrated at a lack of empowerment, or they can’t see the link between what they are doing and what’s being asked of them, or their opinions and experienced aren’t valued. Sit and listen to them, and once they feel valued it’s amazing what the turnaround can be.
Alison