Welcome to the CLO-Blogs, featuring a collection of posts from the editors of Chief Learning Officer magazine that explore the latest trends, issues, ideas and methods in the learning industry. http://www.clomedia.com Published June 10, 2009 - Lest anyone is still telling you that training and development isn’t critical during a time of tightened budgets and “right-sized” workforces, look no further than USA Today this week for evidence to the contrary.According to an article in Tuesday’s edition, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the agency will be stepping up inspection of training programs for regional airline pilots in response to the crash of Continental Express Flight 3407 near Buffalo, N.Y., in February.A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation of the incident highlighted a series of pilot errors leading to an engine stall that caused the plane to nosedive, killing all 49 people aboard, as well as one man on the ground. The NTSB investigation noted that the pilot and co-pilot may have lacked the proper training for flight conditions.USA Today reported that Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt issued a joint statement that they will be seeking better pilot training, along with other safety improvements. Contrast that story with the story of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency ditching into the Hudson River after a midair collision with a flock of birds that disabled both engines. Besides 40 years of flight experience, Sullenberger has served as a safety and emergency instructor and accident investigator, and has remained committed to his own ongoing development and education throughout his career. In fact, he was reportedly studying the psychology of how a flight crew responds to emergency situations before his close encounter with the Hudson.Sullenberger told CBS News anchorwoman Katie Couric that “for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and training. And on Jan. 15, the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal.” http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/June/2664/index.php Published April 3, 2009 - When you were in college, did you ever scoff at fellow students who took classes like weaving or sculpting? Or, maybe you were the student who took those kinds of courses much to the chagrin of your parents. I know I took some heat when I enrolled in a guitar class. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/April/2614/index.php Published March 25, 2009 - It seems that the mentality these days in many organizations is to “do more with less.” And to tell you the truth, I’m tired of hearing that phrase because it carries such a significant burden for those on the receiving end. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/March/2609/index.php Published March 16, 2009 - “We have met the enemy and he is us.” ~ Pogo.This was one of the themes that came out of our Chicago Breakfast Club last Thursday. The biggest obstacle to the success of learning is us. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/March/2587/index.php Published March 10, 2009 - The next time you’re faced with an organizational dilemma, you might want to summon the wisdom of a literary character. That may sound a bit quirky, but the idea that reading fiction affects the way we manage in the workplace is no tall tale. According to a Times of India article, fiction impacts the way people deal with life’s challenges more than any other genre. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/March/2583/index.php Published March 3, 2009 - Newspapers are in an existential crisis. One after another is drying up and those that aren’t are barely keeping their heads above water. Take The Rocky Mountain News, the oldest newspaper in Colorado. It was a powerhouse until it published its last paper on Friday. Now it’s just an artifact of the past. Similarly, the San Francisco Chronicle may close its doors if Hearst Corp. can’t find someone to buy it. It’s a sad, but potentially exciting day for journalism as we say goodbye to an era of newspapers and welcome the dawning of a new day. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/March/2581/index.php Published February 23, 2009 - We are at war with the economy, fighting a rising unemployment rate, a quickly declining stock market and whispers of a depression. As organizational managers and executives, how do we lead our troops to safety? http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/February/2560/index.php Published February 17, 2009 - When it comes to the recession, metaphors abound: "Weather the storm," "hunker down," "survival mode." As the current economic crisis is likened to a natural disaster, the term "survivor guilt" is emerging as a way to describe the mental state of workers who remain employed. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/February/2556/index.php Published February 9, 2009 - Google is a trailblazer, not only in technology, but also in employee engagement. We’ve all heard about the perks of being a Googler (just to name a few: free gourmet food; access to ping pong, billiards and foosball; and on-site massages). Even though we may not be tech giants ourselves, we can still mimic some of Google’s ideas on a smaller scale. Take their employee development. According to The Guardian, Google has an avant-garde approach to learning with its School of Personal Growth, one of Google University’s four departments. http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/February/2553/index.php Published February 2, 2009 - We are human so we make mistakes. It’s a given. But sometimes we see those mistakes as a sign of weakness or failure, instead of what they really are: opportunities to learn. I recently stumbled upon The Mistake Bank, a social network that capitalizes on just that. According to the site, “the mistake bank is a place to share stories of mistakes … that you think others could learn from.” http://www.clomedia.com/clo-blog/2009/February/2548/index.php