Unleashing the Power of the Unofficial Project Manager with Kory Kogon

In this insightful episode of Training Unleashed, host Evan Hackel is joined by Kory Kogon, Global Practice Leader at FranklinCovey and co-author of the bestselling book, Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager. Together, they dive deep into the world of project management for individuals who may not hold an official title but still manage tasks and responsibilities that significantly impact their teams and organizations. Kory shares invaluable insights into leadership, trust, communication, and the importance of executing goals effectively.

Kory also explores how FranklinCovey’s wide range of leadership development resources has helped millions of people globally, and she provides practical advice for those looking to improve their project management skills. Whether you’re leading a large corporation or organizing small tasks in your daily life, this episode provides actionable steps to achieve success.

Key Topics Discussed:
  • Project Management for the Unofficial Manager: Kory Kogon explains the concept of managing projects without a formal title and how anyone can become effective at project management with the right mindset and tools.
  • Four Key Buckets of Leadership: Kory breaks down the four essential areas FranklinCovey focuses on: Leadership Development, Individual Contribution, Trust, and Execution. She highlights how these pillars can drive organizational and personal success.
  • Building a Culture of Trust: Kory emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of trust within teams, how to foster inclusive leadership, and manage difficult conversations effectively.
  • Executing Key Goals: How to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, using FranklinCovey’s 4 Disciplines of Execution to turn high-level strategies into actionable, measurable results.
  • Impact on a Global Scale: Kory shares staggering statistics about FranklinCovey’s reach, including touching the lives of 30 million leaders in 160 countries, underscoring the global impact of effective leadership training.
  • Kory’s #1 Tip for Project Managers: Kory shares a personal and professional tip—reflect on your past successes, no matter how small, and use that confidence to tackle future projects. She also stresses the importance of building strong relationships with others to ensure project success.

Memorable Quotes:

  • “Think about your past successes… what did I do well? Use that juice to move you forward.” – Kory Kogon
  • “People prefer to be effective rather than ineffective, and they’re looking for those tools to help them.” – Evan Hackel

Resources Mentioned:

  • Book: Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager – available at all major booksellers.
  • FranklinCovey Website: Explore FranklinCovey’s wide range of leadership and personal effectiveness programs at www.franklincovey.com.
About Our Guest

Kory Kogon is FranklinCovey’s Global Practice Leader for Productivity, Leadership, and Individual Effectiveness. She has co-authored several bestselling books, including Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager. With years of experience in helping organizations change behavior and achieve results, Kory is a trusted voice in the field of leadership development.

How to Connect with Kory:

2024-10-09T12:09:23-04:00September 25, 2024|

Unleashing Retention and Development Strategies with Max Holvik

In this episode of Training Unleashed, host Evan Hackel sits down with Max Holvik, a seasoned expert in the field of training and development. Max shares his insights on the importance of training as a tool for employee retention, particularly among younger generations. They discuss the role of training in fostering a growth mindset and the value of having a structured training plan.

Key Discussion Points:

  1. Value of Training in High Turnover Environments:
    • Training as a retention tool, especially for younger employees who value growth and development opportunities.
    • The importance of engaging and career-oriented training programs to motivate employees.
  2. Generational Differences in Training Needs:
    • Younger generations’ appreciation for continuous learning and career development.
    • How companies like McDonald’s have successfully retained employees by offering comprehensive training programs.
  3. Challenges and Solutions in Employee Turnover:
    • Case study of a restaurant chain with 65% turnover and the realization that better hiring and compensation practices are essential.
    • Examples of successful companies like Costco and Chick-fil-A, which invest in their employees through better pay and career opportunities.
  4. Cost-Effectiveness of Training:
    • The economic benefits of training and retaining motivated employees versus the costs of turnover.
    • The importance of cultural fit and motivation in the effectiveness of training programs.
  5. Collaboration Between HR, Training, and Operations:
    • The need for a true partnership between HR, training departments, and operations to achieve successful outcomes.

