Back in 2018 I wrote a blog called Shopkeeper to Engineer. I’d been using the phrase for a few years before that, trying to describe the difference between supplying learning and understanding how performance works. My Dad was a shopkeeper, so it wasn’t intended as an insult. He ran a local shop, supplied what people… Read More Still shopkeeping?
What do L&D and Dirty Dancing have in common? Apart from not putting someone in a corner, there’s the idea of shaking things up for the end-of-season show. The artist wants a new approach; the owner’s grandson wants a pachanga instead of a mambo. L&D can offer change. However, if you’re only allowed to shift… Read More Dirty Development
This week has felt like working in some kind of mission control. Multiple screens, multiple remote groups, and issues that need dealing with immediately. Nothing life or death, but things that have a big impact on the people involved. When something went wrong, someone noticed and sorted it within minutes. Leave it an hour, and… Read More Mission Control
I came across a webinar last week called: “9 Speaking Strategies that Drive Team & Learner Engagement Up 75%.” It promised to help people control their voices, choose better words, adapt to any listener, appear more confident and improve their speaking style. All in an hour. Now, some of the techniques may be useful –… Read More Number jumble
Yesterday I listed a few reasons why performance slips that have nothing to do with skill. Time, clarity, process, tools, and mixed signals from above. All real and all ignored in favour of “send them on a course.” Underneath all six is one question that decides everything else: can this person do the thing, or… Read More First principles