90 Seconds to be Inspired

When I started ScaleJOY 5 years ago, I wanted to do one thing.

Build and deliver manager training that actually worked. 

As a CPO, I was consistently disappointed with vendors whose content was off-the-shelf, box-checking, ineffective rinse & repeat. So, I started tinkering with different leadership philosophies, learning methods, and client types. Here’s what I found actually works:

1) Custom. Each company is unique and therefore, the way they think about management and leadership is unique. Celebrate this by teaching managers how to thrive within the context of your company. At a minimum, focus on how to lead to your values in real-world, tactical examples.

2) Cohorts. Work is lonely these days, y’all. People managers love spending time with each other but they don’t often have a business reason to. Give them one by putting them into cohorts to learn and grow together (more on this later). This can be achieved in person or virtually!

3) Timely.

You cannot force people to come to manager training and you definitely won’t get high attendance or engagement if you plop it on the calendar the same week as a product release or at the end of a quarter. The business comes first so plan accordingly.

Content should also be timely. If you’re about the do performance reviews, it’s a great time to deliver training on how to write & deliver feedback. If it’s the end of a quarter, probably a great time to teach about setting & measuring OKRs.

4) 4 Prongs. Every topic should have the following mix of learning touch-points to let the lessons sink in and support all types of learners:

• Full Cohort Workshop (interactive, differing roles/tenure, shared language)

• Independent Homework Assignment (application to the reality of their world)

• Small Group Coaching Circle (accountability to have done their homework; tons of learning comes during these reflections)

• Additional Resources for Self Study (after the sessions, give them podcasts, articles or books that reinforce the learning)

5) Start & End with Accountability.

We need a baseline of where people are starting from and a post-training understanding of what they learned, how they applied it, and the impact.

Some ideas:

• 360 review for all attendees at start and ~3 months after training completes

• Accountability Buddy assigned at beginning of program and partner share-back at the end of the program to show what they learned and how they supported and held each other accountable

6) Hire a Partner. Of all the leadership programs I’ve designed, the most effective ones I built custom content for the company, facilitated for awhile, then ran train-the-trainer experiences so the business could run the trainings in perpetuity, autonomously.

Is this a great business model for me? Actually, yes. Because I’m building a manager training that actually works. Why? Because internal training is just stickier when the leaders from the business are teaching it. All they need is a little guidance on how to facilitate! Superior product + happy customers = 97% come back for other work in the future!

If manager training is on the horizon at your organization, keep reading for some DIY goodies and a special offer!

90 Seconds to Learn a Little

I’m here to tell you, you and ChatGPT can create an absolute banger of a manager training.

But bringing that outline to life, in person or over zoom, in a way that is engaging, memorable, and immediately actionable, is an art that most people need help crafting.

But I’m here to tell you, it can be learned!

One of the best investments you can make in yourself as a leader, is learning how to be a great facilitator.

When a leader masters facilitation, they’re not just running meetings—they’re sharpening a suite of core leadership capabilities. Here are the key skills that naturally get stronger:

1. Active Listening & Empathy

2. Emotional Intelligence & Self‑Awareness

3. Strategic Questioning & Critical Thinking

4. Consensus Building

5. Conflict Management & Negotiation

6. Clear Communication & Framing

7. Coaching & Talent Development

8. Decisiveness

9. Accountability

10. Adaptability & Agility

    

I have exciting news!

I’m launching a Facilitation Certification Program on June 2nd!!! You can sign up here. I’m capping this experience at 20 people to ensure personalized attention for each individual. Included with your certification is the ScaleJOY Starter Pack which includes all the materials to run my 3 best selling manager trainings on your own!

90 Seconds to Connect

Considering the state of the world today, I can imagine many of your companies are being cautious with spending, taking calculated risks, and trying to do more with less. Company off-sites are being cancelled or postponed, hires are being pushed to Q3 or Q4, there’s a collective battening down the hatches happening.

So how do we prioritize connection during these tumultuous times? We get crafty. We know from many an employee engagement circle that people LOVE learning. So give the people what they want! Here are a few to get the creative juices flowing:

• Host a hack-a-thon where small cross functional teams have a time-boxed problem to solve

• Create a shared doc and ask everyone to put down the name of the most interesting person they know who would be willing to speak or teach for no or little money. Boom, brown bag learning lunches for a year!

• Hold a quarterly pecha kucha night - it is SO FUN and intense

• Tack on a learning event to a business event. Even when we cut travel, travel still happens. To see clients, to attend a conference, to do annual planning. Don’t squander the opportunity, tack on a learning experience!

I’d love to hear other ideas of how you are prioritizing connection during uncertain times!

Help me expand my inner circle

My company, ScaleJOY, has delivered quality experiences to hundreds of clients and has grown solely by word of mouth referrals. Spread the joy by sharing this newsletter, or connect them directly to me for leadership development, coaching, or offsite facilitation. Thank you for your continued support!