[Group Coaching Nuggets] June 2007 - Trends and Resources for your Group Programs

Every month I try to recap some of the writing I have been doing in the area of group programs and/or bsuiness development. Based on the popular response from a number of blog readers, I am also including a great article by Adam Urbankski on a 5 Step Marketing Makeover. Here are some of my highlights from the month of May, as well as a new one on some of the current trends in the field of learning and development:

"How to Give Your Business a Boost with a 5-Step Marketing Makeover"
by Adam Urbanski, the Marketing Mentor
Are you on track to hit all your business goals for the year? A quick check-up of your marketing efforts can reveal "week spots" and identify what needs tweaking to give your business a healthy boost in the next few months.

Here are five key areas to focus on with your pre-summer marketing makeover.

Read the rest of the article here.

� 2003-7 Marketing Mentors. All Rights Reserved.The Author, Marketing Mentor, Adam Urbanski, works exclusively with Independent Service Professionals who want to grow their business, attract more clients, and increase sales and profits. Visit his website for more free tutorial articles and how-to tips to creating a winning Marketing Action Plan

It's All In the Question

Last week I attended and presented at the 2007 ASTD International Conference in Altanta, Georgia. It was an incredible experience, being surrounded by 9300 other delegates and having the opportunity to connect with some of the greatest minds in learning and development.

One of my learning themes from the conference circles back to one of our most powerful tools as coaches and group facilitators --- the power of a powerful question.

Jim Collins delivered one of the keynotes, speaking on Sustaining Greatness. He indicated that management guru Peter Drucker had once told him was that "A great teacher asks great questions". This theme of powerful questions continued throughout last week, right throughout the learning labs I facilitated with coaches attending the conference. After all, the learning labls were just a series of powerful questions that participants coached around.

Take some time and reflect on your most recent, or upcoming group coaching or group facilitation program. What powerful questions are you asking? Who is doing all the work? Who is doing the talking? How are you creating the space for participants/clients to explore their own answers?

After all...it's all in the question!

Current Trends In Learning and Development

Attending the 2007 ASTD Conference was positively stimulating and I wanted to share a bit of the "energy" created during the five days in Atlanta.

Overall, some of the main messages were that Learning and Development will continue to play an increased role in organizational success to meet the current opportunities and challenges in the business world. Whether you are a coach, trainer or facilitator, indicators say that our professions will continue to be in demand as employers grapple with the following trends:

1. The Need for Just in Time Learning - as employees become more mobile and are asked to take on more responsibilities with information flows increasing, employers are looking at opportunities to create Just in Time Learning. Whether it's mobile learning options through podcasting, or mentoring programs, just in time learning is one of the latest trends in the T and D field.

2. Inter-generational Management Issues - How do you support organizations on inter-generational management issues? There was a lot of discussion around techniques to harness the unique capabilities of the Gen Y, Gen X, and Baby Boomer generations. What challenges and opportunities are showing up in organizations that you work in.

3. Talent Shortage - With the imminent retirement of the baby boomer generation in the next five years, professionals in HR and the learning field continue to shine line on possible talent shortage and skills gaps that may occur.

4. Globalization opportunities and challenges - Globalization of business continues to be a very real trend. Organizations are continuing to place a focus on building global leadership skills, looking at how global can be local as well as at hard skill development in the areas of cross-cultural communication, global leadership competencies and team building.

It is continuing to be an exciting time working within the sphere of learning and development, with indicators that the demand and needs will continue to grow.