Episode Summary

In this episode of Side Hustle to Small Business sponsored by Hiscox and hosted by Sanjay Parikh, Dr. Carrie Graham discusses her journey from athletic trainer to adult learning strategist and consultant. She specializes in helping small business owners develop effective training and development programs that go beyond checkbox exercises. Dr. Graham identifies three main areas where organizations struggle with training: engagement and motivation, information organization, and practical application of skills. She emphasizes treating employees as valuable human assets rather than resources, and advocates for inclusive leadership development that involves everyone from the C-suite to new hires. The conversation covers her entrepreneurial journey, starting her business during the pandemic, and her mission to transform how businesses approach professional development to create more engaged and effective workplaces.

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Listen Here > https://youtu.be/LbpevRL_nco?si=Y_HfHIMor-u5DXdY

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10 Key Points

1. Three Core Training Problems: Most organizations struggle with engagement/motivation issues, poor information organization, and lack of practical application of learned skills.
2. Human-Centered Approach: Successful training and development requires viewing employees as valuable human beings with full lives and experiences, not just resources or commodities.
3. Leadership Inclusion: Effective professional development culture requires participation from all levels, from C-suite executives to newest employees, to build strong leadership qualities.
4. Employee Engagement Strategy: Make training about the participants, not the trainer - ask about their experiences and let them share their knowledge and insights.
5. Strategic Career Conversations: Instead of repeatedly asking if employees are unhappy, engage in meaningful discussions about career goals and professional development plans.
6. Trust-Based Culture: Building trust requires consistency between stated values and actual organizational culture to truly empower employees.
7. Pandemic Pivot Opportunity: The 2020 disruption created opportunities for career transitions and leveraging existing expertise in new ways.
8. Language Alignment: Understanding industry-specific terminology and operational definitions is crucial for effective communication with potential clients.
9. Seeking Help Early: Don't let ego prevent you from getting professional assistance - recognize that expertise in one area doesn't translate to all business skills.
10. Reflective Foundation: Successful entrepreneurship requires quiet reflection on past experiences to identify transferable skills and knowledge.

10 Takeaways/Action Items

1. Assess Your Training Gaps: Evaluate your current training programs against the three problem areas - engagement, organization, and application.
2. Implement Human-Centered Training: Shift your professional development approach to focus on employees as whole people with individual needs and career aspirations.
3. Create Inclusive Learning Culture: Establish training and development programs that include leadership at all levels to build consistent leadership qualities.
4. Practice Active Listening: In training sessions, ask participants about their experiences first, then stay quiet and let them share their knowledge.
5. Develop Strategic Career Dialogue: Replace generic "are you happy?" conversations with specific discussions about professional development plans and career goals.
6. Align Culture with Values: Ensure your organizational culture consistently reflects your stated commitment to employee development and empowerment.
7. Leverage Existing Skills: Take time to reflect on your past experiences and identify how they can be applied to new opportunities or business ventures.
8. Learn Industry Language: When entering new markets, invest time in understanding the specific terminology and definitions used by your target audience.
9. Get Professional Help Early: Don't wait until frustration builds - seek expert assistance as soon as you've struggled with something multiple times.
10. Build Reflective Practices: Establish regular quiet time for reflection on your experiences, challenges, and opportunities for growth.

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Key Insights

Dr. Graham's transformation from athletic trainer to learning strategist demonstrates how diverse professional experiences can provide unexpected foundations for entrepreneurship. Her emphasis on treating employees as complete human beings rather than resources offers a refreshing approach to training and development that can significantly improve engagement and outcomes.

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Resources‍

Listen Here > https://youtu.be/LbpevRL_nco?si=Y_HfHIMor-u5DXdY

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