ASSESSING TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS

ASSESSING TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS often entails using the four-level model developed by Donald Kirkpatrick. According to this model, evaluation should always begin with level one, and then, as time and budget allows, should move sequentially through levels two, three, and four. Information from each prior level serves as a base for the next level's evaluation. Thus, each successive level represents a more precise measure of the effectiveness of the training program, but at the same time requires a more rigorous and time-consuming analysis.

Level 1 Evaluation - Reactions

Just as the word implies, evaluation at this level measures how participants in a training program react to it. It attempts to answer questions regarding the participants' perceptions - Did they like it? Was the material relevant to their work? This type of evaluation is often called a “smilesheet.” According to Kirkpatrick, every program should at least be evaluated at this level to provide for the improvement of a training program. In addition, the participants' reactions have important consequences for learning (level two). Although a positive reaction does not guarantee learning, a negative reaction almost certainly reduces its possibility.

Level 2 Evaluation - Learning

Assessing at this level moves the evaluation beyond learner satisfaction and attempts to assess the extent students have advanced in skills, knowledge, or attitude. Measurement at this level is more difficult and laborious than level one. Methods range from formal to informal testing to team assessment and self-assessment. If possible, participants take the test or assessment before the training (pretest) and after training (post test) to determine the amount of learning that has occurred.

Level 3 Evaluation - Transfer

This level measures the transfer that has occurred in learner's behavior due to the training program. Evaluating at this level attempts to answer the question - Are the newly acquired skills, knowledge, or attitude being used in the everyday environment of the learner? For many trainers this level represents the truest assessment of a program's effectiveness. However, measuring at this level is difficult as it is often impossible to predict when the change in behavior will occur, and thus requires important decisions in terms of when to evaluate, how often to evaluate, and how to evaluate.

Level 4 Evaluation- Results

Frequently thought of as the bottom line, this level measures the success of the program in terms that managers and executives can understand -increased production, improved quality, decreased costs, reduced frequency of accidents, increased sales, and even higher profits or return on investment. From a business and organizational perspective, this is the overall reason for a training program, yet level four results are not typically addressed. Determining results in financial terms is difficult to measure, and is hard to link directly with training.

For more information you can click this link...http://www.businessballs.com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel.htm

Contributed by Arvee Veloso

Why Sleep Is So Important

by Anne Field

Many hard-charging managers pride themselves on their ability to work long hours and get by on 5 or 6 hours of sleep. But the truth is that they're shortchanging themselves -- and their companies.

"Sleep is not a luxury," says Dr. James O'Brien, medical director of the Boston SleepCare Center in Waltham, Mass. "It's a necessity for optimal functioning."

When you sleep, your brain catalogues the previous day's experiences, primes your memory, and triggers the release of hormones regulating energy, mood, and mental acuity. To complete its work, the brain needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep. When it gets less, your concentration, creativity, mood regulation, and productivity all take a hit.

How sleep works

To understand why the right amount of shut-eye is so important to performance, it helps to know how sleep works.

Healthy sleep is divided into four-stage cycles. As we progress through stages 1 and 2, we become increasingly unplugged from the world until we reach the deep sleep that happens in stage 3. In deep sleep, both brain and body activity drop to their lowest point during the cycle, and blood is redirected from the brain to muscles.

The fourth and final stage is named for the rapid eye movement -- REM -- that is its defining characteristic. Our brains become busily active in REM sleep, too, even more so than when we are awake. Dreaming happens during this stage.

In a full night's sleep, we experience three or four such cycles, each lasting 60 to 90 minutes.

The work sleep does

Different yet equally important restorative work happens during deep sleep (stage 3) and REM sleep (stage 4).

Deep sleep is crucial for physical renewal, hormonal regulation, and growth. Without deep sleep, you're more likely to get sick, feel depressed, and gain an unhealthy amount of weight. According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2008 Sleep in America poll, those who sleep less than 6 hours per night on workdays are significantly more likely to be obese than those who sleep 8 hours or more (41% vs. 28%).

In REM sleep -- stage 4 in the sleep cycle -- the brain processes and synthesizes memories and emotions, activity that is crucial for learning and higher-level thought. A lack of REM sleep results in slower cognitive and social processing, problems with memory, and difficulty concentrating. The same 2008 sleep poll found that people who sleep less than 6 hours per night during the workweek are twice as likely as their better-rested colleagues to report difficulty in concentrating.

A deficit in sleep leads to deficits in work performance

Performing complex tasks and navigating complicated relationships -- the heart and soul of a manager's work -- both become much harder to do when REM sleep suffers. And when you cut back on sleep, your REM sleep suffers the most.

There are two reasons for this:
Your brain, when confronted with sleep deprivation, opts for lighter sleep and hence less REM sleep.

Later sleep cycles tend to have longer REM periods than cycles earlier in the night. When you sleep through only one or two cycles instead of three or four, your REM sleep is disproportionately affected.

When your brain is starved of REM sleep, concentrating on a single activity is challenging. Multitasking -- an inescapable bane of managerial work -- becomes exponentially more so.

A deficit of REM sleep also makes it tougher to pick up on nuances in discussions or negotiations.

"When you're trying to understand the subtext of what someone is saying, your brain needs to use a bunch of programs at the same time," says Dr. Gandis Mazeika, head of Sleep Medicine Northwest in Seattle. "If you're sleep deprived, that's hard to do."

In addition, recent research shows that sleep deprivation takes a toll on decision-making ability.

