Are You Wasting Your Money on Diversity Training?

If you are planning to spend money on diversity training, WAIT!

You may be wasting your money if you haven’t done any foundation building. If diversity and inclusion are not first integrated into your business strategy, very little will change just by holding one or two day training classes. Organizations in all sectors make this mistake and don’t realize it until it is too late.

If you want to leverage the diversity you already have, increase the diversity of your organization, or prevent cultural misunderstandings you need to create a corporate culture that is inclusive at all levels, and in every system and process.

You can get everyone trained by a great trainer, with a great program, but when people leave your organization they take what they learned with them (if they still remember it) and your organization remains the same. Further, reaching resisters and naysayers of diversity efforts is unlikely only with training—a more multi-faceted approach is needed to help these individuals see the value of diversity in their organizations and to bring a greater number of people on board to the initiative.

Simma's Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Organization

Here are some of the steps that need to be taken in order to create an inclusive organization.

Start at the top. It must be championed and led by the CEO and other people in the executive team. Leadership of a diversity and inclusion initiative or culture change cannot be delegated. Other people can help drive it, but it must be viewed as coming from the top. That also means you need to start including it in conversations, discussions, newsletters and e-mail.

Assess your organization with surveys, focus groups and interviews in order to identify strengths, challenges and areas for improvement as it relates to diversity, inclusion and employee satisfaction in specific areas.

Create a cohesive vision and strategy that is agreed upon by members of the executive leadership team. Know where you are going.

Engage all levels of senior management. They need to be part of the vision and have a clear understanding of concepts, roles, business case and benefits, in order to help lead the change.

Develop a communication and information sharing strategy and process in order to share that vision throughout the organization. Send the message in such a way that you create middle manager and employee buy-in. Help them understand how the diversity and inclusion/culture change process will benefit them personally, professionally and as an organization, That will involve internal marketing at all levels.

Use the results of the survey to address specific areas for improvement, most commonly; recruitment, interviewing, hiring, retention, promotion and performance evaluation. Examine your present organizational culture, and identify ways in which your organization can create a more inclusive environment.

Define skills and behaviors that managers need in order to make the initiative/culture change a success and successfully lead a diverse workforce.

Conduct training for all levels of your organization in areas related to diversity and inclusion.

Set up a process for accountability at all levels, relating progress to compensation and evaluations.

Measure results, create the buzz and make it exciting (if its not fun, it won’t be done)

The amount of time, order and the steps themselves depend on your organization and goals, but if you want to go beyond compliance, hear new ideas and best practices, reduce cultural misunderstanding and miscommunication, hire and retain the best of the best from everywhere, training alone won’t do it. Before you spend your next dollar on diversity training, ask yourselves if you just want people to have a good day, learn and forget a few things or do you want ongoing change that will make you a benchmark organization and the employer of choice.

Auto Sales Training

If you're a salesperson whose dealership has recently gone online, you're probably wondering about the best way to handle online customers. This new breed is entirely different, and dealerships everywhere are incorporating internet sales techniques into their existing auto sales training programs as a result.

The internet buyer is much more discriminating than their offline counterpart. They are searching for added value, choice and much more than the best price.
Therefore, being able to turn their enquiries into sales should be the goal of all online dealerships. But how do you, as a salesperson go about this effectively?

To begin with, a good understanding of today's internet buyers is in order. They are much more educated about what can be had online. That's because most auto dealer websites allow them to do just about everything except kick the tires. Internet car buyers have greater control over the buying process. They can access information around the clock, greatly reduce searching time, comparison shop and even obtain financing online. That means that once they've reached you, they are much better informed than the car buyers of old. However, it doesn't mean that the salesperson has been outmoded! Salespeople are as an integral part of the auto-purchasing process as they've always been. Customers still need someone to help clear confusion and finalize the sale.

