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Alison's Contribution:
From my perspective, it is not just computing education which fails to educate students on communication, learning, thinking skills and team dynamics.... It is missing as an organised skill set from most, if not all agendas.
My current efforts are focused on setting up a measurement framework for these areas. I'd be happy to collaborate - if you would like.
No doubt you'll want to check me out - I recommend looking at some of the musing from my LinkedIn Answers which you can access via my web-site.
All the best for now,
Alison
posted 21 hours ago
Alison's Contribution:
I'm curious, I'd like to find out if the fact that this team member always wears a "black" hat means that no one ever listens to anything he/she has to say...
Regardless, I think some help thinking about making different kinds of thinking and focus time (eg say 5 minutes on each facet) will help...
I suggest training in the de Bono Thinking Hats... and go through a structure thinking process where each person can only contribute their one top priority first time around.. Then praise contribution. See if there is anything major missing.
All the best,
Alison
posted 1 day ago
Alison's Contribution:
I'm the kind of person who likes to keep every bit of useful information so I can find it easily when I need it.
So what do I do?
1. Any interesting PDF or other type of file, I download it to a relevant folder (sub-directory).
2. Any interesting web page, I print to a PDF file and again, store it in a relevant folder.
3. I bookmark my "best stuff found" online at del.icio.us (see http://delicious.com/alisonkmurray) and include either the point made, or enough of the article just in case they rename the link and I have to do an internet search for it. Then I put high level tags on it.
4) My "knowledge" I wish to share - I recently set up a number of blogs. I'm happy knowing that they aren't read. I use it to do a brain dump of my thoughts and ideas... again, I'm looking to have something to look back to.
How do I tie it all together?
Well that's easy - I use either the Google hard disk indexing and search function or Copernic desktop. These look and feel very differently, so test both out, perhaps at the same time and find what works for you.
Hope this helps. javascript:void(0)
Alison
Links:
http://www.copernic.com/
http://desktop.google.com/en/GB/?utm_source=en_GB-et-more&utm_medium=et&utm...
Alison's Contribution:
I would say that best results are a combination of individual learning and practice in real life situations. By all means, study at home, use accelerated learning techniques, internalise vocabulary and grammar rules, read, listen to podcasts, practice and record with on screen feedback.
To learn how to improvise, you need to play with others.
Classrooms are one way to bring people with an interest together. Another way is to find out a xxx speaker and only converse in their language.
I recommend Michel Thomas and Accelerated Learning as some of the best tools I've found. I have not tried Rosetta Stone. about.com also has great resources.
All the best,
Alison
posted 7 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
Sometimes we stumble when we forget to remember all the important things. For me, it is about developing the right kinds of daily habits which will ensure that when I'm busy that I'll be able to focus on the right things.
Your fasting action is certainly one which I will take up - even if I don't make it through a full day, I can certainly benefit from giving up some food everyday.
To ensure by brain has the rest it needs to focus, I use TM - transcendental meditation... It's really easy to learn and even a quick 10 minutes practice brings benefits.
To both strengthen and provide flexibility in my body, I use Yoga - not as much as I could do.
And to cope with the really important things, I think about the day ahead.. I use a diary with a day to the page and make sure I look at the week ahead at least once a week... To remember an ultimate goal you could write it at the top of every page as a reminder to make the right action each day to get you towards it.
Remember, as my Dad said "Accidents happen when someone isn't paying attention." - Richard D Murray
To help my son remember the important things, we have a post it by the front door which has the essential to remember - keys, phone, travel card, wallet and during hay fever season, medicine, tissue, SMILE
Last but not least, it is how we react when things go wrong which can make the biggest impact on your life and the lives of those around you.
All the best,
Alison
posted 7 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
My career is very different to what I thought I wanted to do all those years ago.
Nevertheless, I've put my early training to good use - it was the best education for the intangibles skills of learning how to learn, learn to work with others and complete a huge task on time - with very little time to spare.
My early career was in music performance - classical. A new concert every week. Practice everyday - technique, expression. Composition. You get the idea.
... Perfect training grounds for delivering high quality performance under pressure, understand complex requirements, recognising the subtle nuances which make a rememberable performance, etc, etc.
And still there is more to learn!
Advice: I would recommend to anyone that they get objective 360 degree feedback to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
We may not be masters of our career path; we can however remain true to our destiny.
All the best,
Alison
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
You face an interesting business challenge. You may be the first one's out there looking at the issue, perhaps you are just ahead of the wave. I don't know.