Getting more from the sleep you get

Given the demands facing managers today -- working in a 24/7, always-on environment is a big one -- a full night's sleep is sometimes an impossible dream. Fortunately, there are ways to get more out of the time you do manage to spend in sleep:

Avoid caffeine. Cut out caffeinated coffee, tea, and soda ideally 10 hours before bedtime -- and chocolate, too. When you sleep, make it a commitment.

Try to nod off quickly. To fall asleep fast, you can occasionally use a sleeping supplement. But be careful. For example, the much-prescribed Ambien is specifically for sleeping seven to eight hours. If you don't have that much time, don't use it. Although some antidepressants can help you feel drowsy enough to fall asleep, they also tend to compromise REM, says Dr. O'Brien. A more healthful approach for some is to meditate a half-hour before hitting the bed.

Darken the room completely. Your brain creates a hormone called melatonin that senses when it's dark out and primes you for sleep. If you try to sleep amid too much light, your brain may decide you're not ready for bedtime after all. So turn off the TV, shut down the computer, turn the clock to the wall, and close the blinds tightly. Use an eye mask if you're sleeping during the daytime.

Sleep in a restful environment. Make sure the room is quiet and your BlackBerry is out of hearing range. Sleep on a comfortable mattress; Dr. Mazeika advises you get a new one every five to 10 years.

Exploit the power of power naps

Don't forget that brief day-time naps can be helpful. If at all possible, close your office door (if you have one) and try to doze for 10 to 20 minutes.

"Power naps are real and help you feel refreshed," says Dr. O'Brien.

But keep the naps short, he warns. With a longer nap, you're likely to wake up while in deep sleep and feel worse than before. It can take up to 30 minutes to feel fully alert after awakening from deep sleep.

By keeping your nap to 10-20 minutes, you should be able to achieve stage 2 in the sleep cycle and wake up energized rather than groggy. A short power nap should provide enough of a boost to keep your performance going strong the rest of the day -- and is more effective (as well as healthier) than a cup of coffee.

From: Harvard Business Publishing
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/hmu/2009/01/why-sleep-is-so-important.html

Contributed by Cheq C. Navarro

Build Your Self Confidence Like a Leader

By Marshall Goldsmith

What can I do to build my confidence in my capabilities as a leader?

You won't get to the top without self-confidence; to build it, you have to believe in yourself. Don't worry about being perfect — put up a brave front and do the best you can. That's it in a nutshell.

Here are some suggestions about how you can build your self-confidence:




1. Don't worry about being perfect. There are never right or wrong answers to complex business decisions. The best that you can do as a leader is to gather all of the information that you can (in a timely manner), do a cost-benefit analysis of potential options, use your best judgment — and then go for it.

2. Learn to live with failure. Great salespeople are the ones who get rejected the most often. They just ask for the order more than the other salespeople. You are going to make mistakes. You are human. Learn from these mistakes and move on.

3. After you make the final decision — commit! Don't continually second-guess yourself. Great leaders communicate with a sense of belief in what they are doing and with positive expectations toward the achievement of their vision.

4. Show courage on the outside — even if you don't always feel it on the inside. Everyone is afraid sometimes. If you are a leader, your direct reports will read your every expression. If you show a lack of courage, you will begin to damage your direct reports' self-confidence.

5. Find happiness and contentment in your work. Life is short. Do your best. Follow your heart. When you win, celebrate. When you lose, just start over the next day.

Contributed by Mark Liwag

Stay Slim After Saying "I Do"

by Bing Bercades


"...In sickness and in health, till death do us FAT"...

June --- the much awaited month of the bride. Before the wedding, she tries to keep her hips as trim as they were when she first visited the couturier. After she sheds the lovely wedding dress, she still hopes to keep her stunning figure.

But in reality, brides --- and grooms as well--- put on weight after saying "I do". That's an average of 11 kilos for women, and nine kilos for men after 13 years of marriage. How does marriage make you fat? Let's look at the 5 common causes ,and discover the solutions :




1.You match your mate's every bite

Ms. Mary Lou Klem of the US National Weight Control Registry says, "Many women serve themselves the same amount of food as their husbands without thinking about it." Since women are typically smaller and have less muscle mass than men, they can gain more weight than men who eat the same amount of calories.

Next time you eat together, try these strategies:

Take smaller servings, (try using a smaller plate)and eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to know that you're full.

So that you'll feel full sooner, start the meal with a cup of low-fat soup or clear broth, or drink a glass of water.

2.Your kids are picky with veggies, and your husband/ wife is a meat lover

'Seems to be the end of your dream of being sexy again, huh? Relax. You may not be able to control your husband 's / wife's food choices (and sometimes, even your kid's), but you can definitely control your own. Make sure that you have veggies and fruits, and try to cook with low-fat oil and less sugar. Serve exciting and colorful veggies or salads --- add some raisins, apples, nuts, chips/cereals ---to convince your family that nutritious doesn't necessarily mean boring.

3.You eat out a lot

Couples enjoy dining out as a form of bonding --- you can talk and enjoy each other without the distractions. Unfortunately, this can tempt you to order high-fat dishes that are popular at restaurants. The solution is simple: you can either go to places that offer healthy foods, or you can eat anything in moderation. It's all about eating the right food at the right amount.

4.Your partner tempts you

You think that your decision to lose weight thrills your spouse. But according to a psychologist, Ms. Barbara Stuart, that isn't always true. Your partner may fear that if you look more attractive, you'll find someone better looking than he/she is. Or this might mean that you'll quit eating junk food, and expect your mate to do the same. So you grow suspicious when your honey gives you a box of chocolates or your favorite junk treat.