It should be understood that the internet presents a golden opportunity for auto retailers and sales people to re-evaluate and reinvent their customer image. For example, the online salesperson can elevate the entire dealership's image by assuming a more advisory role with customers. This role is highly important, considering that said customer will already know a great deal about what you have to offer. As well, internet buyers, already being used to the low pressure, self-controlled buying process are more likely to respond negatively to traditional pressure selling tactics.

Internet auto sales training should communicate the benefits of using the internet to engage a customer at the shopping stage and provide superior customer service, something that has always been a cornerstone of the auto industry. Training should also identify the benefits of utilizing internet customer relationship marketing to reinforce strong brand loyalty.

How many internet sales a dealership makes will ultimately depend on the amount of useful information on that dealership's website. Today's internet buyer will not wait for new information to be added; if a website does not have what they are looking for, they will simply go elsewhere. The internet is seen as 'the great equalizer' of all businesses. Dealerships are no longer just competing with companies down the street; they are being compared to dealerships world wide. Therefore, it is even more critical that any auto sales techniques be original and dynamic; something that catches the buyer's eye or ear and leaves them compelled to know more.

Customer service is just as important online as it is offline; the salesperson must be willing and able to follow up with any and all internet enquiries received. According to a recent J.D. Power Autoshopper survey, 22% of all new vehicle buyers said that the internet affected their choice of a dealer, up from 14% in 2002. Therefore, how a dealer or salesperson responds to internet requests is of increasing importance to customers.

Quality customer relationship management software is another way that a net-savvy dealership can manage its enquiries. Incorporating technology into the office has many other benefits as well. Today's salespeople can now communicate from anywhere, whether it via PDA, cell phone or laptop, making them more accessible to customers than ever before. Web chat offers an additional outlet for sales people and customers to connect, giving customers the opportunity to receive real-time answers to pressing questions.

But the tactics and advice is the same: take the time to listen to what customers are saying so that you can tailor services to meet their needs, don't rush the sale and if a problem arises, avoid excuses; instead, explain why the problem has occurred. Assume a courteous disposition, be willing to ask what you can do for them, and showcase the benefits of working with you and your dealership. Internet customers are after the same things traditional customers are; to be heard and be advised.

Apprenticeship - The Best Training In The World

Learning a new, highly skilled profession requires an in-depth, hands-on, committed training experience. This is where the process of apprenticeship occurs. It fills-in the training gap in those places where supervision is needed and provides hands-on help and a solid understanding of how a specific process works. Apprenticeship is one of the most successful methods any person can use to develop new skills, especially in a highly technical craft.

For example, you don't become an electrician by pulling a few wires off your remote control car and hooking them up to the light switch in your house. Instead, you apprentice under an electrical expert to learn the most valuable, safest method for working with electricity.

So what is apprenticeship? It generally includes full-time, on-the-job experience where you actually learn to do "a job" while performing the required tasks. In this "hands-on" environment, you are placed under the oversight of a skilled trainer or journey-worker. A big benefit of on-the-job apprenticeship is having an income while you learn. At the same time you can also receive detailed training by taking specific, technical classes that are directly related to your new occupation. This training is often in-addition to your normal job duties, so be prepared for a large time investment.

By focusing heavily on hands-on work experience and detailed classroom study, long term success is the usual result for anyone truly dedicated to their occupation. Apprenticeship programs create some of the most highly-skilled, highly-paid individuals who work at their jobs anywhere in the world.

In fact, this method of training may be the oldest form of learning anywhere. Certainly it was used even by early Americans, including George Washington (surveyor), Benjamin Franklin (printer), and Paul Revere (silversmith). Actually, Congress enacted the National Apprenticeship Act in 1937. They did this to recognize the importance of apprenticeship in developing highly skilled workers in various trades, including manufacturing, public utilities, and construction. Later apprenticeship grew to include fire, police, safety, and other emergency related occupations.

Today, there are hundreds of different occupational apprenticeship programs and categories in and around the United States. Each state oversees and administers the specifics of their own program, but they are federally approved. Once you complete an apprenticeship training program, you will get an apprenticeship certificate which is recognized nationwide. It is also the credential you will find the most useful and portable within most industries around the country.

