KIMBERLY DEVLIN
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
    • Focus On This, Not That
    • Don't Waste My Time
    • Same Training, Half the Time
    • Facilitation Skills Training
    • Customer Service Training
  • RESOURCES
  • Blog
  • SPEAKING
  • ABOUT
  • HOME
  • BOOKS
    • Focus On This, Not That
    • Don't Waste My Time
    • Same Training, Half the Time
    • Facilitation Skills Training
    • Customer Service Training
  • RESOURCES
  • Blog
  • SPEAKING
  • ABOUT

Cut through the noise
​and get to the essentials

3/11/2019

35 Comments

Can 10 Pounds of Training Fit Into a 5-lb Bag?

 
Picture
​You can't have the same training in half the time. You can’t. But you can have better training in half the time. Getting to better training in half the time will certainly include design choices. But better training also requires a communication strategy at the outset that sets you up to develop better solutions. My Five A’s model will get you there; and, this article will address the first of the A’s – Appreciate.

Read More
35 Comments

2/18/2019

1 Comment

One Great Idea: Meeting Time Management

 
Picture
​I observed this One Great Idea during a recent virtual meeting. Keep it handy to use the next time your virtual meeting gets off to a slower start than your schedule has room for.

Read More
1 Comment

2/4/2019

0 Comments

One Great Idea: Meeting Roles

 
Picture
​This One Great Idea was shared with me while working with a team recently. It seamlessly blends effective meeting management with employee development.

Read More
0 Comments

1/28/2019

78 Comments

14 Questions to Answer Before Holding a Meeting

 
Picture
​Success is not the result of a single action. It comes from a series of decisions, choices, and actions, it comes from consistently performing well, it may grow out of messy mistakes, and it certainly sometimes gets help from happy accidents along the way. This is true in life; it is also true of meetings.
​

Relying on accidental success is a questionable approach—which is also true in life and meetings. Instead, embrace happy accidents when they occur, but use these questions to engineer successful meetings.

Read More
78 Comments

12/18/2018

1 Comment

Every Donut Has A Hole

 
Picture
When you receive requests for the same training in half the time, I’ll suggest that you focus on the donut—not the hole (unrealistic expectations, limited resources, misguided requests, and so on). Even small shifts count when moving the finish line on these requests. Focus less on how far the line gets moved and more on moving it. This will build momentum for bigger shifts on future projects. 

Read More
1 Comment

5/1/2018

0 Comments

When Was The Last Time You Did Something For The First Time?

 
Picture
Do you recognize this post’s title as lyrics from Darius Ruker’s “For The First Time”?  Maybe you are even in singing it in your head right now. I often sing the line to myself – mostly for the encouragement it provides me.

Personally, I want to live a life in which I have a quick and recent answer to “when was the last time you did something for the first time?” They don’t have to be grand-adventure-type answers, but they do need to provide me with new experiences, memories, or perspectives. Possibly even take me in new directions.  

Read More
0 Comments

4/9/2018

4 Comments

Some Things Just Don't Matter

 
Picture
In preparing for a series starting this week, Staying Centered Through Conflict™, I wrote a note to the participants. Part of it read: “For me, conflict tends to arise in two categories: critical needs and inconsequential stuff. Our sessions will provide tools for managing the critical needs. The conflict that we classify as inconsequential stuff is perhaps best managed by recognizing it for what it is – annoying, a nuisance – and ignoring it. Our effort is so much better directed towards other things.”  

Read More
4 Comments

3/8/2018

76 Comments

How Did Training Fall Under Such a Time Crunch?

 
Picture
In Same Training, Half the Time, I invite readers to expand on this excerpt from the book – a list of challenges that are driving increased demands on learning.  Please share additional reasons from your experience in the comments of this post.
  • 1. Listening Versus Learning. What technology can accomplish in regard to content transmission is unquestionably impressive. Today’s enhanced speed of information and speed of communication leave many people believing training should happen as quickly. And the pace shows no prospects of slowing. Content transmission is not the same thing as learning though. Read that last sentence again—it is foundational to the challenge of this book.

Read More
76 Comments

3/5/2018

16 Comments

Tell Me A Story

 
Picture
Once upon a time – well a month ago – I attended an open-mic storytelling event and was reminded of the staying power stories possess, the vivid imagery they can create, and how much fun they can be to listen to. We heard five stories that night and I had five unique experiences – the first story informed me, the second deeply moved me, the third motivated me, I laughed hysterically at the fourth, and was reminded of how fortunate I am by the last. That is a lot in the span of 90 minutes or so. And what is more – I remember all five stories clearly – I can see all five of them as mini-movies in my mind right now – weeks later. And that speaks to the power of stories for trainers, those who lead meetings, and – frankly – all of us.

Read More
16 Comments

2/27/2018

2 Comments

How L&D Leaders Can Achieve More By Doing Less

 
Picture
In my work with learning and development leaders, I commonly encounter professionals working hard to enhance other employees’ skills and develop them for the future of their positions. Yet, so often, that same effort isn’t invested in preparing themselves for the future. So, beyond mastering the fundamentals of the field, what is a L&D leader to do? 
 
Here are five ideas to achieve more by doing less based on two themes I consistently hear from learning professionals.  

Read More
2 Comments

    Author

    Kimberly Devlin

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Book Excerpts
    Boost Productivity
    Develop Good Habits
    Improve Time Management
    Maximize Talent Development
    Simplify + Get Organized
    Virtual Conference

    Archives

    April 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn

KIMBERLY DEVLIN


BOOKS
BLOG
TRAINERS HUB
EVENTS
MEDIA KIT
SPEAKING
TOOLS + GUIDES
CONTACT
SUBSCRIBE