Let’s talk “Learning and Development” with Karen Schmidt, Founder of two interesting training businesses - Let’s Grow and Well Linked Professionals.  Karen, you have a lot of experience as a speaker, trainer, facilitator and a small business owner!  So why don’t we take a little bit of your experience from each area. 

VUE:  Let’s start by thinking about the client – the people who hire you or the managers involved in the process (and not the audience or participants themselves).  When you think about the clients who get the most out of you – get the best return on their investment and the best results – what do they do differently?  How can someone be a good “training or speaking” client?

KS:  They need to be clear on the outcomes they want to achieve rather than having a vague notion that some kind of event will improve morale in the short term. They also need to be willing to do the necessary follow up work. I offer a range of follow up options including further reading, ecourses and an email booster program but these only work if they are combined with cultural change to embed the learning.

VUE:  Now let’s turn our attention to the participants of training themselves.  What can a participant do if they are having trouble making changes or using new skills from the training?  Let’s say they understand the content, other participants seem to be having success, but they are just struggling to make it work for themselves. What should or can they do before giving up? 

KS:  Resistance to change can be very strong, even when we know it is in our best interest. One method I suggest is keeping a learning journal to track their reactions and feelings. You can’t fix a problem you haven’t properly identified so I find journaling helps them to pinpoint the issue. I believe this is so important that I’ve designed my own “Growth Journal” for that purpose.

VUE:  You have some particular expertise in the area of engagement.  Any tips on what trainers and managers can do to help participants increase their engagement in a training process?

KS:  Firstly, give them a strong answer to the question “what’s in it for me?”. I focus on how the training can make your job less stressful and more enjoyable. Secondly, make sure that you as the trainer are fully engaged. If you don’t love the material you are presenting it shows! Finally, create a learning environment that is stimulating with music, colour, movement and the unexpected. Drop the “death by PowerPoint” and use your imagination.

VUE:  As a trainer, what are your top two training activities to utilise in Workshops and why?  Which two training activities do you find the most effective?

KS:  My current favourites involve postcards and what I call the PPF activity. I have a collection of over 500 postcards that I use to help participants clarify issues or identify their thoughts on a topic. I pose a question and people have to find a postcard or two that answer the question for them. The idea is to interpret the cards, so two people could pick the same card but have two different reasons for doing so. The PPF activity involves 3 pieces of coloured card (usually red, orange and green). Participants are asked to describe the culture of their organisation using a few words as it was in the past (red), the present (orange) and how they would like it to be in the future (green). The cards are then collated and the results analysed. Makes for some interesting reading for senior management.

VUE:  Finally, as a small business owner, what’s your #1 business development tip?  What have you found has been the most effective way to grow your businesses?

KS:  Networking whether it is face to face or online (eg LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter). The two businesses I run are both about personal connection and you can’t get that from static advertising. People need to meet you and get a feel for who you are and how you operate.

VUE:  Time for your “stadium pitch”.  You are standing before 30,000 people and have 30 seconds to get them to come to the next Well Linked Professionals event on  April 6th, 2011.  You step up and say…

KS:  We run events for single professionals over 30 who want to link and learn with other like-minded people in the familiar environment of a business networking event . At our events it’s not just who is in the room but who they know and can connect you to. So come along on 6 April 2011 to hear guest speaker Kevin Ryan on “Selling your way into a relationship”. 

VUE:  Thanks Karen! You can learn more about Karen’s businesses online at Let’s Grow (specialists in employee engagement) and Well Linked Professionals (a unique blend of Training, Networking and Dating!).