But apprenticeship isn't for the faint of heart. Even before your job and classroom training, you will have to apply, and you may have to wait until positions and opportunities are available. In fact, some programs may have waiting lists or they may only accept new applicants at specific times throughout the year.

Although apprenticeship is a fantastic occupational learning opportunity, it is not an option to be pursued lightly. Weigh your options and make an educated decision about the time and other commitments, before you jump into an apprenticeship program.

Affordable Pricing for Training Program

When you are considering embarking upon a specialized job-training program, the last thing that you want to hear is that the cost of doing so is prohibitive. After all, chances are that a reason why you’re looking in the first place is dissatisfaction with your current pay. With the current condition of the United States economy, the job market is definitely skewed towards the employers, and the wages being paid are not necessarily commensurate with the work being performed. If you are considering training in the construction equipment operation field, then, a high-priced training program may be enough to discourage and dissuade you from following through.

Not so with the program offered by the National Heavy Equipment Operations School, however. At National, we understand that job training is often required to fit into the constraints of your current occupation and demands in life, and thus our heavy equipment training program is flexible and affordable. For tuition costs comparable to community college coursework, you can complete our thorough and comprehensive two-part training program. By no means is the lower cost of National’s program indicative of its quality; our facility is home to the nation’s only fully accredited heavy equipment training course. Additionally, National offers tuition financing to those who qualify, and even unemployed applicants can often take advantage of payment programs offered locally through their respective offices. Students on active military duty are also eligible for DANTES and tuition assistance. Even the lodging costs required to complete the second training phase are affordable; National has agreements with several nearby motels for student housing.

The cost of our heavy equipment-training program is further offset once you successfully complete it. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the construction industry is one of the largest industries in the country, employing well over six million people. But your own perception can tell you as much; regardless of where you are in the nation, chances are good that there is at least one or two construction projects being completed nearby, from highway widening to mountain pass maintenance. Indeed, construction represents one of the most stable and reliable industries in today’s marketplace, and according to projections it shows no sign of slowing anytime soon. As the program at National is known and respected throughout the industry, the certificate that you receive upon program completion will open up employment doors for you all across the nation.

Attitudes Training Will Increase Productivity In Your Company And Home Based Business!

That's right! Understanding the power of atttitudes training will increase the productivity of your company and home based business!

At the turn of the century, it used to be that employees learned they could get ahead at work if they checked their brains at the door. To get ahead, employees were encouraged merely to do as the employer dictated and not think while doing.

With the complexities of today’s multi-technological work environment, employees and entrepreneurs can advance their lot by checking their bad attitudes at the door and putting on positive thinking caps.

We’ve gone from worker robotics, to worker neurotics. Workers must now transform themselves from reliance on their IQs to self-reliance on their EQ (emotional quotient). The quickest way to emotional intelligence is to learn to control one’s attitude.

What is attitude? Attitude is disposition, demeanor; it is a manner of doing things. It is the spirit that underlies our behavior. It is the bearing and feeling that we put with our actions and the temperament that defines who we are and what we do. While a good attitude connotes a caring, positive and upbeat approach, a bad attitude is sullied by uncaring, rude and negative behavior. Bad attitudes in an organization can become a cancer that can drive customers and good employees away. As employers continue their efforts to downsize, merge, and streamline costs -- sped up by technology-- employees are caught up in the emotional squeeze.

How do we change the attitudes of employees and frustrated entrepreneurs? A training program on attitudes is a perfect solution. The right training program can help foster a more positive work environment for all employees, increase employee morale, improve performance and productivity and place entrepreneurs in the frame of mind necessary to be successful.

Overcoming the first obstacle – is naming the training program. When you want to change a persons attitudes through training, name the course so they will be excited and inspired to participate. Mandatory attitude training, for example, automatically causes resentment and resistance. Some individuals will say, I don’t have a bad attitude, why are they trying to fix me, or what did I do wrong to have to participate in this program. Like it or not, it is human nature to think the worst about these kinds of programs. Seminar titles like, “How to Stay Motivated all the Time” or “How to Be Better in All that You Do”, work well.