Try to discuss this issue with your partner by having a heart-to-heart talk. While you can't expect him/her to be honest about getting insecure, offer reassurance anyway. Emphasize that your goal with your new lifestyle is to make you feel healthier and more energetic--- not to attract the opposite sex. Who knows? He might just jog with you one day !

5.You are the family's "left-over disposal" unit

Because you feel guilty about left-overs, you feel that it's your responsibility to eat them. Unless you change your mind-set, you'll end up as big as your fridge ---and that's where the leftovers belong! Just say "no" to that compulsion, and set the food aside. You can develop your culinary creativity by "recycling" clean, unconsumed food into soups and side dishes . And perhaps training your kids to take only as much as they can finish will shape not only their self-discipline, but also your waistline.

data from "Why Marriage Makes You Fat" Reader's Digest, May 2003

Quick Fix Tips

by Ahlee Licarte with the help of Cielo Villaluna

As PAL Trainers, looking one’s best is not a choice, but a necessity! As we face a variety of participants at the PAL Learning Center, walking the talk in terms of appearance and grooming is a MUST!

Woke up late because of a late night party? What happens when accidental spills happen and mess up our outfits? For most Trainers, these spells “disaster”, but….not anymore!

Here are some helpful tips that will help us maintain the professional look:

Spills on clothes




Use Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover. Designed as an all-in-one stain removal system for fresh food and drink stains, it really cleans up. Use it on coffee stains, ketchup faux pas, and more. Without requiring water, this product can get stains out and let you get on with your day.

Puffy eye bags and dark circles

Use Garnier Light Brightening Eye Roll-on. This product is an eye innovation. It has refreshing caffeine gel that instantly deflate puffy eye bags and diminishes dark circles.

Oily face



Use Clean & Clear Oil Control Film, considered to be one of the best beauty products ever invented. You can instantly blot away the shine on your face with just one film.

Tired-looking face



Use Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz from The Body Shop. This product works best if you want to invigorate your skin and senses with a refreshing, fragrant spray that tones and hydrates.

Zits and scars




Our female trainers recommend The Body Shop Concealer. It effectively camouflage blemishes, scars and redness. This product has light reflective particles that instantly brighten skin and reduce appearance of fine lines.

Frizzy hair



Try Bench Fix Shine On Anti-Frizz Hair Mist. It’s an anti-frizz hairstyling crème that contains protein ingredients which provide softness and shine. Apart from being easy on the pocket, it conditions dry hair and tames frizzy and fly-away hair.

Unpolished Shoes



Glide the Kiwi Express Shine Sponge on your shoes…a fast, no buff, no hassle way to shine your shoes. In less than a minute your shoes will be clean and you will be looking sharp before you know it.

A Mule's Tale

A farmer owned an old mule. One day the mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule braying, or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.



After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the mule was hysterical. But as the people continued shovelling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him.

He decided that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he should shake it off and step up onto it. This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up. Shake it off and step up. Shake it off and step up" he repeated to encourage himself.

No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up. It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well.

What seemed like it would bury him actually blessed him, all because of the perspective from which he viewed his adversity.



Source: www.motivational-well-being.com
Contributed by Mark Liwag

How Do We Adapt to Change?

In today’s corporate change, job security is a thing of the past. While we must face the fact that change is inevitable, we should also realize that many changes are positive and benefit both the individual and the company.



“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”—Jimmy Dean

There are four stages a person goes through when confronted with change. Depending
on how major the change is, you can spend minutes, hours, weeks -- even months -- in any one stage. The four stages are:

1. Denial (a "business as usual" attitude)
2. Resistance (increased stress accompanied by decreased productivity)
3. Exploration (the beginning of acceptance)
4. Commitment (moving forward)

DENIAL: Don't get stuck in it




The first stage is the stage of denial. The change doesn't sink in. In fact, you may not see anything significantly different about how you are going about your life. You continue to have the "business as usual" attitude, but slowly, productivity starts to decrease.

Let's say that you have been using the same word processing software for three years. Your company makes the decision to change software packages. At first you think, "Surely they can't mean this!" And you continue to use the old software, even though the new software is loaded and ready to go. After all, you are fast on the current software, so it makes sense to keep using it, even though you know that software will be unavailable at the end of the month. You figure you'll deal with that when the time comes.

That's a perfect picture of someone in denial. Now, at the end of the month, there is havoc because all of your files are stored on the old software, and the classes you took happened so many weeks ago that you have forgotten all of the pertinent information. Well, you can see where this is headed ... nowhere.

The denial stage is a natural part of being able to successfully deal with change but we cannot allow ourselves to get stuck there.

RESISTANCE: Expressing your anxiety



Stage two is the resistance stage. Here, people start to feel self-doubt, anger, depression, anxiety, frustration, fear, and lots of uncertainty. In this stage, productivity dips dramatically. Remember the software example? Well, now you are without the familiar software to rely upon, and you have to use this new software -- and it's frustrating! You can see how stress levels can skyrocket and productivity can nosedive.

Depending on how major the change is in the organization, this will be the stage where people will be desperately thinking about changing jobs. This phase is prolonged if people are not able to express their frustration and negative feelings. One company that was overhauling the entire computer system gave each employee a computer "whopper" -- a phone bat that they could use safely to vent their feelings about the new computer. What a great idea! It added the important element of humor.

