by Zoe Training staff

Jayne Gnadt, a seasoned professional with an extensive background in project management, is also an energizing and memorable keynote speaker who shared some insightful gems with us in this interview.

What’s your favorite topic(s) to present on? Why?

I love to speak on motivational and rather “edgy” topics because my greatest thrill from a speaking perspective is to have everyone laughing and smiling from ear to ear!

3 words that describe your presentation style:

Energizing, Fun, Engaging

What’s the most unusual location (or circumstances) you’ve presented in?

I’m actually getting ready to facilitate a class in Broken Bow, Neb., at the country club as there isn’t any other place in town large enough to hold a class for 25 people!!

Tell us about a presentation experience that went wrong:

I was keynote speaking in front of a very large audience at a fancy conference and my mother Skyped me and appeared on the huge Trinitron screen behind me! One of the funniest, embarrassing and great learning experiences for all. I still tell stories about that experience in many of my classes and keynotes!

Do you have a favorite quote? What/why?

Life should not be a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely, in an attractive well-preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming Woohoo! — I love this because it describes how I love to live my life – to the fullest, full of energy and enjoying the ride!

Tell us a recent book you’ve read and would recommend:

“Left to Tell” by Immaclee Ilibagiza.  It’s a story of survival and faith that changed my entire outlook on life and provided amazing inspiration.

Inquire about Jayne Gnadt

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by Tiffany Dahlberg

You know it’s important to ask the “right” question, but what is that and how do you do it? Simply put: the right question is one that results in a meaningful answer. Since that’s easier said than done, I give people the following tips when we practice this in my “Business Analysis” classes.

First, it’s critical to understand why you’re asking the question. This may seem obvious to you, but it may not be obvious to the people you are questioning. Asking yourself “why” you are asking the question, may help you formulate the RIGHT question. It’s about asking purposeful questions. Plus people like to know why they are being asked something. This may help them open up to you, volunteer information they may know will help you, or allay any fears about how the information will be used.

Next, pay close attention to the types of questions that you ask. Do you ask more open-ended or close-ended questions? How do these different types of questions influence your responses? If you’re not getting enough information, perhaps you need to ask more open-ended questions. Understanding the intention of your question, will help you prepare the RIGHT type of question.

Additionally, you’ll want to think about who you are asking. You’ll want to consider factors such as your audience’s communication style (for example, do you need to ask short direct questions or do you need to include detailed information?), their interests in what you are asking (may help you formulate a compelling question and determine the quality and quantity of your responses), and their knowledge (may influence what you ask and how you ask your questions).

Also, consider how you want to gather the information. The RIGHT questioning method will fit the purpose and audience and get the most useful answers. In some situations, you may want to ask face-to-face questions. Email or web surveys may be more effective in other situations. Remember to give people enough time to respond so you can get complete, clear, and accurate responses.

Following these tips will help you ask purposeful questions that result in meaningful answers in a way that’s mutually beneficial to you and your audience.

Tiffany Dahlberg, MA, PMP, president of Achievement Consulting and Training, Inc. (a solutions provider for project management, process improvement, and employee training) has 20 years of experience in helping organizations improve their processes, better manage projects, and implement positive change.

by Ashley Andrus

- Is the economy finally back on track?

- Are we headed for a double-dip recession?

- Will hiring pick up again anytime soon?

These are important questions that will impact the future of your organization—however, the more immediate question is: How are the ripple effects from the ongoing tight economic conditions directly impacting your employees TODAY?

Just as an individual business functions within the tides of the economy, individual employees and team members are buffeted by the turbulence associated with the ongoing economic downturn. The “new normal” translates into longer working hours, shorter deadlines, expanded job duties and responsibilities, and increased stress levels throughout the organization—all of which directly impact morale, working conditions, and your bottom line.

What can you do from a training and development standpoint to ensure your employees have the tools they need to ride out the ripples?

• Directly address increased stress levels with a variety of approaches. Organizations can offer stress management workshops and implement health and wellness campaigns to help address the stressors facing employees.  You might want to bring in a motivational speaker or humorist for certain types of events, and implement both formal and informal recognition programs, which can be effective without a high cost.  If you aren’t already doing so, consider surveying your employees for their input as to the highest-value stress relief options they’d like to see.

• Seek opportunities for increased efficiency and improved productivity. Many organizations have turned to an internal project management approach to identify process flow improvements and streamline operations—training your managers and supervisors in the Essentials of Project Management can help them hit the ground running. Beyond project management, you can provide tools to help all employees improve their time efficiency and gain a handle on the daily deluge of information they are expected to handle.

• Ensure your employees have the tools and skills they need for effective teamwork and communication. When working with fewer team members to share an unchanged or increased workload, it’s important that teams understand how to work AND play together for solid long-term results.  For some teams, communication and interpersonal skills could stand some improvement, while for others conflict resolution skills are called for.  You may want to consider implementing a psychometric tools approach and utilize the DiSC, Myers-Briggs, or other instrument to provide some common ground and language around team behaviors and expectations.