What I do know is that technical skills knowledge is measured and supplied like this already. Candidates give prospective employees their id and the scores are made available. This can happen before interview, but I believe usually happens after the cv has already been considered (even if the scores are on the cv).
I suggest investigating the best in the market for them and to see if your industry can come up with an objective, impartial rating system so that there is a standard deviation for the inter rating scoring.... and Yes, I've assumed that you have qualitative answers and output.
For those that got lost, what I'm driving at is that the definitions of qualitative terms mean the same thing to everyone in the tests and the judgements given as a result of their answers. For instance, "Excellence" has many connotations and is coloured by your interpretation at the time.
Humans are defined not so much by their similarities, rather through their differences which make them unique. It is relatively easy to see how similar we are by a standard set of measurements.
The challenge I see in in trying to objectively measure the differences which "make the difference" and account for superior performance (and then somehow relate that back to something which the majority of managers and colleagues can understand).
The area I have found most interesting is in understanding the behaviours of an individual, the perception of the that individual by those around them (360 degree) and then how groups of people interact. Verax have these types of tools. I don't know if this is similar to what you provide.
This last area I would be most interested to see on an application - eg the equivalent of a Myers/Briggs or Belbin assessment which is easy to grasp and might be an indication how they behaved at the time they took the test. As a potential employer I would be more interested in knowing how they behaved now, how they behaved under stress or other extraordinary events.
Hope this helps you along your journey.
All the best,
Alison
Links:
http://www.verax.co.uk/Quest.html
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
I'm afraid the short answer is that you will always find what you expect, so the first place to start is to change the way you ask yourself the question.
I don't know if your issue is that you are short of cash or not interested in the role you currently have. I would ask:
"How might I use the skills I have developed over the years in a way which would be meaningful to me?" "How much money would I need to bring in so that I could use my talents in a more rewarding way?" "Which jobs can either give me enough money on which to live OR the money and time to do this 'out of hours'?"
Art, like music (my background) is one of the creative areas which both touches and inspires virtually everyone you meet. They develop intangible skills which provide a unique way of working.
Some of the skills I would imagine you have from the words you use above include: imagination, visioning, making a vision a reality, experimenting, diligence.
Your focus seems to be helping other learn, improving the community.
I believe that if you set your mind to it that you could use these talents every day in which ever job you do. Whether you get paid or not, I believe you have a lot to offer.
I wish you the best to help you get started along this path - where ever it may lead.
All the best,
Alison
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
It sounds like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. I trust you have been to see a doctor and he's confirmed you don't have influenza or something more serious.
I'd just like to clarify a few things with you.
1. How many clients do you usually see per day? 15 a day sounds like a lot. 15 a week sounds like it could be achievable with some hard graft and logistics management.
I have found it to be a logistical nightmare to fit in even 3 per day... and so full of information from them that I find it hard to remember everything.
2. How's business? What's the driving force behind this week's mission? Has it been building up gradually or is this a radical departure from usual behaviour?
I have found that massive action can produce tremendous results when you point the troops in the right direction and let them get on with it.
3. How does he want you to report on it?
Whether or not this is a new task, I have found that its always useful to share intelligence to glean if there is any synergy or new opportunities you hadn't thought of before.
Reading your question again, it strikes me that something has happened and they now need to gather evidence in order to take action. If indeed the green shoots of recovery are about to take off, your industry needs to be one step ahead of the rest in order to build the demand to buy.
Now to the answer to your last question - How would I feel if some advertising salesman shows up at your office sweating and coughing?
I'd probably feel I had to help him get better by having as brief a meeting as possible so he could get home. I'd think - this guy is dedicated. If he will come in when he's not well, how fast will he take me when he is fighting fit?
Would I worry about my own health? - Not a lot.
As long as we don't shake hands and you don't sneeze I'm unlikely to get ill... mind you I might think of wiping any surfaces you touched (LOL).
I tend to go directly to source - which in this case is the WHO site... Their advice:
"Individuals are advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness."
So again, if you haven't yet gone to the doctor, take the appropriate action first.
Hope this helps and I hope you get better soon,
Alison
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
I change the questions according where possible to how the person I'm asking processes information. (eg "What would you say/What do you see/What's do you feel).
I have found that there are three base questions which can be phased in different ways to elicit the best responses. Here the are:
1. How's it going? / How do you feel about things?
2. How can we improve it? / How do you see that we can improve it? How do you think we can improve it?
3. What do you need me to do?
(NB This last one is not asked so you can take over, it's purpose is to find out what the person sees as being the stumbling blocks and probe further about challenges they face. Come away with a set of actions for both and a time WHEN you'll check in again with them.)
