Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
Issue link: http://elmezine.epubxp.com/i/361952
Elearning! September / October 2014 29 Learning! 100 Organizations Among the Best the Industry Has to Offer CONGRATULATIONS TO SCRIPPS HEALTH, THE U.S. CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND 98 OTHER CUTTING-EDGE COMPANIES, AGENCIES AND NON-PROFITS. BY JERRY ROCHE What can Scripps Health, the U.S. Center for Leadership Development and other diverse private- and public-sector organizations like Cricket Wireless, WD-40, High Tech Academy and the U.S. Defense Acquisition University (DAU) have in common? Easy: Teir learning/training personnel and programs are undisputedly among the cream of the crop nationally. And this year's Learning! 100 list celebrates their excellence. Tese honors are unlike any other, in that they have a solid, research-based approach that ofers organizations a level playing feld despite size. Applicants are evaluated across three criteria: Collaborative Strategies' Col- laboration Index, Darden School's Learning Culture Index, and overall organizational performance. Tere is much to be learned from these winners and other applicants, many of whom had instituted thorough leadership training initiatives. For instance, Stan Sewitch of WD-40 notes a couple reasons why leadership training is so important: "One is that there is no substitute for quality leadership. No process, procedure, strategy or any amount of fnancial resources can succeed without leaders who are expe- rienced, capable, trustworthy, values-based and invested in providing service to the or- ganization. "Another is that we have recognized that attracting, retaining and developing our talented members is a strategic driver of our business. We methodically apply resources, people and efort to accomplishing this strate- gic objective, with metrics attached." And Stephanie VanGilder of Mercy Technology Services says: "Executive sponsorship is key to the suc- cess of any major culture shifing initiative. When senior leadership gets behind an initiative, it is a powerful motivator. Our leaders have been visible helping to change the culture of the organization. Tey have provided course suggestions and book rec- ommendations and have even helped to lead book club discussions." Brian Cooksey of Shaw Industries reveals that his company's leadership training isn't just for leaders: "We're trying to build a leadership tool- kit of diferent skills that any member of our organization on the operations side would have. We also have a relief supervi- sor program when hourly associates fll in for supervisors from time to time. Tey go through this training as well and become a pool we try to recruit from. We like to see them move into supervisory positions over time. We also have some full-time hourly leadership employees who go through train- ing and can move into the pool." Kate Kearney of Choice Logistics sug- gests methods for keeping training real, among them: >> "Make an immediate with follow-up dis- cussions afer training sessions to engage employees in a dialog about their key take-aways." >> "Develop case studies based on real situ- ations they have encountered that are related to the training topic." >> "Keep department heads in the loop, so they can help support employees." To fnd out more about how the leading companies are being so successful with their learning programs, review the list and watch for upcoming sessions, Web seminars, articles and events hosted by Elearning! magazine. Which vendors did the top learning organizations use to power enterprise performance? Access this additional information, and other resources, videos, etc. online at www.2elearning.com. Hear directly from the Learning! 100 at ELC Online on Oct. 2, 2014. Register at: http://www.2elearning.com/events SOLUTIONS POWERING THE LEARNING! 100