A blog about the strategic advantage of Instructional Design

From Order Taker to Business Partner

4/3/2022

In this episode, we are joined by Tara Cohn. Tara is a Director at Wipfli, a Data Storyteller, and Analytics Translator! Together we discuss how to go from order takers to business partners, helping stakeholders & L&D identify and measure outcomes, and telling a better story with data that inspires the business to take action.

Take Aways

Understanding over efficiency. Don't be afraid to ask questions and really understand the needs of a project request. Take the time to think through how to empower and support your colleagues. It may seem like a waste of time but this information can mean all the difference to the success of your project.
Educate your peers. Don't expect your colleagues to know the intricacies of your process and how they relate to positive outcomes. Time spent educating your organization on what you do, the value you bring, and the what it takes to get there, will help you to build a brand at your organization.
Speak in plain language. Have discussions at the business level vs. technical level. Ask questions such as "what does good look like"? "What does it mean if something is failing"? "How would we know that"? Then move backwards from there to more technical needs. This gets us beyond looking only at metrics and understanding the process more thoroughly to find better solutions.
Use industry standards and benchmarks to fill in any data blanks!
Own your data! When selecting vendors, make sure you own and can access your data!
Build relationships. Get to know your peers and stakeholders! Relationships are the most important thing for L&D and BI Data & Analytics.
Build your acumen. Learn how your organization functions. What does success for your company look like? How does that happen in every area of our organization? How can you align your efforts together to make that happen? Shadow team members, if you have the opportunity.

Donors Choose

Photo by Kuanish Reymbaev on Unsplash

This episode supports Ms. Patterson's, DonorsChoose project How to Sell Your Dragon (Hoodies). Join me to help children in New York, NY go on some amazing field trips!

Listen to their award winning Dragon Kids podcast!

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Digital Adoption With Steffaney Zohrabyan

2/19/2022

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In this episode, we interview Steffaney Zohrabyan a Digital Sales Enablement Leader and Host of The Digital Adopter Series. Together we discuss the value of digital adoption platforms (DAP), how digital adoption efforts differ from training, and how to make the case for digital adoption tools and processes at your organization.

Take Aways

What's the intent? Take the time to learn the business reasons behind investment in technology. It can help you to understand how to best support it.
Define success at the employee level. How can users to get the most value out of the platform? That’s when you start to get buy-in.
Believe in your solution! Be courageous when proposing a new tool like a DAP. Take the time to understand the scope of digital adoption and be an advocate!

Donors Choose

Ms. Edwards

This episode supports Ms. Edwards, DonorsChoose project Classroom Technology! Join me to help children in Harrisburg, PA access technology!

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Grow Your L&D Brand Like a Product Marketer

9/20/2021

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What does it mean to be an evangelist for training? Get inspired about learning with Zach Napolitano, Product Marketing Director at Splash (SplashThat.com).

Take aways

Treat your learners like a customer: Commit to creating compelling content that's worth their time. Satisfied customers will evangelize your services!
Be data driven: Measure your efforts, don't be afraid of the results. Welcome feedback from learners and stakeholders.
Market your services: Your learning product should always be in motion and evolving. Market your LMS, content, programs, etc. Go on a roadshow!
Training isn't always the answer: Overly complex products and customer confusion with a product may not be a training issue. It might be a product problem.

Check us out on istrainingtheanswer.com, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

DonorsChoose
As part of my own personal development I'm donating one dollar for every filler word I speak in an episode. I tried this out with my last public speaking event and ended up closing one DonorsChoose project and supporting another work towards completion.

This episode helped to complete Calculate to Educate, a project by Mrs. Smith.

"Most of my students have learning disabilities, and are reading below grade level. For this reason they are in inclusion classes that are co-taught by both the regular education teacher and myself, the learning support teacher. We are allotted 3 enrichment class periods a week to work on the skills that they need extra work with."

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About Me

Engaging people leader and accomplished Instructional Designer with over 15 years of experience creating effective learning solutions and building innovative learning teams.

John Parsell

From Order Taker to Business Partner

Digital Adoption With Steffaney Zohrabyan

Grow Your L&D Brand Like a Product Marketer

About Me

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