If you ask most HR, Training & Development, OD, and Talent Management leaders, they will be familiar with these statistics: 70:20:10 which means: 70% of development happens on the job 20% of development happens through coaching and mentoring 10% of development happens through formal training which includes instructor led workshops and elearning courseware The first statistic makes sense as we grew up with parents telling us to practice our spelling words, coaches telling us to practice making the shot and teachers asking us to practice playing the piano. ... [more]

Many companies have a policy to promote from within, and they usually establish a goal for how many leadership positions will be filled by internal candidates. That is great for employee engagement and retention—until the new leader stumbles and does not perform at the expected level. Consider this fact: 40% of new managers fail within the first 18 months of their promotions. In other words, they get promoted because they were good at their job—not because they can actually manage people. Why? Because they don’t get the training and support they need to deal with difficult situations, conflict, negotiations, HR issues, hiring and firing, and many other new situations they’ll have to face for the first time. ... [more]

As a teenager, my first job was working at a Dairy Queen making ice cream cones, sundaes and shakes. On my first day, my manager showed me how to make the famous DQ swirl that sits on top of all DQ cones. First, he showed me how to make a cone, identifying all the minor movements that need to be made to create the perfect ice cream cone. He told me to keep practicing and practicing until I got it. And I did. Within a short while, I was able to create the signature swirl. Without giving it a name, my manager had me develop my skills to achieve the perfect DQ swirl by practicing and developing my skills on the job. ... [more]

Ice Cream Sundae