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Mismanagement: “management that is careless or inefficient.”
Check out your favorite news source and you’ll see this term used in nearly every context: BP ‘mismanaged’ the oil spill clean up, the Vatican ‘mismanaged’ children’s rights, the economy has been ‘mismanaged’, the military has been ‘mismanaged’, NBC ‘mismanaged’ the Tonight Show, Arlington Cemetery has been ‘mismanaged’, the Iowa Film Office was ‘mismanaged’, and the list could go on.
The ‘mismanagement’ term is often used a bit loosely. It’s generally from an outsider observing a situation who says something like: “That was so mismanaged; *I* could’ve done better than they did.” In this context, the term is more an expression of frustration with what they believe they saw while also revealing a lack of knowledge in what went on behind the scenes. But however it is defined, seeing something labeled ‘mismanaged’ prompts most people to develop a negative impression toward it and anyone associated with it.
So it may be wise for those of us who work as part of a training department in the business sector to give this some thought. We all know that perception becomes reality; so do the business partners we support ever look at us with the ‘mismanagement’ term in mind? Naturally, our initial reaction is to resist that idea; but let’s step back for a moment and consider how it might be possible. In their world, if:
· they have a task that needs done, it generally needs done right away, and it will be timed or measured to verify efficiency. Do they see that in us? Or do they perceive us as avoiding setting firm deadlines, resisting quantitative measurement of training results, or seeming to require too much time to develop ‘simple’ training? Are we communicating effectively our own desire to be accountable to the same types of standards they are measured on?
· a problem or wrinkle arises in a process, they seek to address it as quickly as possible with an eye on minimizing impact. Do they feel we share those concerns? Or do they perceive us as the ones who pull their people away from work, who drag out implementing ‘obvious’ solutions, or make a ‘bigger deal’ than necessary out of the issue? Are we communicating effectively to them that we understand their logistical constraints and that we recognize the demands placed upon them?
· something needs done, they will assign responsibility for it and take care of it. Do they see the same clarity in the solutions we bring to them? Or do they perceive us to be the ones who complicate matters through a mountain of PowerPoint slides, job aids, scheduled classes and more; all while asking them to review, approve, and sign-off on each step? Are we communicating effectively our support of their efforts and our desire to assure what is offered to them meets the immediate and long-term needs so as to maximize the effectiveness of the materials that are prepared?
Mismanagement, as it tends to be used, really is far more of a perception based on the frustration felt by the person using the term. Do our business partners feel like we truly are ‘partners’ with them to help them be successful? Do they see in us those who provide support and help? Do they perceive us as demonstrating business acumen in recognizing the realities of the business pressures they face?
Today’s business environment requires effective training to keep current more than ever before. It is important to our success, as Workplace Learning and Performance professionals, that our business partners see us as diligent, efficient, and competent in our support of their efforts. We can no longer achieve that by simply demonstrating our training skills; we MUST demonstrate our understanding of the business and the realities those business partners face. Taking proactive steps to strengthen such relationships will allow us to be seen as partners; consultants with whom they appreciate working. Failure to address these issues head on may result in negative tags (such as ‘mismanagement’) being assigned to us; and once it’s there, it’s very hard to overcome. Paul Smith VP Strategic Partnerships |
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I recall my first car - a 1980 Pontiac Grand Prix. AM/FM radio, power-steering and a motor. I was fifteen years old so I wasn’t exactly concerned about the technological advances and amenities of the car. In fact, all I was concerned with was that it had four wheels and was operational. Looking back over the years it’s amazing to see how cars have evolved. Today our vehicles have power everything, surround sound, DVD players, MP3 outlets, seat warmers...I could go on, but I think you get the point. The purpose of the vehicle today, however, ultimately has the same goal my first car had: to get me from point A to point B. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the experience. Training is no different. Training yesteryear may ultimately have had the same purpose as training today, but the technology, the methods, and instruments used today look and feel very different. Quite frankly, training has evolved. That’s why I’m so excited about this year’s Trainer’s Institute. This year the Trainer’s Institute team worked extremely hard to find speakers and topics that go beyond the basic 1980 Grand Prix everybody has driven the past thirty twenty years. Our goal was to put together a program that could really showcase the latest and greatest the training industry has to offer with topics ranging from Brain-Based learning to Emerging Technologies, to Pecha Kutcha Presentations. It’s neat to see how our industry has evolved. Don’t take my word for it, however. I encourage you to see for yourself. Go ahead and take our program for a spin! I’m confident once you do, you’ll never look back. Hope to see you all there! BJ Deever
VP Professional Development |
