Wilcox Communications, Inc. - Training, Development, and Marketing Solutions through Media

Emotional Intelligence (or EQ) in Training

2009-09-10T15:42:00.005-05:00

(Go to our web page for information on our services and project samples: http://info.denniswilcox.biz/; contact information: mailto:denniswilcox@earthlink.com).

The importance of "emotional intelligence" or EQ in the workplace is not necessarily a new concept. It is explained well in the following link: http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/articles/2006/09/10/emotional_intelligence_a_new_hiring_criteria/?rss_id=Most+Popular

But what interests me about this in the context of present day thoughts on training is whether or not the provider of training has the EQ to make it effective. This can apply to an individual doing it, a vendor providing it, even the company wanting it done.

Why is this important? Well, because content that doesn't reach the gut of those being trained is not always highly effective, especially if the trainee audience is not highly motivated to begin with. But then also if the company contracting for the training has an attitude or culture that's low in EQ, how does that impact those receiving it? Will they care? Will they pay attention? What if the training provider, in-house or training vendor, doesn't understand or care about the client company's or organization's culture? How effective will their programs be?

It's important to examine your own company's or organization's EQ when it comes to training and to find out the training provider's EQ or ability to grasp yours. It could make all the difference, especially when you're dealing with issues such as safety, which can be life and death matters. Dennis Wilcox

Is "Good Enough" Really OK?

2009-08-28T13:30:00.007-05:00

(Go to our web page for information on our services and project samples: http://info.denniswilcox.biz/; contact information: mailto:denniswilcox@earthlink.com)

In this month's issue of Wired magazine there is an article that appears to glorify the idea of Good Enough Is OK: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/17-09/ff_goodenough. While the author makes some interesting points about how the digital revolution has democratized media by creating technology that allows everyone now to be a movie maker and published author, he seems to, in my opinion, border on being giddy about quality no longer mattering in these areas and so many other areas of our life, that professionalism and quality are passe' and unhip. I wonder about this especially in the context of safety training. When you're providing training that will keep someone from getting injured, even killed, on the job do you really want a training program that's just good enough because it's cheap to produce because you can get your local high school kids to produce it? Where do we draw the line? Are Professionalism and Quality passe', no longer hip? At what point is Good Enough not Good Enough? Or is that no longer a relevant question to ask? Dennis Wilcox

New FDA Head Says Stricter Food Safety Enforcement Ahead

2009-08-25T16:29:00.006-05:00

(Go to our web page for information on our services and project samples: http://info.denniswilcox.biz/; contact information: mailto:denniswilcox@earthlink.com).

According to a recent study by the University of Minnesota's Food Industry Center public confidence in the safety of food supply in the United States is very low. Not a surprise given some of the notable food recalls earlier in the year and last year.

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) new commissioner, Margaret Hamburg, M.D., says the agency is going to crack down on food manufacturing companies that don't follow food safety laws and regulations. Here is a link to her speech at the beginning of August: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Speeches/ucm175983.htm.

Think she's serious? Does the FDA even have the means to enforce food safety laws and its own regulations?

Regardless if you are a company in the food manufacturing business are you doing everything you can to make sure your employees are trained in food safety and hygiene and that you are following the law and implementing strict food safety measures that go beyond what the law requires? After all, you are dealing with the public's health and well being, even their lives, when you manufacture and sell food.

Our Latest Projects

2009-08-19T13:59:00.016-05:00

(Go to our web page for information on our services and project samples: http://info.denniswilcox.biz/; contact information: mailto:denniswilcox@earthlink.com)

Food Safety and Hygiene Training
Staff Training for Agency Serving the Developmentally Disabled

Over the last year we have been immersed in providing comprehensive media-based training programs in the areas of food safety and hygiene for a large food manufacturer here in Minnesota. These training programs are directed at manufacturing employees and contractors of all kinds who work in the manufacturing facilities of the company across the country. We cannot discuss the specifics of the programs here on a public site because of confidentiality (and we rigorously honor the confidentiality agreements and expectations of our clients). But on a more general level they involve the topics of FDA-mandated Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs, HACCP, or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, and SQF, or Safe Quality Food.

SQF is of special interest in terms of ensuring a safe food supply for the public. It is part of an initiative major food product distributors around the world have created which is known as the Global Safe Food Initiative, or GSFI. You can find out more about SQF and GSFI by exploring these links:

http://www.sqfi.com/certification.htm

http://www.us.sgs.com/gfsi_audit_certification_program_retail_food_certification_us

We also completed the first phase of an eLearning project for employees of a highly respected organization that works with the developmentally disabled, Laura Baker Services Association in Northfield, Minnesota. This project lasted two years and involved consulting with the organization to find the optimal eLearning software for the project, exploring the best LMS solutions, working with the selected LMS vendor to ensure functionality of the completed training programs, producing over 20 training program titles, and helping train organization staff to use the eLearning software for in-house development of training programs. The titles focused on soft skills training for staff to help maintain a safe and productive workplace, free of harassment and abuse, Laura Baker's drug and alcohol policies, and maltreatment policies and procedures. This eLearning project followed our production of eight video presentations for Laura Baker for use in employee orientation, public information, and fund-raising. More information and a look at some of the work we did for them can be viewed on the Professional Samples link on our website: http://info.denniswilcox.biz/samples.htm.

Current Newsletter

2009-08-19T11:36:00.009-05:00

Here is our latest newsletter. There are two pages. Please click on each image to view--they will display separately.

(Go to our web page for information on our services and project samples: http://info.denniswilcox.biz/; contact information: mailto:denniswilcox@earthlink.com)