Technology is changing quickly and it is very hard to keep up.  Adult education has changed by leaps and bounds over the last 30 years.  Higher education is more accessible with each new itteration of technology solutions.  Even 10 years ago, to build a quality online educational offering required someone who was savvy with computer technology and could troubleshoot any problems that may arise.  This often kept people going to night school if they wanted to further their education.  Sure, we all were using Word Processing and Spreadhseet programs by then, but we only used about 10% of the capability and these capabilites have also grown exponentially.  So, where does this leave us as end users?  While we have many new "shiny" tools to help us avoid problems, what do we do when they inevitablly arise?  

Do we throw up our hands and storm out? - That would not be condusive to holding one's job in this current climate.

Do we fret and complain and spend our days frustrated? - Many do.

Do we use our toolbox of knowledge to break down the issue, analyse what we did and see if we can find the fix or reason why things happened?  - This is ideal.  If we are able to breakdown an issue into its core elements, look at all our possibilites before involving others, even if we don't find the right answer, we have just worked our brains and kept it healthy.  

So, what sort of questions do we ask during our "critical thinking" process?

• What was I doing just prior to the failure?
• Was there something that I noticed?
• Did I receive an error message?
• Can I "make" it happen a second time? Third time?
• What elements relate to this?
• Do I have a helper resource to reference? (Wiki, BLOG, F1(Help), Support site knowledgebase, Internet based library, Training materials, Google)
• What would my favorite techie do/say?
• What did my teacher mention during our class?

Why can't I just call and "get" my answer?  When we think critically and spend some time asking and aswering these questions for oursleves, we are better able, next time, to get our answers and resolve our problems quicker.  Sure, it is frustrating to have to go through the "pain" of finding answers, but that pain is only temporary and once we learn a skill, we tend to remember what we did last time.  If someon just tells you the answer, or fixes it for you, you will be dependant on them from that point.  What if that person is "hit by a bus?"  What would you do then?  What would you do if EVERYONE was on vacation and you had to hold down the fort?

Watch this video:  http://youtu.be/fhGxyyc8bX4

Many times we are presented with the statement: "It's broke, fix it."  What's broke?  If we went to Doug's Holistic car repair we would probably not have the right thing fixed.  If I went to my mechanic and told him that it was broken, fix it, I would probably end up with a very large bill because he would have "fixed" anything that "might" have been broken.  

So, we are smart, we protect ourselves by providing the "mechanic" with as much information as possible.  The better conversation would be:  "I was driving up a steep hill when I heard a low ping and it felt like something released."  That points the mechanic to under the wheels for something that would have taken tork to separate.  I don't have to be a car mechanic to help diagnose a problem with my car.  The same is true of supporting the software you use every day on the job.

This means that if we think critically every day our brains get smarter and we increase our internal value to our companies.  Don't be afraid to ask Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.  Remember critical thinking questions begin with a W or H, not I.

Also, just like our mothers told us when we asked over and over again "why?"... sometimes there just isn't a reason ("because I said so") for why some things happen.  Internet, networking and power glitches happen from time to time which means if you can't repeat it, we may struggle repeating it too.

One last thought about critical thinking...

Don't take things simply at face value.  Look at your sources.  Did a credible person write the article?  Do you know if that resource is reliable?  Always ask yourself, is there another side to this argument?  This is true as much in life as it is in our business lives.

Happy thinking!!!!

Recently, I read a blog that I really feel is important for companies to review, think about and consider.  http://www.brandonsavage.net/train-your-employees/

Employees are the most valuable asset a company can have.  If a company fails to invest in the training and encourage staff learning, the company will either lose these valuable assets or clip their wings such they will no longer be as useful to the company's bottom line.  

Brandon Savage states this most eloquently in his BLOG:  "But failing to train an employee, any employee, might be the biggest mistake a company can make. Employees are partially responsible for the success of the company. The most successful companies listen to their employees, and take their suggestions and ideas to heart. The least successful companies listen only to the executive team, as though that team is the only place where good ideas originate."

Companies need to consider training as a vital part of their product delivery plan.  If the staff and customers are trained well, they are inevitably better able to help the company's bottom line.   

ASTD states that on average it takes 40 hours to produce 1 hour of quality classroom training.  Support those on your staff preparing training by understanding training isn't magic.  It requires understanding of the needs, preparing of a plan, developing a training product, delivering that training product and then the ongoing correction and updating of that product.  

Check out this presentation:  http://www.slideshare.net/bchapman_utah/how-long-does-it-take-to-create-learning

Do you understand your work better, thanks to a training course, today?  Thank your Trainer and your Curriculum Designer.  (Give 'em a hug!)

I train companies who have just spent a lot of money to update their infrastructure and use a new and powerful piece of software to reduce errors, improve service and increase their bottom line.  Yet, when the learners come to the courses, they are full of fear.  There are often those who feel they were not included in the decision process.  This creates a hostile training environment.  

Change is hard.  No one denies that.  However, change is constantly happening. Think about the last time you lost your keys and were already running late.  What did you do?

First you probably argued with yourself or your significant other as to where you left them.  "They were right here last night!!!!"

Then you got angry..."Darn Cats!  They must have taken them!"  "They are always here!  Who moved them?!?"

Then you started making deals... "If I can just get my keys back, I promise I will be more diligent next time!"  "Please help me!  I need those keys or I will lose my job!"  

Then depression sinks in... "I am going to lose my job, so what is the point?"

Finally we accept that we are going to have t change our day... "I better call in and let my boss know I am going to be late."  "Maybe, I will just take a break today."

If we spend too much time in the fear, anger or depression, we will not easily find our way back to acceptance and positive forward momentum.  Change is really only as painful as we make it.  

My company is constantly growing and changing.  We move our desks as often as we add new customers.  We could either be grumpy about it or keep our stuff easily mobile so that when the next change comes we just load up our stuff and slide to the new place.