Mind Map - Best Tool in My Training Toolbox

I am a major fan of mind mapping, I don’t know a tool I use that is more helpful when I want to construct a plan or teach others to retain information. 

In every workshop I do today I teach my participants how to mind map.  It is spelled out in my latest Supervisor Manual.  Recently in Virginia while doing a Train the Trainer program the response to mind mapping was very enthusiastic.   

Randy Nicely, Vice President/Director of Training & Development with Valley Bank in Roanoke sent me the following email:

“Good afternoon Honey.  I wanted to thank you again for sharing your expertise and experiences with me at the VBA training sessions.  I benefited greatly by attending both the Train the Trainer session and the Branch Leadership session.

I immediately began using Mind Mapping in my FSR School to assist them with product knowledge.  It is a great way for them to categorize information about a product (free, rewards, qualifications, non-qualifications, ancillary services, etc.).  They can self-test their knowledge at any time and then compare what they remembered to our Product Profiles we provided in training.  

I plan to revisit your material, my many notes and my Action Plan after I teach one more FSR School this week.  You and Janice provided some excellent reminders as well as many new things for me think about as I continue to develop the training program here at Valley Bank.  

I have registered for your newsletter and I look forward to attending future training sessions with you.”

All of us that train others, appreciate unsolicited testimony.  Thank you, Randy!

Put mind mapping to work for you!

Still learning, 

 

Honey

FREE Bank Training CDs

How do you manage training at your bank or credit union?  It is a challenge to build training and then to pull people together to present needed training and information. It can be an exhausting juggling act of preparing training material, bringing in outside trainers, pushing people to online training resources or a combination of all of those things.

A popular way to train today is with webinars.  You can create internal webinars, register for live webinars from providers on key topics your bankers need or purchase a previously recorded webinar.

One of the most beneficial aspects of the webinar format is the recording feature.  Creating a CD ROM or being able to access a previously recorded webinar as a download means you can make the training accessible on a more flexible schedule.

Many of our clients tell us that the recorded version of a webinar enables them to provide training in a more convenient arrangement that is well-received by both the learner and the learner's supervisor.  A supervisor may resist your attempt to train their people when you pull them away from regular duties for training.  Overcoming resistance by supervisors is a part of the trainer's job.  Instead of pulling people off the job,  provide a training CD or a link.   The supervisor can then schedule the training for each team member at a convenient time.

InterAction Training  has a list of topics aimed at helping you get easy, convenient and affordable access to CD ROM training. Check them out here.

Make Training Stick Tip

When you create a learning library also create a discussion sheet on each recorded webinar that asks the learner to make notes of key points they were introduced to or reminded of as they participated in the training.  Then follow up with a one-on-one or team discussion concerning the training.

Still learning,

Honey
www.interaction-training.com

Need Job Satisfaction?

There are long lists of things that contribute to employee satisfaction.  One thing that gives confidence to an employee is to clearly know what they are to do and how to do it.  The astute company learns that happy workers work more effectively than unhappy workers.   Job satisfaction is elevated by the effectiveness of the employee. It is a cycle and all three parts of the cycle feed off one another.

One key component of working effectively is training.  How employees learn what is expected and how they are trained and coached to deliver expectations is the collective responsibility of the trainer, the supervisor and the learner.  A common misperception is that the burden of training falls on the shoulders of the training department.

1.     Stay in the real world…training is not the sole responsibility of the trainer

2.     Employee learning and effectiveness requires commitment from all four stakeholders – the trainer, the learner, the supervisor and the owner

3.     Solicit the support of a champion – as high up the food chain as you can go.  The Champion of Employee Satisfaction needs to be the CEO.

4.     Supervisors must be trained on how to coach and teach the staff on self-evaluation regarding effectiveness.

5.     Encourage human resources to interview for talent that has a very high need for job satisfaction.  Key question in the job interview, “How important on a scale from 1-10 (highest ranking is a 10) is it for you to obtain job satisfaction?”  Would you really hire someone that said “4”?  Probably not.  Asking that question lays the groundwork for the supervisor and the trainer to say to the learner – I am here to help YOU get what YOU want – exceptional job satisfaction.

The two most popular programs I conduct today are Supervisor Boot Camp and Train the Trainer workshops.  These programs deliver high impact learning that the participant immediately takes back to work.  As the participant implements the learning they learned they find it elevates their own and others work more effectively.

Supervisor Boot Camp teaches supervisors to coach.  Train the Trainer Boot Camp teaches those with training responsibilities how to elevate their effectiveness.  Both are scheduled for this summer in Houston. Plus, Supervisor Boot Camp is scheduled in 14 locations this year around the country offered by various state banking associations.   In April, I will be presenting a two-part Train the Trainer webinar that trainers and supervisors alike will benefit from!  In order to learn more about the programs we offer, email me honey@interaction-training.com.

I teach what I need to learn…I am a happy worker…I am focused on how to be more effective and I have exceptional job satisfaction.   Want to learn how to be a happy worker?  Join me for training!

Still learning,

Honey

www.interaction-training.com