<p>SkillSoft is a leading provider of e-learning and performance support programs and services. The company provides comprehensive e-learning content, online information resources, and learning technologies for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses.</p>
<p>I am delighted to be partnering with <a href="http://www.skillsoft.com/">SkillSoft</a> and providing the keynote presentation at their October 14 conference at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel. There’s no charge for attending the full day conference also featuring presentations on e-learning from Open Text, Toyota Canada, Overwaitea Food Group, MD Physician Services, and KPMG. It’s a great chance to hear from leading edge organizations on how they’re applying leading edge learning technologies. Go to <a href="http://perspectives.skillsoft.com/2010canada/index.asp?id=welcome/">Perspectives Canada</a> for more information and no-charge registration.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.skillsoft.com/">SkillSoft</a> provides powerful online tools and services. As with all improvement tools and change programs, moving them from bolt-on to built-in. My keynote presentation is entitled <em>Culture and Leadership Development for Online Learning</em>. I’ll start by illustrating the Partial Improvement Programs and Pieces issue focused on in my last blog (Lasting Culture Change Means Going Beyond Passionate Lip Service to Involved Leadership.)</p>
<p>Years ago I was talking with a training professional about the disjointed development programs their company executives were bombarding the organization with. Here’s how he framed the challenge:</p>
<p><em>“We’ve had recurring cycles of leadership development, learning programs, and culture change initiatives. We’re constantly setting strategies and new action plans.<br />
But we seldom see anything through to completion before we launch yet another new initiative. We seem to operate by ‘random brain impulse’ and “HBR management.”<br />
We’re like nervous water bugs with ADD that frantically flit from one new program to another.”</em></p>
<p>Clearly there aren’t any quick and easy fixes to the deeply rooted leadership and culture issues that move beyond lip service to involved leadership and ultimately integration. In my presentation I’ll explain, illustrate, and challenge learning professionals to step up and step out to apply these six key practices for building stronger cultures for their learning tools, programs, and services:</p>
<ol>
<li>Coach/Develop Your Top Management Team to Better Balance Technical, Management, and Leadership</li>
<li>Have/Foster Courageous Conversations to Address the Moose-on-the-Table</li>
<li>Model and Facilitate Two-Way Communication versus Information Dumps</li>
<li>Pull the Pieces Together with an Integrated and Strategic Approach Linked to Critical Organizational Goals</li>
<li>Search for Systemic/Root Causes and Teach Holistic/Strategic Thinking to Recurring Learning Issues</li>
<li>Build-in Higher Flexibility and Change Adaptability with Shared Leadership at All Levels</li>
</ol>
<p>Everyone attending this conference will also get a complimentary copy of my book <em><a href="http://www.jimclemmer.com/the-leaders-digest-timeless-principles-for-team-and-organization-success.php">The Leader’s Digest</a> </em>provided by SkillSoft. And there’s even a free lunch! I hope to see you there!</p>