Interestingly, companies where people are in the resistance stage and not allowed to express those feelings experience an increase in work-related accidents and missed days due to sickness. It's important to be able to express your frustration and disappointments.

EXPLORATION: Begin to accept




The third stage is the exploration stage. In this stage, you begin to accept the change and explore ways to make it work for you. Typically during this time, energy is released as people start to be creative and invent ways to move on to the future. This can be a stressful stage as you try one technique only to have it fail, but the focus has switched to a determination on your part to make it work. There are lots of activities in this stage, and productivity begins to increase again.

COMMITMENT: Light at the end of the tunnel



The last stage is the commit to change stage. You find the ideas and techniques that work and begin to move forward with these. In our software example, it's when you begin to like and use the features of the new software. In fact, you can't imagine switching back to the older one. Don't be fooled into thinking that everything is now going to work smoothly, because a new change is just around the corner. But the next time you feel yourself stuck in a situation where you are resisting the change, remember that you are going through a normal process. Allow yourself to constructively vent the negative feelings you are having about the change.

Perhaps you need to formally end the old before you can begin the new. Find a way to say goodbye to the old so that you can welcome the new.



By Zig Ziglar
Contributed by Cheq Navarro

I Will Survive!

We can’t control the stressors in our lives, but we have the power to do something about how we deal with and react to them. Feeling helpless about any negative situation is definitely the number one stressor. But there are ways that can help us cope with the obstacles we are experiencing. Spark People, my favorite website on fitness and nutrition offers some points to ponder. Here are some measures that we can include in our lives:

Have a plan: Planning is crucial for us in order to get through these tough times. Making a list of things to accomplish each day gives us a sense of control. Checking these items off our list at the end of the day allows us to experience a sense of achievement.

Take time to breathe: Deep breathing has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and helps our bodies to relax. Just taking a few deep breaths can help calm our emotions and bring us back to center.

Allow yourself time to go through the emotions, but don’t allow these emotions to define you: Suppressing emotions will not and does not change the situation. Sooner or later we must come to terms with where we are. Being angry or sad doesn’t change our situation but allowing ourselves time to go through the emotions is what will eventually allow us to release them.

Use these events as an opportunity to learn: Every obstacle that is thrown in our path is the greatest opportunity to learn about who we are truly meant to be. When we are never faced with obstacles then how do we change the path which we are on? This is how we grow into the people we are meant to be.

Lean on others: So many of us refuse to ask for help because we don't want others to view us as weak. But the older we get, the more willing we should be to let others hold our hands and walk this journey with us. Life is too short to have to walk it alone.

Enjoy the moment: We should set aside a few minutes every morning to find one good thing to be grateful for. It doesn’t have to be big —even the simple things in life such fine weather, or a friendly smile can bring us great comfort.

Let us not allow stress in our lives to define us, but instead, let us define who we are by surviving the challenges in our lives...


Like what Dr. Martin Luther King said,"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."



Source: SparkPeople’s Daily Spark, Sparkpeople.com
Contributed by Bing Bercades

E-Learning: Say what?!

Nowadays, people are spending more time in front of their computers like never before. You’d see them logging into their favorite social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace, chatting through YM, MSN, posting shout outs in Twitter, and surfing just about anything under the sun.

If one can spend so much time reading Wikipedia and browsing Google, then it just makes sense that learning is possible using these tools and methods.



Hello, cyberspace!

The new buzzword nowadays is e-learning. So what is it? Entries in Wikipedia describe it as:

“Web-based distance learning, distributed learning, and electronic learning”

“…refers to the strategies that use the company network to deliver training courses to employees...”

“E-Learning lessons are generally designed to guide students through information or to help students perform in specific tasks…”

In today’s fast-paced environment, the traditional classroom setup is no longer the best option in educating people. Now, learning can be initiated with just a click of a mouse.



What’s in it for me?

E-learning can provide companies and individuals with the following benefits: increased access, cost effective training, convenience and flexibility to learners.

Increased access – Participants can have access to information anytime, anywhere. Training modules can be easily setup and it just takes a moment to log in before the participant can start learning.

Cost-effective training - Participants from different stations will be able to enroll in their training module of choice; no need for them to travel. This in turn would decrease the company’s expenses and increase manpower productivity.

Convenience and flexibility - Participants can choose their own time and pace in going through the training modules. There is no need for them to physically attend classes. They can even backtrack and review the module for an unlimited time. Hence, learning is possible 24x7.



The Toolbox

There are many tools that can initiate e-learning.

Internet – The most prolific way to engage e-learners. Simply upload the training material into your company’s intranet and it’s done. Downloading and uploading of material can be very easy. Trainers can even track down the progress of each participant after they have logged in or have taken an online course assessment.

Mac or PC? - Any desktop or laptop can be used for e-learning. Hardware has become much more affordable and accessible nowadays. Standard computer packages include cd-rom drive, Ethernet/LAN modem, and usb ports which are essential to e-learning. You can learn in the office, at home, or even in your favorite coffee shop.

CDs – A more common form of storage for e-books and other e-learning media. No need to bring heavy books to class. Just bring your favorite cd and play it in your desktop or laptop.

PSDs and MP3 players – Portable storage devices like usb drives, iPods and mp3 players also play a huge role in e-learning. Podcasts and other instructional programs can be downsized so that people on the go can also benefit from them.



So are we ready?