*****
There is an art to asking a question. I believe it starts with sincerity and a genuine interest in learning and understanding someone's thoughts. Whether you continue to get the valuable insights depends as much upon the perception of how well you will listen as it does on whether they believe they have something to contribute.
I have found that HOW questions provide more insights and solutions than WHAT questions. I find that there is also a feeling of empowerment which comes from being asked to contribute (and get recognition) for the improvements they suggest.
Hope this helps you along your path. Try substituting HOW for WHAT and see WHERE and WHEN it takes you... LOL
All the best,
Alison
PS Look into NLP to discover the vocabularies you can utilise to get the best results.
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
I believe presence is one of those things which can be modelled and practiced so that it appears that it is something you were born with.
Regardless of whether you are born with it or not, it's a skill which needs to be nurtured.
If I told you how to develop and nurture it, well I guess I'd be able to earn more than Bill Gates... but as they say no one can pay you what you're worth.
I've figured out bits of it, which I'm happy to share.
My starting point is to recognise that it's the very small things which can make a big difference.
Making a valued contribution and recognising the value of the contribution of other is another part of the puzzle.
Energy, enthusiasm, drive are chunks which almost go without saying
There are many more...
I'm not sure how many pieces there are in this puzzle or how many you need to have to create the response you seek, so if you find more pieces, please share them in return.
All the best,
Alison
posted 9 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
For me it was managing perceptions.
There are a 101 priorities, and any number of good causes to support. People are drawn to you because they believe you can help them or they can help you. What's important to get right is "How you want to be remembered." - If you start with that, you'll have fewer disappointments.
I'd like share something that I heard a long time ago when an MP was asked about her biggest challenge having won the election.
She said that the most important thing was to pick just THREE causes worth fighting for and to direct all your energies at doing your best for those three things.
Why three?
Lots of people will want you champion their cause, wanting you to do something for them. They will want you to create a movement for change and action. They will be looking for you to contact as many people as possible to show your support.
You will simply burn out personally. You will also burn your network if you constantly approach them with yet another cause... and then something completely different, and oh what about x.
So pick THREE things you are willing to fight for, if necessary to lay down your life for and do the best job you can for them. People will come to understand when you make a commitment, you'll keep the promise to the best of your ability.
When you finally take your turn to speak, more people will be more willing to listen to you because you have built your personal brand on
I've found you can apply this advice in any number of ways - from determining how you want your children to remember their childhood to interacting with strangers who have yet to become friends.
I hope this helps in some some small way.
All the best,
Alison
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
I found some great How To on line when I had a look recently - missed the boat to stand as an MEP here... I'd take what is available publicly and put your own mark on it.
Personally, I'd run it as a project with a clear goal - eg winning enough votes to get elected.
Then I'd break it down into a series of "work packages" focused on specific things which need to be achieved including
- team building your core assets - the people you will be working with directly over the next two years to get elected
- branding / identity recognition
- creating your platform (including policy please)
- developing personal presentation skills (see private comment below)
- raising funds
- marketing / merchandising
- mobilising a volunteer workforce
- managing the media (distribution in both traditional media and social media)
I hope that is enough to get you started. If you pick up any tips along the way, please share them with me.
All the best
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
xHere are my 5 for today - there are others!
1. Goal setting is where I would start - this answer is my example (see goal below)
2. Active Listening is one to continually improve upon, no matter how expert you might be today.
3. Verbal Communication is another with a wide range of facets. For me, I choose my words carefully. I use NLP as the foundation for many things. (Here are some: Helping make my point understood. Overcoming resistance to new ideas. Obtaining action.)
4. Feedback: Providing positive and constructive feedback to improve relationships and interactions.
5. Team maintenance. Making sure everyone gets all the above and the recognition of their contribution as a unit with an identity and loyalty.
**Goal: Simplify complex subject into actions so that a least one small step forward will be taken. Sometimes it is the smallest nuances which can affect the success of the overall outcome.
Hope this helps,
Alison
posted 8 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
I assume you have read the book (see link below), if not it is worth investing the time.
Yes, I believe the world is flattening - and the current economic pressures may yet cause a fundamental shift in the pattern of behaviour Friedman describes... I'm waiting to see what happens next.
How does it impact my work?
1. There is much more competition for "jobs" and the role I perform is much more complex. Team management skills are paramount - particularly when teams are geographically distant.
2. There is a much wider range of information available. Distilling, processing and chunking that information is now a key skill to continue adding value.
Hope this helps give you some more insights to enjoy along your journey.
