You have a network and ways to upskill, even from afar.

During recent months, many of us may feel as though we’ve lost our network. It’s no longer easy to pop by a colleague’s office and bounce off ideas for a new training program or discuss a new tool. However, the Association for Talent Development has several resources that can help make up for the peer expertise you feel you’ve been missing.

Ask a Trainer. This online question-and-answer column featured on TD.org seeks to be responsive to real-world talent development problems, reflecting what’s on practitioners’ minds and offering practical guidance. The series enables talent development professionals to ask questions anonymously and receive advice on training dilemmas, instructional design snafus, e-learning challenges, and any other stumbling blocks that come their way. Originally featuring Tim Slade answering questions, the column now includes guest columnists weighing in.

For example: Do you have multiple generations in your training audience? How do you deliver effectively to all of them? Management and generational diversity expert Bruce Tulgan answered this diverse audience question. The individual who submitted the question posited, “Younger learners seem to respond to a more conversational facilitation style and appreciate interaction, while older learners seem to be less bothered by lecture.” Tulgan advised, “No matter what, I try to teach like I’m talking to each and every individual. Whenever possible, we survey the audience in advance to find out what’s bothering them and what their learning goals are.”

Other columns have addressed such topics as how L&D professionals can support frontline workers, ways to develop an online learning support system, and how to prove the value of talent development in a down economy. Submit your pressing talent development questions to [email protected].

The Accidental Trainer. This bi-monthly podcast series, which kicked off on January 20, features interviews with renowned experts in the talent development field. Among them have been Elliott Masie, Karl Kapp, Connie Malamed, and Bev Kaye. Moderated by ATD’s Career Development Content Manager Lisa Spinelli and sponsored by GP Strategies, The Accidental Trainer has relayed expert advice on such topics as how to stay on top of trends in technology, why talent is everything, and how to gain confidence in your training delivery.

An especially timely guest was Whitney Johnson, author of Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work. Given the massive upheaval these last few months—to our businesses and to the way we do work but, most importantly, to life in general—how can you manage more easily? That is a challenge regardless of the circumstances behind it, even when we disrupt ourselves. Gather some tips from Johnson and hear how she has managed during challenging times. (Bonus: Access Whitney Johnson’s Disrupt Yourself podcast for further tips.)

Friday Twitter Chat. When the COVID-19 pandemic first began, most of us (who weren’t already doing so) began working from home. Even for those who had been working remotely, things likely felt different: uncertain, scary. To help connect and share what we are going through together, ATD began Friday Twitter Chats, beginning at noon ET. Participants have talked about how they’re staying productive and healthy and about how they’re supporting each other. Niranjani Chidamber Papavaritis, manager of ATD’s healthcare community, mentioned that she asks about others’ well-being rather than jumping right into work discussions. For her own health, she takes breaks to focus on deep breaths throughout the day and to clear her head.

On March 20, participants shared some of their virtual training tips—including suggestions on engaging learners in the virtual environment and advice for first-time virtual trainers. A recap of the conversation is available at TD.org.

What are you learning? Take part in the next @ATD chat to share and learn from your talent development colleagues.

ATD Virtual Training Resources. Many in the talent field are embarking on training, managing, collaborating, as well as other processes virtually for the first time. That’s why ATD has pulled together some of its best resources on virtual training in one place. Watch, read, and learn. And discover how you can access additional resources. Check out “6 Things to Consider When Transitioning to Virtual Training,” “Remote Workers Need Real Communication,” “Producing Virtual Training Certificate,” and much more.

Times are challenging, but now is also a great time to grow yourself so you can continue to upskill and reskill learners.

Share your ATD Virtual Conference experience on social media. #ATDVirtualConference