Archive for November, 2009

Versitas Delivers Training for Vibrant Media

November 30th, 2009 - by Newsroom

Versitas announced that it has delivered custom onsite software training services to Vibrant Media at their New York City offices.

The company is a world leader in contextual technology, aligning billions of words across the internet with relevant video, information, tools, and advertising.

With over 4,000 premium publishers, reaching more than 135 million unique users per month (based on comScore, May 2009 figures), Vibrant gives top brand marketers the opportunity to deliver highly targeted advertisements within premium Web content and offers publishers premium editorial tools to re-circulate users throughout their websites.

The company, founded in 2000, has offices in London, New York, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco, Paris and Hamburg.

To learn more about the company, visit them at www.vibrantmedia.com.

About Versitas
Versitas ( www.versitas.com ) is a leading nationwide software training company delivering onsite and web based training to forward thinking companies in 17 major US markets and around the world. 

For additional information, contact debbie.petersen@versitas.com

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Budgeting for 2010

November 30th, 2009 - by Angela

happy_2010_new_years_2010_greeting_cards-p137059697326968539q6k5_400As 2009 is rapidly coming to a close, I know many companies are evaluating 2009 and planning their budgets for 2010.  This year has been a rough one in terms of the economy.  However, it looks like we are having some good indicators that we are at least beginning the recovery process.  Some companies cut back on training budgets for 2009.  As a proponent for training (as if you can’t tell from my blog posts) I have been thinking lately about how to encourage organizations to add that training component back to their budgets for 2010.

A favorite quote of mine is:  “If you always do, what you always did, you will always get, what you always got!”  I think that quote applies here for companies that want better productivity and effectiveness from their employees but haven’t been willing to change how they do training. I think that it is vital that companies look at their training “return on investment”.   How have the current training practices translated into increased production, engagement and employee development? 

In a recession environment, more is required of every employee.  Training is even more crucial in this setting.  As just one example, I think about how Versitas Outlook training classes that I have done have helped employees process their email, schedule, and other items more efficiently.  Many people are self-taught Outlook users and so may not know about some helpful practices to manage their electronic inboxes and schedules.

After the Outlook training sessions, I’ve received feedback from many students about how the tips and tricks they learned would help them feel less overwhelmed in their jobs.  Many of these classes were 1/2 day training sessions, so only required 3 hours!  Having a feeling of empowerment over the huge number of emails received daily can make a big difference in how productive a person is in their job.

Obviously, corporations working on their training budgets want to develop their priorities and align those with the training classes they need.  I think it is important to make sure the training provider is able to customize and focus the training sessions to be efficient and effective.  I think they should ask how they can get the best value for their clients and stakeholders.  The recession has caused all of us to look at how to work smarter. I think training deserves to be considered a key component of that thought process.

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Versitas Delivers Training to the Peace Corps

November 23rd, 2009 - by Newsroom

Versitas announced that it has delivered custom onsite software training services for the Peace Corps at their offices in Seattle, WA.

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged college students to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

Since that time, more than 195,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation.

To learn more about the organization, visit them at www.peacecorps.gov

About Versitas
Versitas ( www.versitas.com ) is a leading nationwide software training company delivering onsite and web based training to forward thinking companies in 17 major US markets and around the world. 

For additional information, contact debbie.petersen@versitas.com

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One-to-One Training

November 23rd, 2009 - by Angela

blank_logo_opt1After talking with a couple of people last week about one-to-one training, I realized that some people do not know how useful this type of training is.  After almost every one-to-one (sometimes called deskside) training session I’ve done for the first time with someone, they tell me how much they wish they had known about that type of training long ago!  I guess that since I’ve been doing this type of training for years, I figured that everyone was aware of customized one-on-one deskside training.  That’s what I get for assuming…

My one-to-one Versitas training session last week was a great example of how beneficial this type of training can be for a person (and for a company). The training was actually one-on-two since there were two people from one company that I trained at the same time.  One person was at her desk computer and the other brought her laptop.  The setup was very quick and easy.

I sat where I could see both screens.  The focus of the training was Excel so we worked on their own spreadsheet files.  One of the comments I received from them was how nice it was to use their own files instead of example files.  Everything we covered was completely relevant and applicable to their jobs. 

Our main focus was formulas and functions, but we also covered a few math concepts, too, to make sense of the formulas. We would never have been able to do that type of customization in a big class. Both of the students were delighted that we could address all of the questions right on their very own files.

The person who designed the spreadsheets did quite a bit of linking and complex formulas.  After a basic explanation of Excel formulas, we went through most of the formulas on the spreadsheets that they didn’t understand. They caught on quickly and soon they were creating some complex formulas themselves. 

