Managing: the problem with self-paced learning

In a recent telephone conversation, a friend was lamenting the fact that she hadn’t had an opportunity yet to take the latest online course offered by her organization. As she put it, “They say it is being ‘offered’, but that doesn’t mean there is any choice—we have to take it. The problem is, when?”

In this age of electronic everything, this problem is becoming more and more prevalent. When companies institute online learning, they usually cite as an advantage the fact that the courses are available to employees at their desks, working alone and at their own pace, whenever they decide to do so. My friend stated the following drawbacks to this model:

It's hard to find the time. Like most people, I am very busy in my job. However, if I know, for example, that a traditional classroom seminar or workshop is to take place next Wednesday from 1 - 4 p.m., I book the time in my schedule and I go. Even though I may have to catch up on my regular work afterwards, the important thing is I did take the course. Fitting it into my work schedule at my “convenience” is more of a challenge. Let’s face it—it’s never convenient.

It's hard to focus on the training. When I am at my desk, I feel as if I should be doing my job in the usual way, and it feels foreign to be working on an online course instead. Added to this is the fact that when I am at my desk, other people naturally assume I am doing my job, and they interrupt me with questions and impromptu meetings as usual.

There's no human interaction. The dynamic in a classroom situation is very different from sitting alone at a computer. The opportunity not only to ask questions of the instructor, but also to exchange questions and thoughts with other participants, is an important part of the traditional workshop or seminar.

To read more, and my take on what to do about the problemk, go here

Managing: new managers shouldn't be so hard on themselves

Moving from staff into management for the first time is exciting—but it can also be scarey.

There’s so much you don’t know. Somehow managing looked so easy from the outside, but now you actually have to do it, you realize it’s more complicated than you thought. Before, you had certain tasks to accomplish and you knew you had the skills to do them. You still have responsibility for those tasks, but now you have to see that the work is done effectively by other people. That’s a whole new task in itself, and you’re not sure you’re up to the job.

You also find that it’s hard to concentrate on the planning that is such an important part of managing, because emergencies large and small seem to arise all the time and people keep running to you to resolve them. The expression “When you’re up to your neck in alligators, it’s hard to remember you were trying to drain the swamp” might have been written for new managers!

In these early days, you must learn not to be too hard on yourself. Management skills are not built into our human DNA—we have to learn them as we go. Promise yourself you’ll learn at least one management lesson every day. Set aside a few moments at the end of each day to think about that day’s lesson and how you’ll use it to improve your management skills. Sometimes these lessons will be hard, but each one will give you something to build on if you are willing to learn.

Each day will bring you new challenges, new experiences—and new successes. It’s easy to forget the successes and focus on all the things that didn’t go so well, so I recommend you keep a diary of all your new experiences. Then, on those days when you think becoming a manager was all a horrible mistake, you can read over your diary and remind yourself just how far you’ve come.

Becoming a manager is a journey. Like any journey, it offers both good and bad experiences, enjoyable and not-so-enjoyable aspects, positive and negative events. Just take it one stage at a time, learn from each experience—good or bad—and you’ll gradually find yourself becoming more and more comfortable in your management role.

If you want to become comfortable in your management role more quickly, you should take every chance to learn from those who have gone before you. Visit http://www.TheManagersJourney.com now and sign up for the series of free management skills teleseminars.

Free teleseminars for new managers!

Calling all new managers! Here's a great chance for you to learn about the skills of management from experienced managers—and it's absolutely free.

I'm holding a series of free teleseminars called "The Manager's Day Trips" on November 16, 23 and 30 at 7 p.m. EST. I'll be interviewing three guest experts who started in staff positions and then moved into management, and have had brilliant careers since then. They are willing to share their wisdom with you and help you get your feet firmly planted on that first step up the management ladder.

Although the sessions are free, you must register in order to receive the call-in information and take part. I urge you to go on over now to The Manager's Journey> and read all about it.

I hope to "see" you on the calls!