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ROGUISH BEHAVIOR! Networking memoirs! Spring is here, everyone is getting out of the house, skipping out of work sooner, taking longer lunches and breaks and actually exercising more. The sun is shining, the grass is starting to turn green, annual plants are appearing from the ground and people are on the move. It’s time for everyone to get moving, and getting outside to network with others. Monthly chapter meetings are an excellent source to network. So far, we have held two chapter meetings with average attendance around 49 per month. In 2009 the average monthly attendance was 48, so this slight increase is encouraging at the start of the year. Successful chapter meetings happen when people attend to network and learn. This year Networking (made up of 9 committee members) has implemented several roguish ideas. First, we attempted to hold a January chapter meeting, however due to inclement weather we had to cancel. Lesson learned….maybe there was a reason why January chapter meetings haven’t been so popular in the past! Second, we are going to host a chapter meeting in the late afternoon. That’s right! Coming in July we will be holding a chapter meeting to provide networking opportunism as an after-work event. Attendees will be able to listen to a very special guest, Terrence Donahue, present a snapshot of “Making Training Stick” on Thursday, July 8, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. We will then offer networking activities until 6:00 p.m. at another a location. The program “The Case of The Teflon Trainee” will be held the following day from 8:00 to 12:00. Another rogue move this year has been the attempt to sell books at the chapter meetings that relate to the meeting topic and/or other related career topics. We have also sold recycled Training & Development magazines. All proceeds go directly to the Central Iowa ASTD Chapter. Networking is still exploring the possibility of offering at least one SIG (Special Interest Group) discussion this year. If you have any interest in starting a SIG with me or have ideas on a topic I would love to hear from you. If you are unfamiliar with SIGs, I would be glad to help you with that, too. I look forward to network with all members. If you are interested in networking, consider joining the networking committee as we will begin planning 2011 late August. Another option is to greet guests at a monthly chapter meeting. Greeting guests is only a 30-minute commitment for those who hate to make long term commitments. Believe me, I understand! If you have even the slightest interest in getting involved with the chapter, please contact me or any other board member to get involved today. I guarantee you will have fun! Enjoy the SPRING – Make It a Roguish Season! 
Penny Galbreath
VP, Networking
networking@astdiowa.org Follow me on Facebook. Register to attend July events:
Chapter Meeting http://cimakingtrainingstick.eventbrite.com/ Program Event http://ciastdteflontrainee.eventbrite.com/ |
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Programming is a great benefit to being involved with ASTD-CI. We take so much time out of our lives to provide learning opportunities for everyone else. 2010 is your opportunity to take time for yourself. What better way, than through our own professional development? We LOVE learning! In fact, we’re your ideal audience, because we are excited at the first word of getting to attend a workshop…why can’t everyone else be like us? There is a blog focused entirely around ASTD-CI Programming, and I hope you’ll visit it, become a member of the blog, participate in the discussions, take the polls, etc. It’s designed for you, and your interaction and feedback will continue to help shape future ASTD-CI Programs. It’s found at www.astdiowaprograms.blogspot.com. This site will give more information on the Trio Package you hear so much about (it really is as great as everyone says), and connect you with others like you in this association. Rather than detail what’s new with Programming here, I’m just asking you to jump out to that blog. You’ll find it all there, and more. But here, let’s get a discussion going. 1. What is the most memorable ASTD-CI Programming event you’ve ever attended? Why? 2. If we could invite any one to ASTD-CI for a Program, who would you most like to see. Why? Share your thoughts on the programming blog, and see what others think. Jennifer Chittenden
VP, Programming |
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It Is Brave to Be Involved |
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 “It is brave to be involved.” – Gwendolyn Brooks
It’s a new year, which means new resolutions and plans, new calendars, and for Central Iowa ASTD, a new group of board members. I’m excited to start my year as President with such a great group of individuals. Carol Dawson (VP, Communication), Penny Galbreath (VP, Networking) and Jennifer Chittenden (VP, Programming) are all entering the second year of their respective roles. Last year Carol and her team worked on improving our website and revamping our bi-weekly e-mail. Penny and her team’s work gave us some of our highest chapter meeting attendance, and a 43.5% increase over last year’s overall meeting attendance. Jennifer and her team rolled out the innovative Trio Package approach to our programming offerings (be sure to click here for details on the 2010 Trio Package!) as well as collaborated with the local SHRM chapter to provide an additional program for our membership. And those are only the highlights of 2009 for these three leaders!
B.J. Deever joins the team this year in the role of VP, Professional Development and is already hard at work planning our annual Trainer’s Institute. Rick Howard is our new VP, Membership and we will be looking to him and his team to lead us as we continue to work to grow our membershp and engage our current members.