Both of the students told me how much they liked the completely customized training session.  One of them said that she had gotten more out of the first hour of our session than out of any of her past Excel classes. She was excited to be able to now take some of the work off of her supervisor’s already overloaded shoulders.  I truly believe that the training was a great benefit to both the students and their company.

I am hoping that this post will help spread the word about the value of one-to-one training sessions.  Try it - you may never want to sit through a full day class again!

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Versitas Delivers Training for Pizza Hut

November 16th, 2009 - by Newsroom

Versitas announced that it has delivered software training services to Pizza Hut at their corporate headquarters in Dallas, TX.

Originally started by 2 brothers that borrowed $600 from their mother, Pizza Hut has grown to well over 6000 US locations and another 4000 stores located in over 100 countries.

The company is known for its innovative advertising campaigns and has recently added the ability to order pizza and other items online from a computer or phone. Oh, and their pizza is pretty good too!

To learn more about the company, visit them at www.pizzahut.com.

About Versitas
Versitas ( www.versitas.com ) is a leading nationwide software training company delivering onsite and web based training to forward thinking companies in 17 major US markets and around the world. 

For additional information, contact debbie.petersen@versitas.com

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Training and the Bottom Line

November 16th, 2009 - by Angela

bottomline4In my reading, I ran across a great quote that really got me to thinking about training and its costs/benefits.  The article was by a workshop facilitator who said something that I had heard before but was glad to be reminded of again.  Her statement was, “What if you train them and they leave?  What if you don’t and they stay?” 

I’ve heard some corporations say that they don’t train people because they will just leave and use that knowledge to help a competitor.  I think the above quote is a very good argument against that type of thinking.  Training can be a large expense for a corporation.  From my experience, it is definitely worth the cost.  In my own life, I can see the time savings after learning how to do something better or faster after participating in a training class.

Outside of my own experiences as a trainee, I’ve seen it happen many, many times as a trainer, too. Once when I was teaching a Versitas Advanced Excel class at a corporation, I showed the students how to setup and run a macro.  I heard a gasp come from one woman after we had gone through these steps.  I immediately went over and asked her if everything was okay.  She said she was about to cry because she was so happy.  That made my day! 

She went on to tell me that she had to format a report that was downloaded from a database 2-3 times every week.  She would spend at least 2 hours each time formatting the report (deleting columns, adjusting numbers to a custom style, etc.).  If she set up a macro to do those steps for her, it would save her about 4-6 hours each week!! 

I thought about how much those 4-6 hours each week could save the corporation she worked for over the period of a year.  If she made $25 an hour (I’m guessing here since I don’t know her salary) times 4 hours each week times 50 weeks, that would be $5,000 in savings!  The training class for the whole group of 10 people would not have cost that much.  So, for one person alone, that training class paid for itself to the corporation in terms of its bottom line.  Not to mention how much time the other participants in the class were able to save the company with the new skills they learned.

But, there’s more.  The lady came back for the afternoon part of the training class. She had been so excited that she had shown her co-workers how to do the macro during lunch. The other co-workers did the same report she did each week. She had told her supervisor about it, too.  She was happy because she could now spend more time each week following up with vendors, which she had not had time to do in the past.

In the training industry it is sometimes hard to quantify or put an amount on how much training contributes to the bottom line for a corporation.  This example, though, made me realize that corporations cannot afford not to train.  Not only does training save employees time (which saves the corporation money), it makes for a happier, more loyal workforce.

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Versitas Provides Training to Brand Sense Partners

November 9th, 2009 - by Newsroom

Versitas announced that it has provided custom software training services to Brand Sense Partners at their corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, CA.

Brand Sense Partners is a leading integrated brand management and business development firm that incubates, acquires and grows many of the world’s foremost brands.  Clients include PBS, Oxygen Network, The Travel Channel, Bravo Networks, Brita Water Filters, Britney Spears, Halle Berry and many more.

To learn more about the company, visit them at www.bsp.com.

About Versitas
Versitas ( www.versitas.com ) is a leading nationwide software training company delivering onsite and web based training to forward thinking companies in 17 major US markets and around the world. 

For additional information, contact debbie.petersen@versitas.com

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Setting Up A Software Training Room

November 9th, 2009 - by Angela

training_roomWhen some organizations think about providing training for their employees, they sometimes worry about the logistics of having the training on-site.  What they usually find out is that they needn’t have worried at all.  You don’t need to have a dedicated training room to have a successful training class on-site.  The training room setup can prove to be very simple.

Over the years I’ve seen numerous different approaches to training room setup. Usually, the first step to find out is how many participants will be attending the training.  After that number is set, the training room size can be determined.

Depending on the size of the training event, many companies simply use a conference room.  If the participants have their own laptops, the set up is usually very quick and easy.  Just make sure there are enough power cords to provide for the laptop battery plug-ins. Then, set up an instructor computer and projector. Generally, it is best to provide the instructor computer with an overhead projector so that the participants can see the demonstration by the instructor.  If possible, it is best to set the projector so that the students don’t have to strain or turn around to see the projected image. 

