We all know that fear of public speaking amongst individuals is quite common, but did you know that around 74% of people are frightened at the thought of speaking in front of any type of audience? There’s even a term, glossophobia, given to the fear of public speaking. The underlying fear of embarrassment or judgement by others is what stops people from speaking with confidence in front of others.
The ability to speak fluently in two or more languages makes you a highly eligible candidate in the job market, and even just knowing a few useful words and phrases in another language will help you stand out.
Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute your responsibilities is only part of being the best you can be within your organization. In addition, you also need to have skills that will allow you to effectively work with others and help you stand out the rest of the year!
As the economy continues to fluctuate in an increasingly volatile geo-political landscape, re-inventing ourselves through skills development and broadening our personal scope to look beyond the horizon is important to stay relevant and increase our chances of gaining employment.
INTRODUCTION Child development experts and educators have changed their perception about the skills that make students successful in life and academics. Employers are nowadays looking for employees who can interact well with others in the organization. Business practices are ever changing, and skills that were once thought as unnecessary have become the core values that any employer wants in an...
Have you heard about “soft skills”? They matter much more than you think when it comes to landing a job. Here’s the what, why, and how of soft skills. How Soft Skills Can Help You Land a Job Everyone knows that their resume is an important aspect of landing their next job. Far fewer people acknowledge the role that soft skills play in the interviewing or promotion process. In the modern...
The abundance of technology we are surrounded with is not only a means of entertainment but also an opportunity to make the work process more effective and organized.
Why Budget?! A business shouldn’t open its doors without having some idea of what to expect, and it shouldn’t close its doors without knowing what happened. A business should also plan and prepare for its future. One way to do this is to budget. But why should we bother with budgets in this age of change? Sometimes, you go through all that work and then senior managers make changes that knock...
You’ve recently started a new business and you have a thousand different ideas and projects for growth. We know the feeling – it’s exhilarating.
In a world of entrepreneurs and freelancers, a recurring challenge that presents itself is the ability to cater to the client’s needs through the latest software and technology.
The United States of America has always been an ideal destination for immigrants in search of a better life, especially those from developing and ethnically diverse countries.
We have all learned in school how to write general essays, argumentative writing and of course a little bit of creative writing as well. By knowing these general forms of writing, we often consider ourselves experts until the day when we are asked to write an important business letter, especially within the first week of starting a new job! Like everyone else, you turn to Google for ways to write...
Successful negotiation should never be a gamble! Effective negotiators are logical thinkers and can change their communication style to meet their objectives.
Shaking hands may seem like a universally accepted form of greeting your counterparts, however, what would you do if the other person doesn’t offer their hand? Such as if you are greeting a woman in a conservative Muslim culture in the Middle East, or when your Japanese business contact greets you with a bow!
“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.” This quote by Eartha Kitt is profound in that as human beings, we never truly stop learning. We learn how to walk, how to talk, to read, write, and develop as many skills as we need to become active and functioning contributors to our society. But in the meantime, have we spent enough time learning how to learn?
A learning management system (LMS), is a learning software application designed to deliver, track and certify online courses and training. E-learning differs from traditional learning methods by using online training with real-time tracking of results, allowing for maximum time optimization and reduced costs. An LMS delivers and manages instructional content, and typically handles student...
Telemarketing is all about trying to create opportunities – whether it may be used for market research or to collect accurate information to use other marketing techniques, telemarketing is one of the most operational strategies that a growing business can employ.
Over the past 2 decades, the UAE has become a significant business and leisure destination. From its stunning architecture to its irresistible beaches, the UAE has redefined the art of hospitality in its central geographical location where “east meets west”. Make sure you know the ins and outs of UAE cultural etiquette to make the most of your trip or relocation to this...
We recognize that communication is a key skill for success and the driver for getting what we want and need, yet we often fail to recognize the most effective method of communication, the method of communication that supports shared understanding and purpose.
Companies are putting in serious efforts to make the millennials feel welcome without undermining those that came ahead of them. While it might be tricky, it is not impossible. After all, age is just a number!
Here are our top tips on how you can get along with millennials in the workplace.
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” This famous quote by Charlemagne is especially significant in an increasingly globalized world, where functionality in multiple languages may be considered as the passport of a true global citizen. Therefore in a world with over 6000 spoken dialects, what languages would be the most useful to maximize communication? The following is a list...
Even with state-of-the-art virtual contact center software with every feature available, the precise equipment, and numerous reporting dashboards, an effective call center is only ultimately as good as it agents. Statistics from the 2016 Customer Engagement Index survey conducted by [24]7 showed that 47% of customers were likely to take their business to a competitor within one day of...
A leadership role is the most pivotal positon in a business. A leader has the power to sink their company or make them soar. Contrary to the popular belief, no one is born a leader. Leaders are made. It takes years of hard work, determination and sacrifice to be a great leader.
Whether you are a seasoned visitor to Atlanta or a first time visitor, these 10 interesting facts are sure to impress you!