For us to move forward, we would have to utilize the tools of tomorrow. We can’t afford to sit back, relax and watch the competition fly past us. We have the tools. So let’s start using them.



Source: Wikipedia, Google Images
Words by GG Garcia

Effective Leadership: Managing Change

The Four Emotional Stages of Change

“Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.” –author unknown

When organizations go through change, for example a restructuring, a merger, rightsizing, the installation of new information technology, outsourcing, a shift to customer focus or a new location – many employees experience a sense of loss. This is obvious if it means losing a job. Yet often the reasons for the sense of loss are not clear but the effects may be just as profound – both for the individual and on the organization´s bottom line.

Imagine working with the same people for a number of years. Without warning, their roles, but not yours, are outsourced. Or your team is disbanded and you find yourself in a new department and location.

For some of us, still having a job would be a relief and we may even be excited about the future. But the impact of unexpected and unwanted changes like these varies from person to person and is often mixed.

What we know is that most people go through four emotional changes when they experience a major shock. Test these stages against how you experienced a major change e.g. the death of a family member or friend; a divorce; the loss of your job; a major change at work; a confronting medical procedure.

1. Disbelief and denial
Initially, the change is met with disbelief and denial. "It won´t happen to me." "No, they won´t close the plant – they´ll find a way through the problems, they always have." "If I just keep my head down, it´ll be business as usual soon."

2. Anger and blame
Next, it is common to see anger and blame. In workplace change at this time some employees will actively resist the changes saying things like: "Why should I change? Is this how they treat us after we´ve worked our butts off?"
What is more risky is withdrawal and lack of concentration. In this high-risk period, watch out for an increase in accidents, drop-off in quality, absenteeism, corruption or fraud.

3. Reluctant Acceptance
As people work through their anger, they move to the third stage where they reluctantly begin to accept the changes and start to explore their role in it. You´ll hear things like: "There´s just too much to do now – how am I going to get it all done?" "OK let´s try it but who´s doing what now?" " I´ll never learn this new system – I need training."

4. The final stage
When employees commit to the change, they start focusing on the future instead of dwelling on the past. They have a clear sense of their roles and where they are going.

What are the implications of these emotions when we are planning and implementing organizational change?

1. During Denial
Do everything you can to minimize the shock. Plan ahead. Give them plenty of information – let them know what the changes will be, who will be affected by them, and how. Give them your best estimate of the likely timeframe – remembering that these things always take longer than originally planned. Give them chance to prepare themselves and let the changes sink in. You cannot over-communicate now.

2. During Resistance
Listen to what people have to say. Empathize. Don´t tell them to snap out of it or pull themselves together. People don´t want your solutions, they just want their responses and reactions acknowledged. Denying their feelings will only drive the resistance deeper and make it last longer.

3. During Exploration
Now people need practical encouragement and support. Provide training. Involve them in planning and setting goals. Focus on some short-term wins to get early runs on the board –show the benefit of the changes. People will respond well if they can see the positive impact of the change.

Watch out if the changes do not provide any immediate observable benefit. Then there is a real likelihood that people will sink back into resistance and may even undermine your change strategy completely.

4. During Commitment
Now that you are through the transition, set about consolidating the change. Implement an appropriate cultural change program. Recognize and reward people who are responding well to the change. Be careful to not inadvertently reward any behavior that is inconsistent with what you´re aiming for.

People move through the emotional stages of change at different rates. That´s why these transitions can be hard and counter-productive.

Sometimes, it is impossible to tell people too much ahead of the change because of market forces. But if people are in denial, or are angry or resistant, productivity will be low. You might see a short-term spike in response to the change but it is likely to be short lived until these stages are worked through.

Design and plan your change management strategy to recognize and support the transition phase. Do this and you will reduce the impact of the inevitable drop in productivity. More importantly, you will gain the on-going commitment of your people



Source: www.familybusinessstrategies.com - Anne Riches
Contributed by Cheq Navarro

Googling is a Skill

Google is the most-used search engine on the web. Millions of people use it daily to search anything and everything under the sun, from work related information to simply checking out the latest Hollywood buzz.

We all know about Google’s wide searching capabilities but are we able to optimize this powerful tool? No one needs to be told on how to use it but instead of just typing in a phrase and wading through page after page of results, there are a number of ways to make your searches more efficient. So here’s a list of tips to help you refine and improve your search:

1. Explicit Phrase:

Let’s say you are looking for content about internet marketing. Instead of just typing internet marketing into the Google search box, you will likely be better off searching explicitly for the phrase. To do this, simply enclose the search phrase within double quotes.

Example Search: "internet marketing"

2. Exclude Words:

Let’s say you want to search for content about internet marketing, but you want to exclude any results that contain the term advertising. To do this, simply use the "-" sign in front of the word you want to exclude.

Example Search: internet marketing - advertising

3. Site Specific Search:

Often, you want to search a specific website for content that matches a certain phrase. Even if the site doesn’t support a built-in search feature, you can use Google to search the site for your term. Simply use the "site: somesite.com" modifier.

Example Search: "internet marketing" site: www.smallbusinesshub.com

4. Similar Words and Synonyms:

Let’s say you are want to include a word in your search, but want to include results that contain similar words or synonyms. To do this, use the "~" in front of the word.

Example Search: "internet marketing" ~ professional

5. Specific Document Types:

If you’re looking to find results that are of a specific type, you can use the modifier "filetype:". For example, you might want to find only PowerPoint presentations related to internet marketing.

