Odd Man Out Puzzler Most presenters and trainers rarely, if ever, open a presentation; they just start. They rarely close with anchoring their main point; they just end. They rarely keep their participants energized once they’ve begun a presentation. Yet, the research is out: Sleep Learning doesn’t work; involvement does. Failing to open, energize and close is an unprescribed sleeping pill to which this book is the antidote.

eLearning Definitions Each year, hundreds of new words are coined and enter into somewhat common usage. And each year, it requires re-education in order to know what on earth someone is talking about when they discuss mash-ups and metaworlds. Here’s a quick tutorial on some of the phrases you may run into in 2007 as eLearning continues to increase in popularity.

Creative Training Techniques Back in the Fold The quick tips newsletter Creative Training Techniques, founded by Bob Pike 18 years ago, is now back in the Bob Pike flock of products. The monthly newsletter is aimed at providing quick tips that can be immediately applied to training disciplines such as design, execution and review techniques.

A Bakers Dozen (+1) Design Disasters Designing your training is one of the first critical steps in engaging your participants. If you don’t prepare enough or make naïve decisions in designing, you can sabotage your training before you begin. Here are 13 design disasters (plus one) you can avoid just by being aware.

Purposeful PowerPoint® Pointers: Part One of Three This is the first of three articles designed to compel you to start putting the point back in PowerPoint. Here you will discover my first four pointers and why you need an Xtreme PowerPoint Makeover. Stop using PowerPoint as a delivery mechanism! It is a support media for your message.

You've probably been caught in a high-stress situation—perhaps a tear in the seam of your one pair of presentation slacks just before the beginning of a seminar, or your last bulb wears out on the only archaic form of technology the seminar site had to offer--what solutions did you come up with to save the day? In the November ezine, we requested your ideas in putting together a trainer's emergency toolkit—small items to pack in case of emergency and the MacGyver items that come in handy and save the day when coupled with a few other items. Here are the results of your submissions.

These are the top 10 books I recommend for reading this year. Except for the first title, they’re not listed in any particular order. Bible – it will always be my number one Leading at a Higher Level by Ken Blanchard and company – his defining work on what he believes about leadership I'll Take Learning for 500 by Yaman and Covington – the ultimate book on using game shows in learning events Soul Talk by Larry Crabb – how every person wants to be talked to Sales Autopsy by Dan Seidman – what selling ultimately should be about – disqualifying instead of qualifying and being a blessing to every customer Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges – why Jesus is the best leadership role model for all reasons and all seasons

Ever tried to help a friend with a problem they were having? Did all attempts to help turn out perfectly? Doubtful! Even when we come with the purest of intentions, many of our helping attempts seem to fail. Why? When someone signals to us she has a problem, we have a tendency to immediately try to “solve the problem.” We ask a few questions, make a diagnosis, and offer a solution. Hey, isn’t that what good friends do? The fallacy in this approach is that we, as third party helpers, may not be the best at solving another person’s problem. Counter-intuitively, the person who “owns the problem” is in the best position to solve the problem. Why? He is closest to the situation.

Quick and Dirty Writing Tips on Podcast Grammar Girl has a website to help those of us who might be slightly grammatically challenged—and her weekly columns on how to master writing tips are also available as podcasts. If you are the point man or woman on the next project to market your department’s training, take a quick look or listen. For many readers, it’s a huge turnoff and shows a lack of professionalism if your marketing and training materials have glaring errors in spelling and grammar. The website is grammar.qdnow.com.

TV Trainer has developed a new way to train basic skills and job expectations to the Hispanic community: a system that only requires a television and VCR or DVD player. According to the company’s website, “Many Latinos base their understanding of American business on what they see in Mexico. They frequently experience difficulty adapting to common business practices in the US.” The website also claims that Latino employees using TV Trainer train faster...