Mind Mapping

I'm a big fan of mind mapping, especially when it comes to the initial stages of course design. I find being able to put everything down in a pictorial form and then make links and create a flow really helps me to get a sense of how a training day or programme might fit together.


Kudos then to the folks at IQ Matrix who have spent some time putting together a series of mind maps on a number of subjects, including a very handy "How to Mind Map: A Beginners Guide".

I particularly like the one I've used to illustrate this post: Stress Management: 39 Essential Tips.
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Persuasion

This is very good.

Taken from the new book "Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive" by Noah Goldstein, Steve Martin & Robert Cialdini, it's an overview of all of the techniques they describe.

50 Scientifically Proven Ways to be Persuasive
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Team Building Exercises Wiki

If you're looking for team building exercises, ice breakers or energizers you could do worse that take a dip in to Teampedia.

Teampedia is a Wikipedia- style collection of exercises submitted by trainers and educators that are free for anyone to use.

Teampedia
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Blog: e-Learning help

E-learning is one of the bigger topics in Training and Development circles at the moment. Some are claiming it is sounding the death knell for traditional classroom training, others are of the opinion that it's a flash in the pan that wont last the course. It can get a bit heated as this TrainingZone article demonstrates.

I"m of the opinion that e-learning is a an exciting new frontier for trainers and instructional designers. I'm only playing on the fringes at the moment (my budget wont stretch to a proper implementation) and I'm about to start some limited application with a Senior Management Development Programme that I'll be rolling out in my organisation shortly. It will increasingly play a more and more important part in blended learning programmes.

I've found the WWW incredibly useful as a starting point for researching and trialling some of the applications that are out there, and two blogs in particular are worth recommending for anyone who is dipping their toes in the e-learning river.

e4innovation is by Grainne Cronel who is Professor of e-learning at the Open University.

Jane's e-learning Tip of the Day comes from Jane Hart, a social media and learning consultant.

Both have been incredibly useful to me as I've tried to get my head around the thousands of e-learning possibilities.

100 Inspiring Videos for Leaders

Thomas Edison once said, "Genius is one-percent inspiration, ninety-nince percent perspiration", so what do you do when you're putting all the hard work in but that final 1% is eluding you? The Online College have put links to 100 inspiring videos for you to turn to when you need that final spark to bring something to fruition.

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The videos are divided in to ten categories covering areas such as, "Changing the World", "Inspirational People" and "Staying Strong". The videos include talks, movies clips, short films, performance pieces, conversation and interviews.

Althogh nominally put together for leaders, there's enough here to inspire anyone.

100 Inspiring Videos for Leaders

Disclaimer: May not result in actual genius.
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Podcast: Coaching

Interested in coaching or engaged as a coach in your organisation? Do you want to keep your skills and knowledge refreshed?

Here is a useful series of Podcasts from Results Coaching Systems that could come in handy. Some of the Podcasts are a bit on the long side so make sure you set some time aside to listen.

Results Coaching Podcasts
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View from the Middle

Articles on leadership are ten a penny on the internet, so it's refreshing to find a regular columnist that looks at management from the perspective of middle managers, and Wayne Turmel's articles come with a healthy does of irreverant humour to boot.

Wayne Turmel's View from the Middle

Wayne also produces a regular podcast that takes a similar perspective which is available via iTunes or The Podcast Network.

The Cranky Middle Manager
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Leadership: Models, Frameworks & Theories

There are a lot of leadership models out there; Situational Leadership, Action Centred Leadership, Path-Goal Theory, Servant Leadership, etc. The following sites provide overviews of some of the common models you’re likely to come across.

Leadership Models (1)

Leadership Models (2)

To add some additional context (and building on Don Clark's work in the second link), here is a helpful article which takes and historical look at the development of the different types of theories of leadership; trait theories, behavioral theories, cognitive theories and transformational theories.

Historical context of Leadership theories

If tou're the type who likes to be able to refer to models and frameworks you may find this site useful. It's a huge list of the different types of frameworks that currently exist broken down in to fice categories; strategy models, change models, leadership models, decision-making models and communication models. A handy starting point if you come across a framework or theory that's unfamiliar to you.

List of models, theories and frameworks

Finally the generous people over at RapidBI have produced a series of free, unbranded PowerPoint slides which demonstrate a wide range of management models and theories.

RapidBI PowerPoint slides

More on informal learning

Here’s a couple of articles from ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) on informal learning

Informal learning in the workplace

Informal mentoring
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Creative CV's

OK, so in my normal HR world I'm used to seeing plenty of CV's. Most of them tend to be of the straight-as-a-die variety; 2 or 3 pages of closely typed Ariel/ Times New Roman, achievement or objectives focused and with a degree of creativity applied to the facts (if the statistics are to be believed, the average CV comes with a 50/50 chance of being fabricated.) Traditional, safe and a little bit dull

But there is a different type of "creative" CV, the type that some graphic designers or artists might produce. Take a look at these.

Creative CV's

Talk about standing out from the crowd. I LOVE these! If one of them landed on my desk I would be blown away. I would want to find a reason to give you an interview. I know its not the proper business focused, objective way, but how many CV's have ever triggered an emotional reaction in you?

And on a similar topic: 100 really creative business cards
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