All the best,
Alison
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_is_Flat
posted 9 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
I credit my grandmother for developing at an early age to "learn a new thing every day".
I credit my parents for helping me discover how to learn things quickly.
These things have fostered my undying curiosity to learn and do my best - sharing what I have learned with others.
I believe you can learn to use different techniques to help you learn. Here are some thoughts.
1. Understand how you process information (NLP- neuro linguistic programming).
2. Investigate accelerated learning techniques and adopt them.
4. Learn how to adopt different thinking strategies (de bono Thinking hats, Think like a Genius, Tony Buzan)
5. Learn how to motivate yourself and others
6. Learn good behaviours for approaching challenges. Reinforce success.
7. Look for inspiration/how to inspire others
8. Pass on your tips to others.
9. Find a good coach. Or a network that will coach each other.
A friend once told me that I made things look easy to do. So easy to do that when I explain how I achieved my results (step by step) that they achieve more than my best at the time on their very first try! Well Done!
Remember Perfect Practice Makes Perfect (Vince Lombardi). So learn a new thing every day and you'll develop the habits and strategies to have in your toolkit to deploy at will.
Having come so far in the last 100 years, I am in constant wonderment where the next generations will take us in the next. It starts with that personal journey to discover something new.
All the best,
Alison
posted 9 days agox
Alison's Contribution:
Here's my contribution.
Learn to love to solve problems. Learn lots of different techniques to solve problems, employing different strategies. Games are good!
Learn to communicate - learn NLP techniques.
Hope this helps,
All the best
posted 9 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
Something happened and I could not save my response. First, let me assume you mean the soft skills outlined in the first wikipedia link below:
Participation in a team (see team building)
Ability to teach
Service
Leading a team (see leadership)
Negotiation
Unite a team amidst cultural differences
Motivation
Decision-making skills
Problem-solving skills
Etiquette
This answer may be briefer simply because I might not remember everything I said
Participation in a team (see team building) I recommend the Belbin Team skills - see 3rd link.
Ability to teach - at the heart of this is the ability to communicate. NLP - see second link can help with that. One must remember that it is a voyage of discovery for the learn and somethings they must learn for themselves.
Problem-solving skills There are any number of techniques for problem solving. I like using the de Bono Thinking Hats technique.
Etiquette - this can be as simple as the management team showing up for meetings on time which shows they value everyone's time.
Motivation - I use quotes to develop new insights and to motivate myself to learn something new or to do something better.
All the best,
Alison
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_skills
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro_Linguistic_Programming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belbin_Team_Inventory
Alison's Contribution:
Good question. Money was very tight for us a few years ago when I was between contracts. I've just finished another contract, so I'm busy looking for my next role.
What do you do? At first you may be optimistic about finding another role. You may be in denial for some time.
You do what you need to do in order to survive.
You pare the budget down to the bone. I managed Every Penny. It's amazing what you really don't need. Protein, vegetables, fruit - everything else is a luxury (even if it is inexpensive). Parents go without so their kids will have.
I've seen the tent city in California on the news. I've read that in Africa that the very poorest survive on the number of calories we have in a day. I'm fortunate that we have a good public transport system, but I'm becoming more inclined to use the bike.
So can I make a positive impact - even if I can't earn any money? But of course.
I'm doing the best I can do to help others learn how to search the internet - particularly for jobs. I'm amazed that a free event a friend is organising has had no takers. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, so I wish someone would tell me.
The say necessity is the mother of all invention - well now is the time for those inventions to make it to the market place.
All the best,
Alison
posted 9 days ago
Alison's Contribution:
Here's my contribution. No doubt a lot of hard work went into developing your course.
Advantages:
- you can develop a brand and market internationally (I'm assuming that a US teaching qualification is recognised in most countries).
- reduced costs to revenue generation
- release of classrooms for subjects which need face to face time or interaction
Disadvantages:
- need to ensure that the "student" is who they say they are
- need to figure out how to keep students honest (rotating the answers in the questions, rotating the question order on the paper)
- difficult to do "Group" activities
- coaching, feedback need to be handled carefully
- no collegiate feel
When I did my MBA, many of the "best" classes were during the day, Monday to Friday. One exception was Markowitz's class on Portfolio Selection. One chap flew in from Amsterdam every Wednesday to attend.
Perhaps a different course structure might appeal - eg online mixed with a week-end or a on-to-one tutoring session (online with voice) during the evening.
Is there truly no way to provide some incentive for your teaching staff to switch their hours to meet the demands of the market? After all they are paying the salaries to keep them on staff.
Hope this helps.
Alison
