Brought to you by Business Training Library
The #1 Provider of Training Solutions for Growing Companies!

In this issue:

1. Employee Learning Week - December 3-7, 2007
2. Crafting a Coaching Culture
3. Harassment Training Mandates - Are You in Compliance?
4. Course Review: It's About Respect



1. Employee Learning Week - December 3-7, 2007

Recognize Employee Learning Week, December 3-7, 2007, and be part of the ASTD effort to help organizations demonstrate the important connection between building a highly skilled workforce and achieving organizational results.

• Host a lunch 'n learn in honor of Employee Learning Week.
  
  
• Institute an employee learning awards program during the week, honoring employees who've met or exceeded their training and development goals.
  
  
• Send an e-mail each day of the week with a new employee learning tip.
  
  
• Remind employees about your employee training program and/or tuition reimbursement benefits in a highlighted event.
  

Visit ASTD's website for more information about the 2007 Employee Learning Week, as well as free downloads to promote Employee Learning Week internally!



2. Crafting a Coaching Culture

Training Magazine recently featured the article “Crafting a Coaching Culture,” by Sarah Boehle. The article tells the story of Benoit Vincent, a once abrasive and mechanical leader, lacking the interpersonal skills necessary to relate to his employees. Through years of career counseling and one-on-one coaching sessions, Vincent’s leadership style softened. He became an inspiring and available leader, and retention rates rose. Vincent was one of a number of early adopters in his organization, dedicated to creating a coaching culture by building the skills of leaders and managers who receive one-on-one coaching, and subsequently provide real time coaching and counseling to their employees on the job.

Executive coaching has emerged as a workplace tool to combat turnover, low productivity, and poor morale. It was once seen as a last ditch effort for under performing managers, but now, training leaders to coach employees is viewed as a powerful organizational strategy. Leaders who can maximize the potential of individual employees and business units, developing highly engaged employees, are seeing measurable bottom line results.

Vincent’s story is so relatable. Here was a guy working as a silo. Focused on his own goals and strategies – overlooking the effect of his ambivalence to those around him. The article mentions how he tore through presentations without stopping to see if anyone had questions, avoided difficult conversations, ignored the positive contributions of his employees – while making sure to point out any mistakes. Does this sound like your boss? If not, it probably sounds like your previous boss, or your neighbor’s supervisor. We’ve all heard similar stories. What struck me about Vincent’s particular story was the business impact resulting from his change in behavior. Sure, his employees like him more now – but they’re also more productive and dedicated to the company. As Boehle points out, feel good benefits aside, crafting a coaching culture created bottom line results for Vincent’s organization.

The article goes on to discuss similar success stories where coaching employees has allowed employees to feel heard and valuable to the organization. One respondent sited a newfound feeling of cohesiveness, as a result of their one-on-one coaching efforts.

How can you implement coaching strategies at your organization, taking steps toward crafting your own coaching culture? Boehle offered a few helpful tips.

• Start at the top – you’ll need executive and senior management support. Get them to participate in coaching, and then roll out the program company-wide.
  
  
• Prepare for resistance – employees may not know what coaching is or they may be uncomfortable with it. Coaching is a creative process focused on listening, not giving advice.
  
  
• Don’t make coaching punitive – it should be used to reward and encourage, not code word for remedial action.
  
  
• Coach the whole person – personally & professionally. Companies should trust coaches & coaches to move in the best interest of the company, and this may require coaching on personal matters as well.

Take a look at our catalog of Streaming Video Coaching & Counseling training programs that can create the optimal working conditions leading to high performance!



3. Harassment Training Mandates - Are You in Compliance?

Twenty-four states currently have legal provisions that mandate or encourage employers to conduct training aimed at preventing and correcting workplace discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation, and other states are looking to join this group.

Do you know where your state stands? California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin have all established guidelines or mandates for harassment training.

You can stay ahead of the curve and help meet federal and state harassment prevention training requirements with over 50 harassment prevention and legal compliance programs available in our Lending Library of video, CD-ROM, and DVD training programs.

Take a look at some of our award-winning harassment prevention courses today!

4. Course Review: It's About Respect

Course Group
Diversity

Course Code
004157

Media
Video or DVD

Course Overview
In today's workplace, it's more important than ever to recognize the various forms of harassment and train all employees to prevent them in your organization! In addition to sexual harassment, there are liability issues associated with harassment based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age and other characteristics protected by law. Harassment can take the form of jokes, negative stereotyping, hostile acts or simple thoughtless comments but the ultimate outcome is the same. In addition to the costs associated with legal liability, harassment has a profound negative effect on individuals, inflicting emotional stress, lowering employee morale and reducing productivity at work.
Also available in multilingual DVD's including English and Spanish versions.


Expected Duration
21 Minutes

Sara's Rating

5 Stars (Out of 5)

Sara's Review
It’s About Respect addresses harassment in the workplace. It outlines different types of harassment that can occur based upon race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, and age. The course provides an enlightening discussion with a great overarching message of respect for all. Outlined is the legal definition of harassment, and then the definition is illustrated to include that harassment can come in the form of jokes, mindless comments, and stereotyping. The greatest strength of this course is the real life examples of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors in the workplace. The examples provided in the course provide clear depictions for all the different kinds of harassment that can take place. Moreover, the course raises awareness about many forms of harassment one does not typically think about. Overall, I would give It’s About Respect 5 out of 5 stars. It is an excellent, thorough overview of harassment and is accompanied by great support materials.

Sara Ramza is a Training Consultant for Business Training Library.

Interested in previewing this diversity training program? Start a free demo today!

Business Training Library - 285 Chesterfield Business Parkway - Chesterfield, MO 63005
888.432.3077 - Fax: 636.534.1001 - http://www.bizlibrary.com