When business leaders use the phrase “succession planning,” their thoughts probably don’t fly immediately to their organizations’ learning functions. But they likely should, because effective succession planning really isn’t just about planning. It’s about the successful...

Learning and development professionals have never been at the top of the corporate salary scale. Whether placed in the human resources function or elsewhere, training professionals are rarely seen as the most essential, powerful or highly regarded employees, not even when viewed from within their own...

Many organizations have implemented formal learning programs, processes and technologies, but few have fully leveraged the benefits of social learning that provide employees with just-in-time access to tidbits of learning that enable more engaging and immersive learning, chance interactions and collaborative...

Culturally naive business managers are allowing their organizations to lose millions of dollars in lost opportunities due to cultural misunderstandings, which are leading to the mismanagement of employees. Miscommunication and a lack of cross-cultural understanding are two main barriers organizations...

Succession planning for upper-level management is one of the most critical tasks an organization can perform, and yet it is often the most neglected task. Many companies have comprehensive plans and procedures for replacing front-line supervisors and middle managers, most often referred to as replacement...

It wasn’t uncommon for companies to cut back on professional development programs in recent years to reduce expenses. However, as more employees are asked to assume broader job responsibilities, the need for training has become all the more critical. Through skills enhancement, staff can keep...

A tongue-in-cheek look at some signs that employees are not engaged, followed by proven action plans to improve that situation. For decades, studies have shown that employee engagement has a direct influence on a company’s financial performance, its capacity to recruit other high performers and...

Many talent management leaders today may feel like they work in a war zone. Like the U.S. Armed Forces, talent managers are waging battles on multiple fronts, managing a workforce stretched nearly beyond its limits and wondering how to develop the next generation of strong leaders. So what can...

By focusing on business results, realigning resources to support on-the-job learning and making formal learning more efficient, organizations can deliver greater impact on organizational objectives. The front-page headline of USA Today on Feb. 16, 2010, read, “Homeland Security Reports Lost...

Burnout is such a critical issue within talent management. The price a company pays for wringing the life from its employees is far higher than keeping a consistent work environment, which allows for a reasonable life to be had outside of the daily work schedule. Employee burnout can be identified...