It is helpful to take a measure of key attitudes that you want to change with the training. It is also useful to take the position that this effort is not just employee training for example, but long-term development because you want to change behaviors in the long run. You will want to assess the current state of the organization or your business that leads you to want to change employee or your own attitudes. Ask the questions: What behaviors are occurring that is symptomatic of poor attitudes? It may be that you have observed or experienced behaviors such as short tempers, poor customer treatment, or disrespectful treatment of others, which may lead you to conclude that attitudes training would benefit your organization. A short survey (using a rating scale) of employees for example prior to training, works well with questions that pertain to how they view the present environment and their own behaviors. This same survey can be administered several months after the training has been administered to see what gains have been made.

What is the content for effective attitudes training? – Individuals will enjoy training that is applicable to their whole lives, not just the workplace. Training should be interactive and participatory and use practical examples for learning, focuses on the individual and then the organization. Training objectives for participants:

You may not like your job or others around you. You may not even be able to change your position at the present time. But the one thing you can change is your attitude.

You may not be able to control your feelings but you can control your attitude. Attitude management is the ability to control how we act out our emotions.

Some useful elements of an effective attitudes training program include:

Self-assessment and personal inventory- to include personal assessment of how well an employee feels they interact with others inside and outside of the work environment

Developing Personal Effectiveness- to include opportunities for participants to visualize success and their own capacities and abilities, to strengthen inner resources and mental attitude

Assessing Limitations and Strengths – to include taking a realistic look at limitations and strengths and assess opportunities to capitalize on personal strengths. Identify those limitations that may not be rooted in fact but affect individuals capability to fully contribute, create or apply skills.

Understanding the Dynamics of Positive and Negative Attitudes-to include developing an understanding between the relationship between thoughts and actions.

Transition and Change Model – Incorporate a process to help individual employees identify attitudes they want to change and timetable that will let them transition plan.

Lasting change – Can be accomplished if we give individuals adequate time to adopt new attitudes, positive rewards and celebrations for demonstrating positive behaviors. Using the measurement tool to conduct a post assessment of training impact and rewarding participants for positive change will be reinforcing.

True empowerment is the ability to take control and avoid knee jerk emotional responses to hostile work environments or the challenges associated with your home based business. Remaining optimistic and positive are challenges that we all face in these circumstances. Attitude management is the ultimate productivity enhancement. Mastering the ability to maintain a positive outlook will draw others toward you and keep you motivated to achieve more with what you do.

Warm regards,

Dr. Devona Williams
Kenny Anderson

Advanced Online Marketing: Training for Using The Reverse Funnel System

When a system comes out closing sales completely for you it can sound too good to be true. Yet, The Reverse Funnel System (RFS) is designed to do just this and closes and average of twenty percent on the back end. Meaning if you can get just five people to pay the fifty dollars for the paid survey in a week, you’ll be walking out of your home office with a twelve hundred and fifty dollar week minimum, every week.

So how can you get five people to go through the paid survey in a week? Simply send a hundred people through to your sales page, your own personal copy of RFS.

This can be completed in a number of ways. One I find extremely effective is video marketing and the use of YOU-Tube and Meta-Café. Video marketing is extremely easy for anyone who has a web cam or a small camcorder. All you need to do is record yourself hyping up RFS, giving out free marketing advice, or maybe even just talking about life. This will drive traffic to your URL and if you can build some conversation, maybe a debate in the comments section of your video, you’ll get more views and more traffic.

Now video marketing can also be fun. If you want to spend a little more time than 15 minutes on the video you can design something that will really grab people’s attention. Think super bowl. The most appealing things and what sells THE ABSOLUTE MOST for all major corporations is humor and good looking people, combining them just rocks the boat. But as long as the commercial plays into some emotion while exposing the whole money/potential thing, it will be more effective.