Example Search: "internet marketing" filetype: ppt

6. This OR That:

By default, when you do a search, Google will include all the terms specified in the search. If you are looking for any one of one or more terms to match, then you can use the OR operator. (Note: The OR has to be capitalized)

Example Search: internet marketing OR advertising

7. Phone Listing:

Let’s say someone calls you on your mobile number and you don’t know how it is. If all you have is a phone number, you can look it up on Google using the phonebook feature.

Example Search: phonebook: 617-555-1212(Note: the provided number does not work – you’ll have to use a real number to get any results).

8. Area Code Lookup:

If all you need to do is to look-up the area code for a phone number, just enter the 3-digit area code and Google will tell you where it’s from.

Example Search: 617

9. Numeric Ranges:

This is a rarely used, but highly useful tip. Let’s say you want to find results that contain any of a range of numbers. You can do this by using the X..Y modifier (in case this is hard to read, what’s between the X and Y are two periods. This type of search is useful for years (as shown below), prices or anywhere where you want to provide a series of numbers.

Example Search: president 1940...1950

10. Calculator:

The next time you need to do a quick calculation, instead of bringing up the Calculator applet, you can just type your expression in to Google.

Example: 48512 * 1.02

11. Word Definitions:
If you need to quickly look up the definition of a word or phrase, simply use the "define:" command.

Example Search: define: plethora
So keep these tips handy and use them on your next Google search.

Happy Googling!


Words by Irene Manansala

Tell Us About It

We are always after the quality of our blogs.

So tell us how you feel about them.

Or tell us what you think of them.

We keep our minds open 24/7.

Email us...

arvee_veloso@pal.com.ph
gg_garcia@pal.com.ph

Welcome PAL Trainers!

Welcome to the PAL Trainer’s Blog. We are Arvee and GG, your blogmates. We are bravely, boldly and proudly announcing the new internet blog for PAL trainers and line trainers.

We see this site as a reflection of our community--PAL Learning Center. A site that mirrors our passion for learning and development.

Passion is when you don’t stop learning and improving. Remember the long Saturdays, busy Sundays and late nights? Those moments inspire us to train harder, longer and smarter.

Reflection is what’s happening inside and outside PLC. The current events, the highs and lows, the inevitable changes; and how they shape our community.

Our approach is based on open and responsible journalism mixed with an audio-visual sense.

Tblog is also a spa for your heart, brain and soul. It is a mix of entertainment, lifestyle and soul-searching. “Go home and have a life!” (sounds familiar?) Now with this blog, we can go home and have a life at the same time.

We embrace them all as they are the days in the lives of PAL Trainers.

To officially open the PAL Trainer’s Blog, below are some words of support from Ms. Mean Llamzon.

"When I read the e-mail of Arvee announcing the launching of the Trainer’s Blog, I was pleased. I have been wanting to find a way to communicate more with our colleagues in a quick, casual and direct style, without being limited in the classroom. The TRAINER’S BLOG is clearly an approach that will be welcomed by many.

My sincere appreciation to each one who put together his/her ideas and creativity that made this BLOG possible.

I encourage everybody to visit the TRAINER’S BLOG and start sharing information, facts, data, tips, insights, and words of wisdom that will enrich one’s know-how and understanding, and promote camaraderie.

I AM REALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM!"

So, before we get mushy and carried away, LETS START BLOGGING!

What is a Blog?

We all know PAL. We all know what a TRAINER is. But what about a BLOG?

So before we join the bandwagon, let us clarify the word that has been sweeping the world wide web.

According to Wikipedia, a blog is a type of website with regular entries of commentary, description of events, usually using text with photos, videos or audio. The word lately is being used as a verb similar to the cellphone lingo "text". "Text or call me" or "write or blog about it" as they say.

Uses

Most blogs provide commentary or news about a particular subject. The most popular use of blogs nowadays is as online diaries or journals or "personal blogs".

Francis Magalona, a famous musician and showbiz celebrity, documented his battle with leukemia in his personal blog happy battle.

Others use blogs for business purposes. The boom of internet commerce can be attributed to the free blogsites where pictures, descriptions, prices of products and services can be conveniently shown.

There are many types of blogs. They range from photoblogs (photo documentary), vblogs (video streams), community blogs (organizations, clubs), to podcasts (music/audio). A blog depends on its content and its medium of delivery.

Features

Blogging has been so popular because of the ease it provides to internet social media. Following the success of Friendster, Facebook, Multiply and Twitter, expressing yourself can not only reach your family or friends, but the whole world. The beauty of blogs is that readers can leave comments on how they think and feel about it. They can also choose to forward your blog through e-mail or advertise using hyperlink.

For example, "Wow iba talaga ang service ng PAL! Distinctly Filipino! Now you can buy tickets online here philippineairlines.com."

Responsible Freedom of Expression

Blogging as a form of communication has risks too, and it can have unforeseen consequences if not written carefully.

Several issues have been brought to court against bloggers concerning issues of defamation or libel. Delta Airlines fired a flight attendant because she posted photographs of herself in uniform on an airplane. And she posted comments like, "Queen of Sky: Diary of a Flight Attendant", which the employer deemed inappropriate. The employer argued that employees who blog about elements of their place of employment raise the issue of employee branding, since their activities can begin to affect the brand recognition of their employer. The case highlighted the issue of personal blogging and freedom of expression vs. employer rights and responsibilities.

Freedom of expression is not absolute. It should be well thought of and handled reponsibly in the light of preventing harm to others.