Special Offer:

Max offers a limited-time opportunity for the first 20 listeners who reach out to receive a hard copy of “Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation,” a fundamental resource for anyone in the training industry. Contact through either company’s website or via email at [email protected].

Max Holvik emphasizes the importance of having a clear training plan and roadmap to achieve desired outcomes. His final tip is to understand the objectives and restrictions upfront to create effective training programs.

About Guest:

Max Holvik is the founder of two companies: Training Systems Design and Learning Staff. Training Systems Design specializes in creating custom training solutions for large corporations, having developed over 1,000 courses. Learning Staff provides staff augmentation services, offering professional learning personnel to clients on a short-term basis.

How to Connect with Mike Skrypnek:
Additional Media:

2024-08-07T11:28:21-04:00August 7, 2024|

Unleashing Transformative Leadership: Insights from Sue Bingham

In the latest episode of the Training Unleashed podcast, hosted by Evan Hackel, we had the pleasure of hearing from Sue Bingham, founder of HPWP Group. Sue shared invaluable insights into the world of leadership development and training, shedding light on her approach to transforming workplace cultures and empowering leaders.

The Philosophy of HPWP

HPWP stands for High Performance Workplace, a philosophy that Sue and her team have been championing for over 25 years. Their mission is to help organizations create environments where trust, respect, and positive assumptions about people drive performance and engagement. Sue emphasizes that most people are inherently good and, when treated with trust and respect, will reciprocate those values in their work.

Transformative Leadership Training

Sue’s approach to leadership training is both innovative and deeply human. HPWP Group’s flagship program is designed to be highly experiential, filled with stories, exercises, and experiences that genuinely transform participants. Sue recounted instances where initially resistant managers, attending reluctantly, left with profound insights and sometimes even tears of gratitude, wishing they had learned these principles earlier in their careers.

Real Impact Beyond the Workplace

One of the most striking aspects of Sue’s training is its impact beyond the workplace. Participants often report that the principles they learn improve their personal relationships, including those with their spouses and children. This holistic impact underscores the importance of positive leadership and human-centric training in all areas of life.

Unique Offerings and Collaboration

Sue highlighted two key offerings from HPWP Group:

  1. In-House Workshops: These are tailored specifically for individual companies, ensuring all leaders within the organization can benefit from the training.
  2. Open Leadership Workshops: These sessions bring together leaders from different organizations, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and solutions. This collaborative environment allows participants to learn from each other’s challenges and successes.
Training Made Simple

In a generous offer to the podcast audience, Sue introduced “Training Made Simple,” a virtual program designed for those responsible for training within their organizations but who may lack formal training in this area. This program guides participants through a structured process to develop effective training programs, incorporating collaboration and feedback to enhance the learning experience.

How to Access the Free Training Program

Sue is offering “Training Made Simple” for free to listeners of the Training Unleashed podcast. To take advantage of this opportunity, simply email Sue at [email protected]. While HPWP Group’s website, www.hpwpgroup.com, is undergoing updates, you can still find valuable information and contact details there.

A Powerful Closing Tip

Sue’s parting advice to the audience was profound: “Believe that the vast majority of people are good people. Operate off of positive assumptions more than negative assumptions. Positive assumptions will drive us to treat people with trust, and thus receive trust in return.” Evan Hackel echoed this sentiment, adding his personal philosophy of leading with love, which he finds foundational to building trust and fostering positive relationships.

About Our Guest

For more than 30 years, Sue, a former Human Resources Executive, has provided direction to companies in the transportation & logistics, pharmaceutical, aerospace, food, bottling, floral, optical, textile and medical device industries.

She has worked closely with company leaders to analyze their organizations and facilitate the implementation of common-sense systems that have a positive impact on the organization’s bottom line. She is an expert at effectively using culture to form a common language across global operations leading to greater collaboration, higher levels of team member satisfaction and increased business unit cooperation.

Her passion is helping companies embrace and transition to high-performance work environments.