If you’re not the most video friendly personality there is other things you can do to promote your URL, although trust me traffic will be hurt as the use of video’s in cross promotion is one of the most effective free internet marketing methods. Still you can use networking communities to spread the word and well as a number of different written marketing techniques.

But as long as you’re driving traffic, your copy of RFS will be working for you and you will be making money. Get to the nitty gritty of internet marketing and do that marketing, drive that traffic and wait for the paychecks.

Leash Training Your Cat

You can train your cat to walk on a leash with a lot of patience and a few simple rules. A harness is best for a cat. Cat's won't respond well to jerking their collar so a harness is really best and should be loose and comfortable for the cat.

First, allow your cat to play with the new items so she gets used to them. Try putting the harness on her and see how she reacts. This step is very important, if you force the cat to wear the harness, they are not going to be happy at all with the harness or with you. Take your time with all the steps. If your cat balks at any step, go back to the previous one. It is a lot harder getting a cat to cooperate than it is for a dog.

After the cat is wearing the harness loose, then it is the time to tighten the harness up until it is the right fit for the cat. At this point, you will want to give the cat time to wear the harness. Next attach the leash. Then you will want to start walking the cat inside, until the cat is doing well. Once the cat is comfortable with the leash then it is time to go outside for a walk.

When walking with the cat make sure there is not too much loose leash or they will be running in all random directions. There are many distractions for a cat outdoors - birds, squirrels and the neighbor’s pets might cause your cat to want to run around, but you must keep a tight leash so that your cat walks with you and is not dragging you all over the place. You will soon be enjoying your outings.

Sexual Harassment Training

Summary:

Sexual Harassment Training for Company
Sexual harassment training including information and practical guidance about all federal and state sexual harassment laws.

Keywords:

Sexual harassment training, sexual harassment training for company

Article Body:

One of the more significant pieces of California legislation that went into effect on January 1, 2005, was AB 1825. This law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment training and education to all supervisory employees by the end of 2005. It also mandates that these employees will receive sexual harassment training and education once every two years after January 1, 2006.

It is important to note that temporary employees, independent contractors and workers outside of the state of California are not excluded in the 50-employee tally. Be sure you count every employee before you decide this legislation doesn’t apply to your company.

Scope of the training:
Your company’s sexual harassment training should include “information and practical guidance” about all federal and state sexual harassment laws. The information provided should include:
· Prevention of harassment
· Correction of harassment
· Remedies available to victims
· Practical examples aimed at prevention of harassment, discrimination and retaliation

In addition, the law mandates that “trainers or educators with knowledge and expertise in the prevention of harassment, discrimination and retaliation” should provide the training. In other words, you’ll need someone with legitimate credentials to administer the training.

Other considerations
· Because the law includes language like “interactive,” most experts warn that merely turning on a training video will not bring an employer into compliance. Instead, there must be some interaction between the presenter and those who are being trained, such as a question and answer session, or some role-playing. Interactive Internet training should also be acceptable.
· Keep a record of compliance, including documentation that all supervisors (or anyone who performs supervisory functions) participated. A “roll” that includes the signatures of the participants is one option. For Internet training, require a signed receipt.
· Develop a means to monitor future compliance and ensure that new supervisors are trained within six months of hire/promotion (and every two years thereafter).
· Update all of your current policies, employee handbooks, or other procedures to be sure they refer to the training as an expectation.
· Make sure that all executives are aware of the requirement.For assistance in this area contact AmCheck at 888-AMCHECK.

Source: “New California Law Mandates Anti-Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors.” Jackson Lewis law firm. October 1, 2004. http://www.jacksonlewis.com/legalupdates/article.cfm?aid=639

Weight Training in Body Building

If you want to really concentrate on body building, weight training is an important part of your workout program. Weight training in body building is a very huge part of any exercise regimen, but it’s not the only part. However, when you have a strong weight training plan, your body building goals become easier to achieve.