• Be alert for potential incidents of harassment, disrespectful behavior, and other compliance violations. In times of increased stress, it is not uncommon to see an increase in negative employee behavior; this may result in potential harassment complaints, hostile work environment claims, or reported ethics violations.  As an employer you must be on the lookout to quickly respond appropriately to such incidents and should also consider proactively offering harassment prevention & awareness workshops or respectful work environment programming to provide employees with the tools they need to be clear about their responsibilities and your organization’s policies and procedures.

The economy will improve at some point…however, these “new normal” working conditions are likely here to stay. Smart organizations are those taking steps to adapt now to the new normal so that they retain employees when conditions do improve and they are prepared to grow and thrive in both the rapids and the calm downstream.

Ashley Andrus is President of Zoe Training & Consulting. Her passion is making HR folks and meeting planners look like *rock stars* by providing one-stop access to 90+ speakers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, and consultants.

by Ashley Andrus

Well, it’s the time of year for “best of” and “Top 10″ lists, so in honor of the brand new 2010, we thought we’d share a run-down of the most popular training topics our clients are planning for this upcoming year:

1. Behavioral Interviewing
There is nothing more important than hiring the right people. Hiring the right person for the right job provides tremendous organizational benefits by increasing employee productivity, reducing training time, and controlling the high cost of employee turnover—not to mention the positive impact on team morale. You’d think, with double-digit unemployment rates across the country, that it would be easy to hire right now…right? Well, maybe. Read more…

2. Business Writing
Many experts estimate that as much as 90% of human communication comes from non-verbal clues such as voice inflection and body language. In business writing, however, you have only the words to get your meaning across, so the way the writer uses those words becomes more important. On-the-job writing matters—to your company, to your readers, and to you as a writer. From sales proposals to client emails to internal communications, your employees represent your organization every time they write an email or craft a document. Read more…

3. Coaching/Mentoring
Coaching can help managers and supervisors provide a structure for enabling their employees to achieve high performance. But the bewildering array of both available resources and management duties can complicate the process. What situations call for coaching vs. counseling? What’s the difference in coaching and performance management? How exactly do you give constructive feedback? Read more…

4. DiSC
There are, of course, many different assessment tools that rate behavior, preference, attitudes, etc. and provide a framework for understanding the way in which you see the world and the differing ways in which others may approach the same set of facts or circumstances. Myers-Briggs/MBTI, Emergenetics, Lominger, Insights and many others remain popular, but the most common tool we see clients utilizing is the DiSC. Read more…

5. Emotional Intelligence/EQ
All managers can relate horror stories about employees or team members who were clearly intelligent, technically capable, and able to perform the duties their job demanded…and who wreaked havoc on their teams because their social skills or self-management capability was lacking. When it comes to individual and team success, IQ is not enough; in fact, the skill set known as Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has consistently proven to be a better indicator of workplace success. Read more…

6. Facilitation Skills
Most of us feel like we spend too much time in meetings. Meetings that are too long. Meetings that have too many participants. Meetings that don’t have clear objectives. Meetings that get sidetracked by off-topic discussions. Meetings can be a waste of time…but with an effective facilitator, that doesn’t have to be the case. Read more…

7. Harassment Prevention/Respectful Work Environment
Even when training budgets are tight, harassment prevention and awareness remains a topic of interest to many organizations due to the legal liability issues that can be involved. Ensuring that both individual contributors and managers understand the policies/procedures and responsibilities of the organization is essential, but may not be enough. Read more…

8. Networking Skills
Networking…it isn’t just for salespeople! Although for many people the word “networking” conjures up a cringe-inducing image of a pushy salesperson shoving a business card into every hand she can find, the reality is that networking is about serving as a resource—about giving, not taking—and it’s essential for both individual and organizational success. Read more…

9. Project Management
In past years, much of the project management training offered by organizations was geared towards those employees who were planning to become a Project Management Professional (PMP) and whose job title or function specifically encompassed a formal project management role. Today, however, we see organizations recognizing that many employees manage projects (albeit on a less formal basis) and recognizing the benefits of a project management overview. Read more…

10. Work-Life Balance/Stress Management
It goes without saying that the state of the economy, mass layoffs, and ever-increasing demands on our employees’ time creates a perfect storm of stress. The negative impacts of stress can range from the physical to the mental and can have devastating impacts on both individuals and teams. Organizations are exploring a variety of resources they can offer to help weather the storm. Read more…

Wishing you an excellent and productive 2010!

Ashley Andrus is President of Zoe Training & Consulting. Her passion is making HR folks and meeting planners look like *rock stars* by providing one-stop access to 90+ speakers, trainers, facilitators, coaches, and consultants.