I remember one time a corporation had flown in their field sales personnel from all over the country for a three-day long workshop.  While they were all together, they scheduled a training class at the hotel where everyone was staying.  Since it was near the airport the salespeople could attend the class and still have time to make it to the airport to catch their flights.  It worked out to be a very convenient location and a great class!  

If laptops are not available for all participants, an organization could use desktop computers relocated to their conference room.  One time I did training in an open lobby area on-site where they had set up tables to accommodate everyone.  We projected my instructor computer onto a large wall.  I received several comments from students about how much they learned from the class and how glad they were that they did not have to attend a class off-site. 

After considering the physical logistics of a training room setup, the software for each computer should be double-checked. It is important that all students have the right software version for the class being taught.  Most software can be checked for version by opening the software and click on the Help menu.  On the Help menu will usually be an item beginning with “About” and the name of the software.  It is especially important to check with the participants if they are going to use their own laptops to make sure they have the correct version of the software. 

Other software considerations include networking and Internet connectivity, if needed.  While most MS Office applications do not require any special setup, the setup for Outlook or other software that require networked computers may require the use of a organization’s Information Technology group.  If the training requires access to files on a network or shared drive, that should also be set up and tested ahead of time . In some of my Versitas training classes, we use exercise files for the lessons.  In that case, those files can be sent and loaded ahead of time.  If that is not possible, then I have loaded the files before the training class begins. 

Having a training class on-site can be a great experience!  And, if you have any questions, the staff at Versitas, can help you through the process.

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Versitas Delivers Training to the Global Foodbanking Network

November 3rd, 2009 - by Newsroom

Versitas announced that it has delivered custom onsite software training services for the Global FoodBanking Network at their global headquarters in Chicago.

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is the only nonprofit organization dedicated to creating, supplying and strengthening food banks and food bank networks throughout the world. They support the largest non-governmental network devoted to fighting hunger and are the only such private sector network operating on the global level.

For those in need, they represent more food and a step forward on the path to self-sufficiency. Food banks provide immediate support, and they also connect people with vital resources that can help break the cycle of poverty and function as bedrocks of stability and sustenance in communities.

They are doing amazing things and we are gratified to be working with them.

To learn more about the organization, visit them at www.foodbanking.org

About Versitas
Versitas ( www.versitas.com ) is a leading nationwide software training company delivering onsite and web based training to forward thinking companies in 17 major US markets and around the world. 

For additional information, contact debbie.petersen@versitas.com

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It Just gets Better from Here

November 2nd, 2009 - by Angela

smile1

I’m always on the look out for a great book.  I have a stack of books on the bench next to my bed that I want to read. Since having our first child 10 months ago, I don’t really get to read as voraciously as I once did.  I do still attempt to read at least one novel/book every month.  The books I read don’t have a theme or genre.  I read everything!

  

Most of the books I’ve read are recommended from friends or family. I just received an email the other day from a friend suggesting a book by Michael J. Fox.  I sometimes shy away from celebrity books, but have really been impressed by Micheal J. Fox’s attitude during his years of living with Parkinsons Disease.  So, I decided to at least read an online excerpt from the book.

  

I had only read the back cover when my interest was sparked. He was asking himself a question as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. Here is the line that really caught my attention and made me think about my attitude: “What are you smiling about?” but I already know the answer: “It just gets better from here.”

  

I thought about how bleak life could look to someone with Parkinson’s.  I have a friend struggling through her fifth year with it.  I admire the optimism in Michael J. Fox immensely!  It made me think about my attitude and contemplate whether I needed to make an adjustment.

 

When I am training in the classroom for Versitas, I am always “on”.  By that, I mean that I’m positive, outgoing, funny, etc.  I don’t bring any of my personal life baggage into the classroom.  Outside of the classroom, obviously, I’m not always “on”.  I try to be as positive as possible in my daily life and dealings with others, but would I fall into the category of an optimist or a pessimist?

 

As I thought about optimism and pessimism, I questioned how I view my students in my training classes.  Do I look at their potential and train from that viewpoint?  Or, do I look at their limitations and provide direction based on that?  I don’t know that I’ve every really analyzed my training from that angle. (How have I been training this long and not really addressed this in my mind before?)  I’m definitely going to have to put on my thinking cap and adjust my approach for future training sessions to make sure that I’m looking at the possibilities and potential in my students to help them succeed.

  

I can’t recommend Fox’s book one way or the other since I haven’t read it yet.  I can recommend thinking about how you look at others that you work with and/or train every day.  Look for their abilities instead of their limitations and encourage them to fulfill their potential.  I think that will help all of us become more optimistic and become better people, too!

 

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