Challenges for Creating High Performing Teams

Come prepared to participate at the April 30th Quarterly Program on Creating a High Performance Team.

Plan to discuss some of the challenges you face in creating high performance teams by answering the following three questions:

1. What are the obstaces facing your organization that hinders the ability to create a high performing team?
   
2. What are the tools, resources, alliances needed to create the infrastructure and sustain the success of a high performing team?
   
3. How can the HR and Training teams/organizations partner to overcome the obstacles facing today's organizations?

Please feel free to post your answers on this blog.

2010 Trio Package Program Objectives

The Trio Package registration deadline is drawing near. You only have 10 days left. The offer expires on March 1, 2010.

If you need more help to decide on whether this deal is appropriate for you, review the following program objectives.

Leadership & Organizational Development: Creating a High Performing Team (April 30, 2010):

• Reinforce the skills necessary for creating and sustaining a high performing team.
• Define the impact of goal setting and the value of personal action plans.
• Identify the barriers, internal and external, that can derail individuals or teams.
• Explore the daily challenges facing leaders in today's workplace.
• Examine the importance of setting expectations and performance standards.
• Integrate the power of feedback, giving and receiving, in creating a high performing organization.
• Create personal actions to integrate performance management behaviors into your leadership style and daily employee interactions

The Case of the Teflon Trainee: Overcoming Obstacles to Make Training Stick (July 9, 2010):

• Develop a transfer of training mindset for employees, supervisors, and trainers.
• Identify the obstacles that prevent training from transferring back to the job.
• Implement relapse-prevention strategies.

Training on Trial (November 5, 2010):

• Obtain practical methods that will move you from a "checkmark training organization" to a strategic business partner.
• Use the Kirkpatrick Business Partnership Model to create a compelling Chain of Evidence showing the value of training to a "corporate jury."
• Identify the key metrics that are important to the business and how you can support them.
• Apply the material to a real training challenge in a group activity.

Register for your Trio Package today at www.astdiowa.org

Most Innovative Training Solution - CDS Global

Ruth Anderson and her team from CDS Global speak on their WLP Presentation on their Most Innovative Training Solution.

Technology WLP Winner - Nationwide Learning Solutions

Carol Dawson speaks on Nationwide Learning Solutions' WLP presentation on Technology.

Coaching and Mentoring Programs

Winner Debbie Ladehoff from Farmers Mutual Hail speaks on their presentation for Coaching and Mentoring Programs.

Interview with Jen Goemann at the WLP Awards

Winner Jen Goemann from ARAG summarizes their breakout presentation on Training as a Business Strategy.

2010 Trio Package - Hurry, Time Is Running Out to Register

The 2010 Trio Package is now available.

Offer will expire on March 1, 2010

You can use the trio package in one of the following ways:

• Attend all three yourself.
• Rotate among your department the person who attends.
• Gift a program to a client or to an employee as a reward.

Act now to take advantage of the following discounts:

• $245.00 (Members)
• $330.00 (Non Members)
• Get two-in-one. If you need to renew your membership, simple register as a "non member" and you can add a free membership on to your registration.

You can find more information about the "Trio Package" on the ASTD Central Iowa Chapter website: www.astdiowa.org.

Most Innovative Training Solution - 2009 Workplace Learning and Performance Presentations and Ceremony

CDS Global was the winner for the Best Practices in Most Innovative Training Solution award for 2009. The breakout session was presented by Ruth Anderson, Ken Olsen, Deborah Horton, Fred Redhead, and Pricilla Ebling. Jan Roby (not pictured) is also an instrumental member to this effort.

The Best Practices for Most Innovative Training Solution Award for 2009 was accepted by Ruth Anderson, Fred Redhead, Deborah Horton, Pricilla Ebling, and Ken Olsen.

Technology - 2009 Workplace Learning and Performance Presentations and Ceremony

Nationwide Insurance Learning Solutions was the winner for the Best Practices in Technology award for 2009. The breakout session was presented by Carol Dawson and Amanda Braun.

The Best Practices for Technology Award for 2009 was accepted by Carol Dawson and Amanda Braun.

Training as a Business Strategy - 2009 Workplace Learning and Performance Presentations and Ceremony

ARAG was the winner for the Best Practices in Training as a Business Strategy award for 2009. The breakout session was presented by Erin Barfels and Jen Goemann.