If we look back over the last decade and think of one thing that has affected how we live as a whole from a tech perspective, the rapid development in smartphone technology would certainly be up there. However, the impact of social media, hand in hand with the smartphone (literally), knocks this out of the park.
“Clarity is the most important characteristic of good business writing,” says Mignon Fogarty, creator of the ‘Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing’ podcast. “Often business people will use big $10 words because they want to sound intelligent. Instead, they end up sounding like they’re trying too hard.”
Often behavior that is interpreted as rude or offensive is unintentional. What is perfectly reasonable to one culture can be highly inappropriate to another. So where does this leave us when working and living in multi-cultural companies or cities? Nowhere is the lack of culture awareness more evident or more problematic than in the world of business. Building trust and effective relationships is...
Social media marketing is an ongoing process of identifying your audience, engaging them, and keeping them engaged, so that when they need your product or service they think of your brand.
To quote a rather famous Jedi, “Do or do not. There is no try”. It’s the same when it comes to delegation. So here’s our awesome, universe-wide guide to delegation that makes everyone a superhero.
How many times have you heard the saying, “If only we could bottle it”? The key opportunity for decreasing training costs and improving performance is leveraging the skills of our top performers, and this is where self-directed training comes into its own. Read on to find out more.
A small marketing budget doesn’t mean you can’t meet your goals and business objectives. You just have to be more creative in your marketing tactics. Read on for top tips for low-cost, and non-cost strategies to improve sales, develop your company’s image, and build your bottom line.
As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Same with learners. So how to whet their whistle, and make sure that your learners can’t wait to dive in? It’s important for learning and development professionals to keep learners and their desired experiences at a premium while tailoring their training. Read on to find out how to make sure you are...
The thought of writing a proposal overwhelms many people, but the task does not have to be daunting. There is a simple and proven method to making sure your proposal rocks. Your proposal has to be well-nigh perfect to even have a chance of being discussed, let alone funded. Yes, proposal writing is the hardest part of the job, simply because there’s so much at stake for all parties concerned...
It’s easy to get lost in jargon, but knowing your Gen X, Y and its younger sibling, Gen Z, is crucial if you want to join the party. Check out Learningonline.xyz’s quick guide to the who, what and why of Gen X, Y & Z.
Negotiation is part of our daily lives. From the vegetable vendor at the local market to the CEO of a fortune 500 company, everyone needs to negotiate to get what they want, or what they deserve. Negotiation is an art and a skill. While it might come naturally to some, it is often an acquired trait that often requires years of practice. Read on to find out how you can be an extraordinary...
If you’re reading this blog post, it must mean you are intrigued by the Russian language. You might be attracted by the beauty of the language, the melody of its sound or be simply an aspiring linguist looking for a challenge.
The Russian Federation has over 150 million people, and covers an area of greater than 6,592,800 square miles. No wonder that Russia is a country of cultural contradictions. Now add to this a very noticeable generational gap, which is reflected in the business world.
Learn Russian Business Etiquette; here’s what you need to know to do business successfully in Russia.
What is concierge learning? When I talk to our clients about ‘concierge content’ across platforms, I’m not talking about courses for concierge staff in hotels, but for sure the overall concept is the same. Recommendations based on a personalized, conversational experience. Hotels deliver this through knowledgeable staff that also double as tour guides, whereas for edTech, it’s...
People communicate with people and not companies, and these days business is an international affair. Clients and suppliers are often spread out throughout around the globe. The linguistic complexities involved are magnified when the company has branch offices and subsidiaries in different countries, with employees speaking a range of languages. Smooth and effective communication can quickly...
American Sign Language (ASL) plays an important role in facilitating communication within the Deaf community and enabling them to communicate with each other, and others around the world.
We have all, at some point, come across terms such as IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient). While IQ is used to assess the cognitive ability of a person, the EQ tests are used to identify a person’s ability to recognize and relate to emotions exhibited by others and themselves. A new metric for measuring human capability has now been introduced, known as Cultural Intelligence or...
Whether we want to or not, most of us have to write, and in most cases we write e-mails, reports, reviews or memos that have to be written in a professional capacity. Good writing is the report that gets action and the letter that says what a phone call can’t. Find out where better writing can take you… In business writing, the language is solid, the point of view is clear and the ideas are...
India is the 7th largest economy in the world in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). India has also overtaken China to be the fastest growing large economy. India is facing exciting times in economic growth and has a hospitable business environment. Being a country with 22 official languages spread across its various states, overseas businesses eager to enter the Indian market are usually...
In a globalized economy, language training is no longer a “great if there is spare budget” but an essential component of corporate success. 72.4% of global consumers are more likely to buy a product with information in their own language 56.2% of global consumers say the ability to obtain information in their own language is more important than price. Tying in language training to your...
More and more businesses are developing into multinational firms, and acquiring the skill of a foreign language could result in better career opportunities for the employee as well as higher productivity for the organization. While it is widely accepted and encouraged to have a multilingual workplace today, some industries must be more proactive than others.