Bloggers, Lets Blog!

Scientists have proven that writing about personal experiences has therapeutic benefits. With the advent of technology, blogging is the most convenient way to write your personal experience.

Research shows that it improves memory and sleep, and it boosts our cell activity.

So what are you waiting for?

Arvee Veloso
Reference: wikipedia.org

Trip Pass: Corregidor

Sometime last year, my family came back home and celebrated my grandpa's 80th birthday. Being the balikbayans they were, the idea of taking them around was the first thing that came into my mind. So after some time Googling, I suggested that we all spend a day in Corregidor.

The Trip

The easiest way to visit Corregidor is to book a day tour with Sun Cruises. You can call for reservations or drop by their office located at CCP Terminal A. They offer day tours as well as overnight accomodations. You will spend roughly about Php 2,000.00 per pax for the day tour. This includes round trip ferry transfers, entrance and terminal fees, guided island tour, and buffet lunch at the Corregidor Inn.



We boarded a ferry and left the terminal as early as 7:30 am. I must admit that I was impressed with the level of service Sun Cruises provided. The ship was "quite" modern and fast, seats were clearly marked with life vests securely tucked underneath, and the lavatory was clean as well. The crew was pleasant and approachable. During the trip, we were treated to an audio-visual presentation of the history of Corregidor. A visible tour guide spoke, adding footnotes and other hitorical anecdotes. The hour long trip was a breeze, no byahilo for me!

From the boat, a tiny speck on the horizon took shape. Calm blue waters surrounded a green rock in the mouth of Manila Bay. On a clear day, the Bataan Peninsula could be seen behind Corregidor. Another smaller island, Caballo, gently broke the solitude of the fortified rock filled with history.



Speaking of history, here's a thing or two about Corregidor:

Corregidor is known the world over for its role in war, bravery, and history. It is three miles long and 1 ½ miles at its widest point, facing the China Sea and flanked by the provinces of Bataan and Cavite. A rock island remarkably shaped like a tadpole at the entrance of Manila Bay, Corregidor's strategic location was vital in the defense of Manila during World War II.

The name 'Corregidor' came from the Spanish 'corregir', or 'to correct', since the island was a checkpoint for vessels entering Manila Bay during the Spanish and American occupations.

Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied Forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government. It was from Corregidor that Philippine Pres. Manuel Quezon and MacArthur left for Australia in February leaving behind Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright in command.

Today, Corregidor's rich history continues to draw Filipinos and foreign tourists alike, making the island one of the most visited tourist spots in the country. – Sun Cruises

The Tour



Once docked, we were directed to our designated tram. These reconfigured buses were made to look like old school trams that serviced Manila's commute at the turn of the century. Each tram can easily fit around 20-30 individuals. The trams were open aired, and in case of a sudden downpour, awnings could be easily deployed. Quite frankly, apart from the smell of diesel fumes these buses emitted, they actually looked and played the part.

During the tour, you are allowed to look around and take photographs for about 10-15 mins each stop. You can explore longer stops depending on the tour guide.



Our first stop was the Middleside Barracks. These were the ruins of an existing structure which housed the enlisted men and officers stationed in the island. It also claimed to include a PX store, school house, and a hospital.



Going up a gradient slope, we reached Battery Way. The battery consisted of 12 inch mortars wich could fire in any direction (360 degrees) and leveled anything that got in its way. Another might gun, Battery Geary stood proudly, overlooking the Bataan Peninsula. These behemoths have long been silenced after the end of WWII.

Our tram now headed towards the Topside. The place held most of the primary functions of Corregidor. In it were the following noteworthy sites: Mile Long barracks, the Pacific War Memorial and museum, and the island's Spanish Lighthouse.



The Mile Long barracks housed the American officers back then. It was a multi level complex with an indoor swimming pool. Our tour guide allowed us to roam inside the ruins. The dilapidated structure provided an excellent photo op for the more adventurous tourists.

The Pacific War Memorial and museum stands adjacent to the barracks. The marble and cement edifice was erected by the US Government to honor the fallen Filipino and American soldiers who fought during WWII. A side trip inside the museum is also a good idea. Old relics, antiques, and other war memorabilia are available for viewing.



Another worthy site to see is the Spanish Lighthouse. A quick and steep climb to the top and visitors will be treated to an excellent all around view of the whole island. This, for me , is a must -see-and-do attraction of the tour.

By this time, our tour guide took us to Corregidor Inn for a late buffet lunch. The food was simple, just an assortment of chicken and pork. It wasn't exactly gourmet food, but for someone who had been strolling and taking pictures for the past 4 hours, I'd say "Pwede na".

The last stop of the tour was the Malinta Tunnel. The tunnel was a huge underground complex which served as the headquarters of the USAFFE during WWII. The existing remains of the structure were preserved, and for an additional Php 150.00, you could experience the Light and Sound show depicting the final hours of Corregidor before it fell into the hands of the Japanese.

And that was it.

Rain started falling by late afternoon, signaling the end of our tour. Our tram made its way around the island for the last time as the rainclouds covered the dimming afternoon light. Back on the boat, I bid farewell to the tiny island and did my best to appreciate its rich history and legacy.



It is said that Corregidor's stubbornness screwed up Imperial Japan's timetable to conquer the rest of Asia and Australia. I think I did better. It only took me a day to conquer Corregidor.



Words and photos by GG Garcia

For more info on Corregidor, click Sun Cruises.