Paul Smith moved out of his Past-President role into a new board role, VP, Strategic Partnerships. For more details on Paul’s role, and the Sharing Our Success award our chapter has already received as a result, check out the January/February 2010 PIPELINE. Angela Siegfried and Dennis Michener, Past President and President-Elect respectively, round out our board and bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to help us all be successful this year.
We are currently looking for a VP, Finance. If you have any interest in joining this great group of board members, please let me know at president@astdiowa.org as soon as possible.
Our focus this year is threefold:
1. Membership Engagement
2. Back to the Basics
3. Financial Health
What does that mean? First of all, it means we will be focusing on finding ways to get you, our membership, more involved and excited about the opportunities in our chapter. Part of the way we’ll do this is by getting “back to the basics.” To us, that means making sure that we’re doing well the activities that make our chapter run. For example, we will continue to provide strong programming and monthly meetings, and make sure you have the communication you need to be involved. We can’t ask you to be brave without doing so ourselves, so you will see us try some new things, too.
We believe this focus will lead us to strong financial health. Even in this difficult economy, our chapter’s financial health has remained solid because of our board’s hard work keeping our eye to the bottom line. We’d like to increase our financial strength so that we feel comfortable taking risks in the years to come. That will enable us to offer even more valuable professional development opportunities to you.
The 2010 board will work to expand volunteer involvement and membership communication – so don’t be surprised if you get an e-mail, phone call, or postcard in the mail throughout the year from one or more of us. We’ll just be checking in to see how your membership experience is going and if there’s anything we can do to make it better for you. Don’t wait to hear from us, though, if you have comments or suggestions – instead, I challenge you to be involved.
As Gwendolyn Brooks says, “It’s brave to be involved.” I encourage each of you to be brave and become more involved with Central Iowa ASTD in 2010. Be sure to check out the rest of the website for upcoming events, and if you’re interested in volunteering, please contact any of our board members, including myself.
A happy 2010 to you!
Lacey Schmidt, President |
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I Like to Move It, Move It! |
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President’s Blog “I LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT
HE LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT
SHE LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT
YOU LIKE TO, MOVE IT!”…Sacha Baron Cohen Welcome to the unveiling of our new website. My work team tells me I relate everything to a song. Mind you, I rarely know names of songs, all the lyrics and definitely not who sings it. But, when I think of what we are unveiling to you in relation to our new website, I really do believe this was the team’s theme song. They moved our existing site from typical to cutting edge. It was a very long process but the outcome, as you probably notice, was well worth it! I would like to recognize Carol Dawson and Lacey Schmidt as well as their respective teams for the time, effort and dedication they have provided to make this site what it is today. We have taken this to a whole new level and we’ve done so because of you! As you become comfortable with the offerings the team has created, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Please share them! “To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn And a time for every purpose under Heaven.” - The Byrds I mentioned in our State of the Chapter meeting that our strategy will remain intact again this year. Same focus, same commitment, nothing will change. We will continue to focus on: Engaging our members, focusing on growth and retention of our membership, increasing brand recognition and remaining fiscally sound. However, just like the seasons, we too need to turn, turn, turn! 2009 will be an exciting year for changes and I can’t wait to share them with you. Over the next few months I will focus on each of the new offerings listed below more specifically but I wanted to provide a brief overview of what changes you will soon be experiencing. This year we as a board are more focused than ever on YOU, our members. We know that 2009 may bring challenges to you both personally and professionally. With the economy as it is today and the emphasis to explain our value as learning professionals, it is critical we pack this site with resources to help you. To do that we will continue to take your feedback and create offerings that are worthwhile and practical. Ø President’s Chat---I have made it my goal to meet every member this year. To accomplish this, I am hosting periodic 30-minute open forums for us to chat. Look for an invite from me this year! Ø Quick Polls—looking for some quick research results, or just have a question you would love to have answered? Email communication@astdiowa.org to have it added to our site. Ø Membership Drive Incentive program—Recruit your peers and friends to join ASTD Central Iowa and/or ASTD National to qualify for valuable rewards Ø Lunch Bunches—at our first meeting of the year members voiced ideas around best practices. We are creating lunch bunches around the metro to allow you to gain insight and new ideas from your fellow WLP friends. Ø Advanced Trainers Institute Ø Volunteer opportunities abound—Looking for a development opportunity for a specific skill and can’t get it at work? Check out what might help you meet your goals through volunteering in the Chapter. Ø New Big Bucks program will roll this yearØ New sponsorship and advertising plan Ø Relearning learning modules Ø Book Club! Angela |
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Board Talk Blog 
