Carol Decker

Tennessee Wesleyan professor Carol Decker writes in her November 2008 Links article that, "Understanding the reasons for elasticity can help an organization create a beneficial training supply and demand. In short, these items can help training personnel avoid recessionary effects and simultaneously assist in rethinking training program designs." She points out the merits of understanding "elastic" economic principles in doing the needed rethinking of training programs during tough economic times. (Read the entire article.)

Carol Decker: The Elasticity of Training

ATD Links Archive - ATD Links

Once employees realize that all opinions count, productivity generally increases. The key is that fairness must be extended to and processed by all employees for a company’s culture to change.

Fair Process: The Link To Creating A Productive Organizational Culture

April 2018 - ATD Links

Branding is important not only for companies but for prospective employees, as well. A brand makes you recognizable and serves as a symbol of distinction. Potential employees must be prepared with a branding strategy that stands out to employers and shows that they are worth the investment and will make a contribution each day. Employers that are searching for employees with brand equity might want to consider what a faith-based employee brings to the table.Faith-based candidates or those with faith-based preparation and background bring a unique brand to any workplace. Many times they have prepared themselves to work in multiple cultures and thereby bring an ability to adapt to your environment. Candidates grounded in faith often bring commitment and loyalty to your organization that was developed within their faith learning.Overall, what does a faith-based employee’s brand profile look like?Mission: To serve and lead others in sincerity and upright actions.Benefits and features:• Integrity: Integrity and honesty are high priorities• Harmlessness: Faith-based employees have no desire to harm others but rather to exhibit love to all.• Careful thought: Faith-based employees will be slow to speak and search internally for guidance before reacting to situations, especially those that present challenges.• Loyalty, commitment, and dedication: Faith-based employees work as if they are doing so for their faith.• Integrated: Faith-based employees have a desire to work with others.• Positivity and goodness: They search for positive and good things rather than focusing on negativity and bad approaches.• Striving to serve as an example: Faith-based employees are concerned about how others perceive them and want to do what they say they will do to represent themselves in the best light.• Knowledge-seeking: Similar to how they study their faith, these employees are open to studying hard to do well in their work.• Focus on peaceful solutions: You can count on the faith-based employee to be your peacemaker and steer others away from conflict.External perception and message: Faith-based employees want others to perceive them as tokens for good and goodness.Associations: Faith-based employees want to be associated with those individuals and organizations that project right standing. They make it a priority to not associate themselves with anything that would cause them to be misrepresented for the good they stand for.Is this an employee that you would consider and want on your staff? In searching and selecting faith-based employees, of course you must first consider occupational qualifications, but include the following examination:• Consistency: Is the candidate consistent with the same message to everyone in the interview process? Is their communication consistent? Is their theme the same?• Examples: Does the candidate vocalize, personify, and exhibit a faith-based initiative?• Faith-based tagline: Do they have a statement about themselves that encapsulates their faith?• True follow-up: Do they deliver on their promises or statements?Have you ever considered faith-based employees? Do you have thoughts to share? Join the conversation in the Comments section below.© 2018 ATD, Alexandria, VA. All rights reserved.

Carol Decker

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