2024-06-07T13:30:58-04:00June 12, 2024|

Unleashing the Future of Learning: Exploring Extended Reality (XR) with Richard Adair

In a recent enlightening podcast conversation, we had the pleasure of speaking with Richard from the Learning Network, uncovering the dynamic landscape of Extended Reality (XR) technologies and their profound impact on learning and development. From fire extinguisher training to electric vehicle instruction, XR isn’t just revolutionizing industries; it’s reshaping the way we perceive and engage with learning.

Embracing the Reality: XR Technologies Today

Gone are the days of XR being confined to the realm of science fiction. Richard emphasized that XR is not merely a vision of the future; it’s a present-day reality. With XR technologies becoming increasingly accessible and affordable, organizations are leveraging them to drive tangible business outcomes. The conversation highlighted how XR is democratizing training, offering immersive experiences that transcend traditional learning methodologies.

From Fire Extinguishers to Electric Vehicles: Real-world Applications of XR

The podcast illuminated a myriad of real-world applications for XR technologies. From optimizing fire extinguisher training to enhancing electric vehicle technician instruction, XR is proving to be a game-changer across diverse sectors. By creating engaging and interactive simulations, organizations are not only improving learning outcomes but also driving cost savings and enhancing safety standards.

Unleashing Learning Potential with Performance XR Analytics

One of the most intriguing topics discussed was the potential of Performance XR Analytics. By harnessing data collected from XR experiences, organizations can gain invaluable insights into training effectiveness, user behavior, and ergonomic efficiency. This data-driven approach enables adaptive learning strategies, enhances curriculum design, and maximizes training outcomes, ushering in a new era of personalized learning experiences.

About Our Guest

Richard is a visionary leader with extensive experience in the learning and development industry. As the driving force behind The Learning Network, Richard brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. With a passion for leveraging cutting-edge technology to revolutionize training methods, Richard has spearheaded initiatives in XR technology, transforming how organizations approach learning. His forward-thinking approach and dedication to excellence have earned him recognition as a trailblazer in the field. Join us as Richard shares insights, strategies, and success stories in this insightful podcast episode.

2024-05-15T10:54:59-04:00May 15, 2024|

Unleashing the Art of Interviewing: Insights from Jordan Burton

In the dynamic world of talent acquisition, the interview process stands as a crucial gateway to identifying exceptional individuals who can contribute meaningfully to an organization’s success. Jordan Burton, an expert in interviewing and assessments shared valuable insights on everything from navigating interview questions to post-interview development strategies

Shifting Perspectives: From Good vs. Bad to Data Gathering

Jordan Burton challenged the conventional wisdom of categorizing interview responses as “good” or “bad.” Instead, he emphasized viewing interviews as data gathering exercises, where the focus should be on extracting meaningful information rather than passing judgment on the responses. With this Evan Hackel expressed his struggle with maintaining objectivity during interviews, admitting his inclination to root for every candidate. Burton emphasized the importance of approaching interviews with curiosity and objectivity, aiming to gather factual information rather than forming subjective impressions.

Interviewer Skills: Navigating the Conversation

Burton emphasized the importance of interviewer skills in managing dialogue effectively, guiding candidates to provide concrete examples and avoiding subjective biases. Its the responsibility of the interviewer to create a balance between keeping interviewees comfortable so that the interviewee is open and willing to talk and open up during the process. Burton emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment for candidates to share authentically.

Leveraging Interview Insights for Development

Burton speaks that there is always a broken aspect to the interview process in most companies. Either it is undervalued or underused. He emphasizes the missed opportunity of not leveraging interview insights for employee development, advocating for using interview data to tailor development plans and support employees’ success in their roles.

About Our Guest

Jordan Burton is an executive assessor and interviewing trainer with over 17 years of experience. He specializes in training top VC and Private Equity investors and high-growth companies on how to hire the best talent. Jordan is a co-founder of Talgo (Talent algorithm), it’s of cracking the code on getting exceptional talent into your organization. Check out Talgo on Demand by visiting talgo.io or talgo.io/tod to get first hand advice and lessons in the art and mastery of the interviewing process no matter your level. You don’t need to be an Exec. to take advantage of this resource!

2024-04-19T15:01:10-04:00April 17, 2024|
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