The Best Practices for Training as a Business Strategy Award for 2009 was accepted by Erin Barfels and Jen Goemann.

Coaching and Mentoring - 2009 Workplace Learning and Performance Presentations and Ceremony

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance was the winner for the Best Practices in Coaching and Mentoring award for 2009. The breakout session was presented by Debbie Ladehoff, from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance, and Rowena Crosbie, from Tero International, Inc.

The Best Practices Coaching and Mentoring Award for 2009 was accepted by Debbie Ladehoff.

2009 Best Practices in Workplace Learning and Performance Executive Panel

Central Iowa Chapter of ASTD celebrated their annual 2009 Workplace Learning and Performance Awards Ceremony and the Executive Panel Discussion on Friday, January 15, 2010 at Nationwide. The afternoon began with an Executive Panel answering questions posed to them by the chapter’s Past-President Paul Smith who is a Senior Training Analyst at Principal Financial Group.

The order of the Executive Panel from left to right is:

• Debbie Ladehoff, Human Resources Coordinator from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company
• Erin Barfels, Chief Human Resources Officer from ARAG
• Judy Bohrofen, Vice President from NCMIC Group, Inc.
• Marci Chickering, Senior Vice President of Human Resources from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

You will find some of the questions asked of the panelists in the comments section.

Announcing the 2009 WLP Winners!

Congratulations to the following 2009 Workplace Learning and Performance Award Winners!

Coaching and Mentoring Programs

Farmers Mutual Hail

Training as a Business Strategy

ARAG

Technology

Nationwide Insurance: Nationwide Learning Solutions

Most Innovative Training Solution

CDS Global: The CDS Global Training Team

You are invited to join in the event that celebrates these best practices, and provides you with the information and tools to help you integrate these best practices into your own organization as the winners will provide a breakout session with information, dialogue, tools and techniques, and time for your questions:

The 2009 WLP Awards and Executive Panel

Friday, January 15, 2010

Location: Allied Insurance, 1100 Locust Street, Downtown Des Moines

Time: 1:00-4:30pm

Agenda

1:00-1:10: Welcome and Opening Remarks

1:15-2:15 Panel Discussion: Working Collaboratively as Leaders in the Industry

Guest Panelists Include the Following:

Judy Bohrofen, NCMIC

Erin Barfels, ARAG

Debbie Ladehoff, Farmers Mutual Hail

Marci Chickering, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

2:25-3:15 Breakout Session 1 (select one):

Coaching and Mentoring Programs, presented by Debbie Ladehoff and Rowena Crosbie

and

Training as a Business Strategy, presented by Jen Goemann and Erin Barfels

3:25-4:15 Breakout Session 2 (select one):

Technology, presented by Rick Howard

and

Most Innovative Training Solution, presented by Ruth Anderson and the Global Training Team

4:20-4:30: Close and Thank You

Cost to attend is only $45 for members, and $65 for nonmembers. Registration can be found at www.astdiowa.org

Sign up today to guarantee your seat at this event you won't want to miss!

WLP Deadline Extension - Due to Today!

Due to the historic winter storm last week, the deadline for WLP Nominations was extended to 5pm on December 14th.

Whether it's a sign to you to get a nomination in after all, or simply a relief from a stressful week, this is your chance to be recognized. You can find the application at www.astdiowa.org.

Good luck!

Nominations are Open for the 2009 WLP Awards!

You work hard. Your team works hard.

You deserve to be recognized.

That's why the ASTD Central Iowa Workplace Learning & Performance (WLP) Awards were created--to give back to those who give so much toward the training and development industry.

Nominations are now open for the Second Annual WLP Awards. Visit www.astdiowa.org to download an application and to register to be there for the big ceremony. Visit the beginning of this blog for photos and commentary on the 2008 event.

Categories for awards are:
Training as a Business Strategy
Measurement
Technology
Coaching and Mentoring Programs
Most Innovative Training Solution
President’s Award (New this year!)

Winners are provided with a beautiful award anyone would want to display, and will be providing a 50 minute Best Practices presentation for the audience on their winning submission. Two complimentary tickets to the event are provided for winners.

Also, be sure to register your team and others from your organization now! Registration ends January 11th and seats are limited. Cost to attend is only $45 for ASTD or SHRM members.