Malaysia has a healthy foreign population who coexist peacefully with the locals. People from various countries come to Malaysia for tourism, business activities, education etc. Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures. The major ethnic groups in Malaysia are the Malays, Chinese and the Indians. When conducting business in Malaysia, it is very common to run into people from all or some of these...
Best-in-Class companies are 22% more likely to provide employees access to a learning self-service portal. Research conducted by Ambient Insight 2012-2017 stated that 42% of businesses claimed a rise in revenue after the adoption of e-learning techniques for training.
The Spanish are a very open and communicative people; they value highly their families, personal relationships and cultural traditions. As Spain’s economy begins its recovery, understanding this flamboyant culture is key to effectively conducting business in this Europe’s fourth largest country. Learn Spanish and Spanish Business Etiquette before you go. As Europe’s fourth...
A massive shout out to Bersin by Deloitte Deloitte Consulting LLP for a report that truly sums up the challenges and opportunities that we face in the coming year, with their top 11 predictions.
Here is our comment on each predication, along with our take out on how this impacts the people and learning space.
By 2025, Millennials will comprise 75% of the global workforce. Millennials are tech-savvy, greatly ambitious, in love with change, multi-taskers and globally connected – mainly due to being immersed in the digital world from a young age. How to Build a Millennial Workforce that “Likes” You – the top 3 game changers coming up… Born between 1980 and 2000, this...
Best-in-Class companies are 22% more likely to provide employees access to a learning self-service portal. Many organizations across the globe will implement e-learning programs into their corporate learning ecosystems during 2017, but just how many will be successful?
As a foreigner’s first gateway to the local culture, if you work in a hotel, then you are truly an ambassador of national heritage. Russians are Europe’s fastest growing outbound travel group, so make sure that you know how to greet your guests with a few well-chosen phrases.
36 ways to make them smile coming up…
According to CNN Travel, a record breaking 1.2 billion tourists travelled abroad in 2015. Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific all recorded nearly 5% increase in international arrivals. This number is predicted to double by 2035. As a foreigner’s first gateway to the local culture, hotelier staff serve as ambassadors of national heritage. If around 8m people are employed in the hospitality...
The United Arab Emirates is one of the fastest growing destinations for business and leisure visitors, with its fascinating mix of the ancient and modern. Huge investment in the economic and tourism infrastructure has reinvented it as a unique strategic hub between East and West. Make sure you know how to navigate the fascinating cultural waterways of this desert country, as Expo 2020 looms. From...
According to an article by Forbes.com, Global Mobility: A Win-Win For You And Your Employer, Global Mobility is an increasing phenomenon with employees eager to travel across the world in order to boost their personal and professional progress, thus enlarging the distance of Employee Mobility.
If you classify as a Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), you may not have heard about what’s the new rave in the business world: Learning and Development.
The 2016 Training Industry report, prepared in partnership with Citrix GoToTraining, focuses on the biggest changes in online training and how online tools are changing the role of the trainer.
In work, as in life, informal learning is a constant and a given. It isn’t new; it may have changed its method but not its essence since the explosion of e-learning or mobile learning. That said, is formal learning on its way out?
With global travel the modern walk in the park, language learning and cultural understanding are essential to provide service excellence in the aviation industry.
Each year, when we attend the ATD Conference and Exposition, we have a fuzzy feeling inside, proof of our passion for the training and development industry. Each year, the show is bigger and better. After three incredible days in the ATD buzz, we’ve come back to our desks filled with inspiration.
Whether flying into Brazil on business or connecting digitally, the single most important thing you need to know is:
Brazilians negotiate and make business with people not companies. Brazilians would also do almost anything for close friends. They even have a saying for that: “For friends – everything. For enemies – the law.”
Behind every great leader is a great personal assistant. Technologies such as e-mail, voice mail, mobile devices, and online calendars have allowed managers at all levels to operate with a greater degree of self-sufficiency. Combine this with a need for cost efficiency and lower head count, and it becomes more difficult to justify a personal assistant.
Online learning courses are not new to the internet. In fact, businesses and marketing experts will tell you that the most successful sites on the internet are those that offer training and learning.
Ethics are involved in many of our professional decisions everyday and they affect us as individuals and also those around us.
Essential business etiquette and cultural intelligence of the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. Customer service in Japan is a highly developed art form, and it is not surprising to know that a same level of service would be expected whilst abroad. Bring on Japanese “Omotenashi” (Service – Japanese-style!). “Omotenashi” means “to welcome guests wholeheartedly.” It comes from...
Find out the difference between the Nanolearning and Microlearning, and why both make absolute sense when it comes to learning a language, with all of its grammar, vocab, idioms and odd little rules.
According to the recent Engagement and the Global Workplace by Steelcase Inc., one-third of workers in 17 of the world’s most important economies are disengaged.
It’s easy to get lost in the language of the eLearning world, if you don’t hablas tech. Use this Jargon Buster to ensure you know your xAPI from your SCORM and master these EdTech terms and acronyms.
Where an IQ can get you that job, it’s emotional intelligence (EQ) that gives you the ability to connect with others and manage your emotions and that of others; that determine how successful you are in life.