As trainers and facilitators, it’s our wheelhouse to help people gain the skills and abilities they need to excel in the workplace—especially the ones with high impact. But what are those behaviors? And how can we make a case to our organizations in favor of what’s often dismissed as “soft skills”?
As I reflect on the trainer certification programs I lead, I notice a common theme among new facilitators: fear. More specifically, fear about how to respond when a learner brings up a challenge that doesn’t fit neatly into the course material.
It’s the moment facilitators dread. You look into the glazed eyes of your participants and wonder, “Are they really getting it? How can I make this more interesting and relevant to them?” So we try to jazz up our delivery by bringing more energy or taking a break, or we just plow through the content …
Combining the relationship intelligence of the Strength Deployment Inventory® with the framework of Crucial Learning courses seemed like a natural fit to Kate Abshier, a seasoned trainer of both the SDI and Crucial Conversations® for Mastering Dialogue who helped test the new Crucial Teams® course last fall. “Every time I facilitate the SDI, I mention …
In every organization, updating processes, ideas, and projects drive the need for new initiatives. The adage “change is the only constant” holds true in both life and in our teams—including for our learners! While we all know change happens, sometimes letting go of long-held habits, ways of working, and methods of learning requires extra effort and creativity.
What factors play into a team’s ability to perform well? The answer might surprise you. According to our recent research study, it wasn’t the size of the team, the type, or even whether the group was homogenous or diverse. Rather, what matters most is how strong the relationships are between team members.
Corporate culture is more than a set of values posted on a company’s website. It’s the lived experience of employees, the unwritten norms, and the shared behaviors that define how work gets done. Building and sustaining a strong corporate culture doesn’t happen by chance; it requires intentional effort. One of the most effective tools for shaping and reinforcing culture is training.
December always rolls around at a dizzying speed—and for us here at Crucial Learning, this year has felt like a marathon at a sprinter’s pace! With so many changes within our certified community, it’s been a densely packed year of announcements, and I’m thrilled to carve out space to unpack and reflect on those changes with you… and to share a little of what we have to look forward to for 2025.
Making an impact is what fuels Jessica Thompson—and thanks to technology, Thompson’s reach is amplified across a seven-state healthcare system.
Talking about tough issues with kids—whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver—needs a mix of patience, strategy, and communication skills. These conversations often go sideways, turning into power struggles or frustration on both sides. When we apply some skills from Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue, we can create a space that resolves conflicts and builds a deeper connection with the child.
