Looking ahead to 2013?  I'm sure you are… we've only got a few days left until the New Year.

What's ahead in the training world?  Can we expect any big changes moving forward?  According to Sandi Edwards, senior vice president for AMA Enterprise, “Employees today know more about T&D's role in their careers and are savvier about tapping into opportunities from their companies and also external sources.”  An article in The Society for Human Resource Management discusses 5 primary trends we can expect to influence the training environment come 2013. 

Ready for change?  Here's what we may see:

• Training executives are becoming more transparent and open about training policies, practices, and expectations.  Training leaders are expected to clearly outline performance review criteria and be open to discussing changes in corporate strategies and management succession.  The name of the game is clear expectations.
• Coaching programs will be monitored and scrutinized.  This type of training method will continue in the workplace, but its level of scrutiny will increase while the funding will be monitored and tested for a sufficient return on investment.
• Basic-skill training is expected to reemerge.   In light of recent budget cuts, basic training programs took a back seat to highly specialized training programs which were deemed more valuable at the time.  Now that we're over the hump, expect to see basic training programs reappear focusing on creative thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and productivity.
• Companies will turn to training programs to ensure employee loyalty and retention.  Many companies are experiencing restless employees and unfortunate turnover.  Training programs will be the solution to strengthen internal relationships and employee productivity.
• Learning is still going mobile.  Training and development learning tools will remain highly flexible.  A conjunction of social media and Web 2.0 learning programs will continue to influence and shape mobile training tools.

Seems like the underlining theme of the 2013 training trends is that we're moving “back-to-the-basics” and looking to develop raw, honest training programs that outline clear expectations and emphasize employee fulfillment, productivity, and satisfaction.  That -- and that we're still moving toward mobile solutions. 

… and we're down with that. 

This holiday season, you will no dobut be wrapping a multitude of gifts – for your kids, nieces, nephews, cleaning lady, hair stylist, etc.  The list goes on and on.

While you're investing in scotch tape, wrapping paper, and ribbons – let's remember to invest in something greater than ourselves. 

Looking to organize an office event OTHER than a holiday party?  Think about charitable projects that can be organized in the walls of your own office.  CBS News came out with a few bright ideas for office-charity projects this holiday season:

• Auction Off a Day Off – Divide your office into teams and have each team fundraise for a specific cause using a trusted online fundraising tool like GoFundMe.  The team with the highest number of proceeds will win – you guessed it – a day off!
• Sell Admission to Casual Friday – Have everyone in the office vote for a charitable cause – then have employees donate to that specific cause.  The employee who donates the most money gets to wear jeans to work for one day… or maybe more...
• Hold a Food Drive – Offer a Superb Prize – Think of something enticing and worth competing for – perhaps the top parking space for one year?  Click Here for some food drive ideas and inspiration. 
• Incorporate a “CEO – Serving the Staff” Day – Have an executive serve lunch to her employees in exchange for a donation.  If you work in a very small company, have the boss host a lunch or dinner at her home - for a donation, of course. 
• Help Clothe Other Workers – Have a friend or relative struggling to dress properly for work or an interview?  Dress for Success and Career Gear are both excellent organizations that provide work-appropriate clothing for those in need.

Who knew – the holidays at the office could mean more than just pot-luck and gift wrapping.  Put your creativity to work and scheme up some exciting charitable projects! Good Luck!  

In parenting it goes something like this:

Don't just point out the negative behavior; praise the positive behavior as well.  Reward or recognize a child's good deed in hope they will continue in the same path.  If you're a parent, you know the drill:  sticker charts, a small treat, a trip to the toy store, etc.

In the workplace, it's called positive reinforcement -- recognizing and rewarding a desired behavior in an effort to encourage its continuance.  Offering incentives, rewards, or even encouraging words are all forms of positive reinforcement.  As an effective leader, it's crucial to recognize employees' good behavior – and not only communicate when a problem arises.

Why?  It's simple.  Positive reinforcement boosts employee morale, encourages the continuance of good behavior, and gives employees a feeling of self-worth and accomplishment.  After all, a company is only as strong as its employees, so it may be worthwhile to ensure your people are doing their best possible work.

Sorry, but the philosophy of being a hard-nosed boss that pushes its employees to the brink of a breakdown just doesn't work these days.  The workplace is too competitive and the economy too unreliable to scare employees away.  If you want to retain employees and productive employees – recognize their hard work – and make them feel good about it.

Looking for ideas on how to reward your employees?  Here are a few:

• Provide the option for flexible work schedules to those deserving
• Write thank-you notes to employees who exerted positive behavior or exemplified a specific company value
• Take your team out for lunch
• Provide a training opportunity for an elite group of employees who scored high on a performance evaluation

Or, you could simply pass out chocolate and candy… we have word that those methods work too.  

When you're working out – you can be one of two people:

That person so focused on their workout they don't need any pleasurable distractions like a rockin' music playlist, or a downloaded series of Dancing with the Stars or Downtown Abbey.  These people just enjoy listening to their own huffing and puffing and feeling every intricate sweat drop fall down their face.  They like the sound of their feet tapping along the pavement – or slamming onto the treadmill.

Weird... I know.  I personally can't relate.

Then there's the other population of exercisers who enjoy a good ole distraction – music, the news, a TV show, etc.

Let's talk about music.

Listening to music while you're exercising can extend your work-out, build motivation, add enjoyment, and make you feel good. According to David-Lee Priest, PhD, a health psychologist and researcher at London's Brunel University, "fast music especially, provides us more information to process, which may distract someone from the physical sensations of fatigue and block signals to stop exercising."

One interesting idea is to begin your workout with a slower pace tempo and build up to a faster song as you intensify your workout and begin to move faster. 

Also, remember not to pump up the volume too loud.  Experts warn that high-intensity music coupled with high-intensity exercise can cause temporary hearing loss.  During exercise, blood from the inner ear rushes toward the working muscles, making you more susceptible to hearing damage.

I guess that means don't sacrifice your ears for getting other parts of your body toned.  If you can't hear others compliment on how good you look – what's the point in exercising, right? (Kidding!)

Bottom Line:  Do what's best for yourself when it comes to working out.  Enjoy your music – or that TV series you can't live without.  Whatever makes you happy, more efficient, and more willing to exercise and maintain your health.

Click Here to check out 3LG's titles on Fitness/Health.  (We don't recommend listening to music/watching TV while you're viewing a fitness DVD.  We're all for multitasking... but that's a bit too much).

Oh – and recommendations for great songs are welcome!