In order to work certain muscle groups, you need to lift weights that will provide resistance to those areas. As you start your weight training body building program, remember to start small and work your way up. That means start out with a weight that is difficult to lift, but you are able to do it with some effort. As that weight gets easier to lift, add more. The idea is to build up slowly so you don’t risk injury to your body.

When you are weight training, you need to be sure that you are doing the exercises correctly. Use extreme caution and feel the muscles as they work to lift the weights. Your form is just as important as how much weight you are lifting, so pay special attention to how the exercises are done and perform them safely.

You will be doing some heavy lifting during weight training, so safety is very important. When you are doing squats or dead lifts, you put a strain on your lower back. It’s a good idea to wear a weight belt when performing these exercises to minimize the risk of injury. Weight belts provide support to your lower back as well as keep your spine aligned so you don’t do an exercise improperly.

One important result of weight training in body building is increased physical performance. Muscles quite literally utilize energy to produce movement, functioning as the engine or powerhouse of the body. Strength training increases the muscles' size, strength, and endurance, which contribute to improvements in our work, our favorite sports and hobbies, and our general day-to-day activities.

Your physical appearance will improve with a weight training program as your body burns fat for energy to lift those weights. When you burn fat, you lose weight and gain muscle tone. Weight training also prevents muscle loss that can lead to a flabby body. Obviously, the resist you get during weight training will help develop your muscles in new and exciting ways.

Weight training is a big part of a body building program. If you want to have well-defined muscles, you must incorporate weight training in your exercise plan. You will realize huge results with your efforts and have a better looking, healthier body in the process.

Special Educational And Training For Adult Dyslexics

Adult dyslexics can face a lot of educational and training issues due to their condition. However, such learning problems are addressed through special education and training.

Special Schooling For Dyslexics

One common issue is whether there is special schooling that is available for dyslexics. Yes, there is special schooling, and often the remedial provision that you can receive would highly depend on the severity of the difficulties you are experiencing.

Some adult dyslexics may already have their own well acquired strategies to be able to read and cope up with their problems. However, these strategies are often temporary, which is why learning techniques from professionals is still very much recommended and needed.

Getting special instruction can improve your reading speed and confidence. Additionally, you can learn to make greater use of illustrations and diagrams. Problems like spelling and writing difficulties may entail a persistent period of special education. However, most of the cases are not impossible.

In fact, a lot of adults easily learn the special techniques that they are taught, and because of this, they quickly gain self-confidence, and overcome personality and social issues. With the help that they are receiving, they can also feel that they do matter and there are people who understand what they are going through.

Getting a special education for your condition is not a sign of weakness, as a lot of people may think so. Dyslexia is a special condition that needs special and appropriate attention. Thus, getting into special schooling is just the right thing to do, and is not something you should be ashamed of.

Essential Components Of Training Programs

The training programs for adult dyslexics have a couple of general essential components. These components should be present in any kind of learning program for dyslexic people. So if you are considering on getting into a program, try to observe if the program has these components or not.

Targeting Short-term Memory

First is to accommodate the dyslexic’s weaknesses, particularly with regards to short-term memory. Additionally, the materials used in such programs should be specialized in a way that it is more manageable to be used by a person with dyslexia.

Short-term memory is one if the waterloos, which dyslexics have. That is why in any kind of learning program for dyslexics, this is one aspect that should be targeted. Whether the problem be with words or with numbers.

Optimal Results From Education

Programs are also used to compensate for your perceptual weakness. In able to do this, most educators use a method of teaching that has a multi sensory approach. This kind of learning is very effective and efficient since it can stimulate your learning by using all your senses.

Through the use of your visual, auditory and sometimes even your tactile and olfactory senses, your learning experience is heightened. This is because studies show that it easier for people to remember what is being taught to them if all their senses are active.

The Use Of Other Specialized Methods

A program should also make use of other specialized methods to enhance your learning experience. Other than the multi-sensory approach, other means of making your learning easier should be present.

Some of the other ways to easily grasp what is being taught to you is through the use of mnemonics, mind maps, visual images, speed reading and the likes.