When to Facilitate, When to Coach

As trainers, we perform additional roles, primarily the role of a facilitator and a coach. There are no rules on when one should perform a particular role. However, there are general guides that indicate which role to fill based on the situation. Below are a few tips on when to faciliate and when to coach.

When You Might Fill the Facilitator Role

When the training needs commitment and participation of learners.
Ongoing contributions usually do not come from learners. Instead, the buy-in of participants comes from knowing that their beliefs and opinions are being solicited and valued. This can be especially important when a diverse group will be mixed in one training class. The essence of facilitation is to bring out those various beliefs and opinions from participants, and to help them decide on what they want to do and how they want to do it.

Remember that part of the workshop when we ask for learning expectations and when we setup norms? That is a simple example of bringing out what they have in mind, and to help them decide on what to do with their collective ideas.

To maximize an individual’s learning from experience.
It is said that the best way adults learn is through experience. This is why trainers use the Structured Learning Experience(SLE). SLEs are activities that can bring out experiential learning by effective facilitating. Below is a guide on facilitating SLEs.

After the activity, the following questions are discussed:

- What happened during activity?
- What helped? What difficulties did you encounter?
- How can we improve?

With this, participants can learn from themselves and from others with the facilitator as the medium.

When participants are seasoned.
When participants are showing non-verbal signs that they have knowledge or experience about the topic such as when their eyes seem lit up, it can be taken as an advantage. The trainer can ask questions that are direct or indirectly suggestive. "Tell me about your experience with an irate customer and what did you realize from that experience". This is a way to make the participants learn from an actual experience. Also, it can make the learner a resource person.


When You Might Fill the Coaching Role

A learner in the class seems stalled or troubled.
Coaching can be a powerful means to guide and support an individual to clarify current learning challenges, to identify suitable strategies to address the challenges, and then to actually implement those strategies.

People have different learning styles and there are times when participants find it hard to cope with the learning pace. As a coach, this is the time when you clarify with the learner the following points:

- What part of the training do you find challenging?
- How do you think you can learn better?

In this case, thorough guidance is needed by providing regular feedback to the learner.

The trainees need skills that are highly specialized and proceduralized.
For example, using the reservations system, conducting training needs analysis, conforming to policies and procedures, flying an aircraft, and use of specific tools for problem solving and decision making.

Coaching usually focuses on skills.

Knowing the difference between coaching and facilitating is important. Knowing "when to use which, and what to use where" is the next step.

by Arvee Veloso
Reference: managementhelp.org

The Training Dictionary

Can’t find the right training term? Check out The Training Dictionary. It's an online training resource. Currently, the site contains 834 general to specific and simple to complex training terms. The beauty of the site is that you can contribute a training term in the dictionary. One example is...

Mind Map
It is a technique to organize brainstorming sessions, take notes, plan your work and make presentations. Mind maps were developed in the late 60s by Tony Buzan as a way of helping students make notes that used only key words and images. They are much quicker to make, and because of their visual quality,much easier to remember and review.

Hmmm, how about a PLC Dictionary?

sourced by Arvee Veloso

Philippine Fashion Week (Holiday '09)

Last night, I found myself seated right in front of a catwalk. People from all walks of life were gathered with growing anticipation each passing minute. They have come to see the latest designs to clothe the next generation. Security was tight. Only those with invites were allowed to enter the seating area. There was quite a commotion here and there... they ran out of seats for some unlucky patrons who were left with two choices ---either to stand or to sit on the floor during the entire show.

Soon the crowd started cheering, as the pink, blue, and yellow lights of SM Mall of Asia's Main Atrium started to glow. House music tempered the atmosphere. Chill. The show was about to start.



The featured fashion designers came out from backstage and paraded onto the catwalk. Ava Paguyo, Nikki Sonico, Julius Tarog, Nicky Martinez, Richie Abad, Twinkle Ferraren, and Ziggy Savella waved at the crowd. Swimwear designer Twinkle Ferraren sent flying kisses to her faithful followers, who in turn wildly cheered as the lights placed them on the spotlight. The air got warm. The show was on its way.





As the program got on, more and more interesting designs started to show. Some of the pieces had bold designs, others a bit tempered, only to be adorned with beads and sequins. Neutral colors were the in thing for the day. Black and white dresses retained their classic glamour. In essence, it was all about one thing: ready to wear.





I was lucky to have been invited. As the last model strutted down the runway, the show made me realize one thing:
Pinoys have a very good sense of style.



Words and photos by GG Garcia

HRTDS Get-Together

HRTDS still managed to spend some time together to eat and have fun amidst the neck- deep pile of work!

May 23, 2009 – Aside from celebrating Mr. Andrew Sulit’s birthday, HRTDS paused for a while to have a simple “Get-Together”. The event was aimed at promoting camaraderie in HRTDS. Team members are a mix of different members from each division including the Management Associates.

- Churva Chenes Kalachuchi
- Supah Papalicious Sampaguita
- Bonggang Bonggang Bougainvilla
- Ka Kinang-kinang Katuray

Each team went through a relay ala “Amazing Race” :

- Scavenger Hunt
- Bibigay Ka Ba Sa Bibingka?
- Itaob ang Coke
- Longest Line
- Cheering Competition

Supah Papalicious Sampaguita team won overall. We were never wrong to have them pose competitively.

Thanks to all those who helped in making the event successful. We will distribute copies of all pictures and videos to each divison. Let the pictures speak a thousand words.

Pictures by GG Garcia and Arvee Veloso