Creative Training Techniques - The Bob Pike Group

Purpose is a bigger motivator than punishment. If people don’t understand why what they do matters, sanctions for underperforming will not change behavior in the long run. So how do we fix it? Becky says it starts with storytelling, values and setting the stakes. Becky's Trainer Tales on TikTok Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cr...

Mental health training is a top priority for Gen Z job seekers. Becky says tech companies are losing people because of burnout. She’s advised them to stop breaking people. Stop burnout by setting boundaries. Becky outlines what makes mental health training work. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id8625...

Post-session surveys can be great tools if you know how to really read them. Numbers are great, but it’s what the comments say or don’t say that you should pay attention to. A five-star rating doesn’t mean anything if they forget what you taught them. Becky shows how to get brutal honesty from comments and find out how much those people really did hate or love you. Purchase Becky's new book here P...

What if you knew what people had learned as you taught them? It’s not science fiction. You can use real-time polling tools to help you adjust your training on the fly. Becky talks about how to gather and act on real-time data while teaching. Polling and Engagement Tools - Quick Reference (Alphabetical) 1. Doodle • https://doodle.com • Scheduling polls for finding meeting times 2. Google Forms • ht...

What’s worse — a good coder with no communication skills or a leader who can’t use a spreadsheet? The truth is, you need both tech skills and soft skills. The top skills people need are human-centric, but they need to be paired with technical literacy. Becky shows us how to integrate the two skill sets. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/p...

AI is good at spitting out words, numbers and following rules. What it’s not good at is judgment. There’s a big difference between following rules and using judgment. Becky talks about how you can train people to exercise judgment and stop people from being human robots. Laureate Daniel Kahneman 2024 book Noise World Economic Forum 2024 Medical Errors Can Cost Lives Rushed Judgment MIT The Future...

Health care organizations are hemorrhaging nurses. Turnover is happening at hospitals and elsewhere because of the lack of career growth opportunity. Becky says the secret weapon companies can deploy in the war for talent is an internal mobility program. She outlines how companies can overcome departmental people hoarding and drastically reduce turnover. Gallup research (2024) SHRM and Workwolf Li...

Do you really need an expensive degree? Big companies don’t require degrees, they require credentials. That’s because companies have recognized that what you can do is more valuable than what you were taught. Becky describes how trainers can step in to help people build skill-based portfolios faster and at lower cost than a university degree. Research Links: Why Fewer Employers Are Requiring Colle...

Training existing employees on new skills is a tremendous undertaking, but it’s the smart thing to do. Surveys show about half of workers need new skill training. Becky has the reasons you should make the investment. Research Links: World Economic Forum 2024 Labor Force Snapshot: Older People In The U.S. Labor Force The upskilling imperative: Required at scale for the future of work Gallup researc...

Imagine short attention spans being your friend instead of your foe. It’s training so short that you’ll finish it before your coffee gets cold. That’s nano learning — short and delivered just-in-time. Becky says your brain doesn’t want more, it wants just enough to take that next action. Research links: Garnett, S. (2020). Cognitive load theory: A handbook for teachers. Crown House Publishing. Sus...

If people don’t feel included in your sessions, they don’t do well. But not everyone engages in the same way. So Becky says the key is offering multiple ways for learners to engage. She has tips on how to allow each brain to learn the way it learns best. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt...

Gamification is huge all around the word. Becky says it works for learning when it’s tied to purpose and meaningful feedback. You’ve got to know why you got it right or wrong. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2 On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd And on...

People can recall the details of a story better than the details of a slide. Becky reveals the secret ingredient that will make a story memorable and the structure you can use to build short, memorable stories. Research References: Van Voorhis, S. (2023). Looking to Leave a Mark? Memorable Leaders Don’t Just Spout Statistics, They Tell Stories. Harvard Business School Working Knowledge. Link Graeb...

The currency of learning is attention. How do you keep people engaged with so many distractions? Becky says attention spans are not shrinking, but the competition for focus is fierce. Becky has some tips on how to get — and keep — your learners’ attention. Research References: American Psychological Association. (2021). Attention and learning in the digital era. Link Simon, A. J. (2023). Quantifyi...

You can nurture the leader in everyone, starting in the training room. Becky has examples of how you can build confidence through peer teaching and group problem solving. Bonus lesson: how owning a mistake makes you a better leader. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2 On Spotify here: ht...

Navigating the issues of copyright and sharing client data are some of the common ethical dilemmas facing trainers. Becky has some tips on how to deal with these ethically, fairly, and legally so everyone is happy. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2 On Spotify here: https://open.spotify...

Giving effective feedback is an art and a science. Becky suggests that the Oreo sandwich can be a good way of delivering recommendations. Research References: Goldsmith, M., & Reiter, M. (2023). Feedforward vs feedback. Coaching Journal. Future-focused feedback increases motivation. Link Shuster, E., & Lee, J. (2024). IMBUE AI feedback tool. HCI Proceedings. AI feedback provides accurate, real-tim...

Why does it matter that you know how to read the room like a pro? Becky says it makes all the difference in how you present. She covers the five components of EQ — Emotional Quotient, also known as emotional intelligence — that can make all the difference. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?...

Conflict is normal. It indicates engagement. You can make conflict better or worse depending upon you handle the situation. Becky has some tips on how you can resolve tension between learners, the trainer, and the organization. Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2 On Spotify here: https:/...

People learn better from a conversation than a one-sided broadcast. Becky says AI can help you adapt content to learner preferences on the fly, build branching scenarios, and feedback generators. AI for Trainers Class The Question Behind The Question book Purchase Becky's new book here Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?m...

You know what you want to present, but you need someone to help you organize it and help you brainstorm the visuals. Becky talks about the AI tools that can help you quickly create your next great PowerPoint.

Repetitive work is often boring work. But it needs to be done. You just don’t have to be the one doing it. Becky talks about her favorite AI shortcuts, including how you can create and save your favorite AI prompts.

It’s time to give people choice. Think beyond the LMS! Becky has ideas on how you can leverage other platforms for your courses. AI for Trainers Class Canva Masterclass

It’s time to give people choice. Think beyond the LMS! Becky has ideas on how you can leverage other platforms for your courses.

By now you’ve heard of micro learning — quick hits of learning that stick like glue. Creating micro learning is both an art and a science. Becky has tips on how to make it micro but mighty. If you need an explainer video, consider contacting Becky’s podcast producer at www.timescapemedia.com