Table of Contents

Foreword by Dr. Bernice McCarthy xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction xvii

Chapter 1: What Are Your Natural Training Strengths? 1

The Trainer’s Strengths • Job of the Trainer • Value of This Book • Let’s Get Started: Taking the Training Style Inventory® (TRSI®) • The Four Training Approaches • Four Trainer Type Assessments • Your Learning Style: What You Look for, You Find • Common Descriptions of Ideal Learning Environments • Your Style: The Four Parts of the Learning Cycle • Summary • Identifying Areas of Opportunity • FAQs
• Reflect • Act

Chapter 2: The Four Learning Styles in the Room 33

What Is Learning? • Your Learning Style • The 4MAT® Learning Styles • Understanding Your Thinking Map • Thinking Strengths of Each Style • Functional Strengths of Each Style • How Your Training Style Relates to the Needs of Each Learning Style • Summary • FAQs • Reflect • Act

Chapter 3: 4MAT: The Four Steps of the Learning Cycle 65

A Brief Tour of the Brain • Brain Research on Learning • The Four Steps • Using the 4MAT Model to Design Learning • The First Step: Engage • The Second Step: Share • The Third Step: Practice • The Fourth Step: Perform • Summary • Reflect • Act

Chapter 4: Engage: The Art of Creating Powerful Openings 83

What Happens in Engage • Focus 1: Gaining Attention by Linking to What Learners Already Know • Focus 2: Using Questions to Provoke Reflection, Generate Dialogue, and Guide the Movement of the Group • Focus 3: Creating a Safe Learning Environment • Five Ways to Enhance Learner Safety While Building a Sense of Community • Summary • Reflect • Act • Examples of Engage Activities

Chapter 5: Share: Animating the Learning Content 125

Two Channels of Delivery: Visual and Verbal • The Verbal Channel: How to Organize Your Lecture • The Visual Channel: Animating Lecture Using Visual Strategies • Animating Lecture with Visual Organizers • Animating Lecture with PowerPoint • Summary • Reflect • Act • Examples of Share Activities

Chapter 6: Practice: Building Mastery Through Application 183

Designing Outcome-Based Practice Activities • Facilitating (Setting Up) Activities Effectively • Observing Application • Coaching and Debriefing • Using Questions to Focus the Learner’s Attention • Coaching Assessment Tool • Strategies That Work in Practice • Summary • Reflect • Act • Examples of Practice Activities

Chapter 7: Perform: Assessing and Implementing 217

What You Are Doing • Encouraging Self-Assessment • Gaining Commitment on Future Action • Setting Up a Post-Training Implementation Plan • The 24/7 Rule • Organizing an On-the- Job Support Team • Choosing On-the-Job Coaches • Summary • Reflect • Act • Activities for Perform

Chapter 8: Engaging Virtual Training: How to Maximize Online Learning Impact 249

Designing Your Virtual Session • Engage • Share • Practice • Perform • Summary • Reflect • Act

Chapter 9: Begin with the End in Mind 267

Step 1: Clarifying Stakeholder Expectations and Analyzing the Performance Gap • Step 2: Defining the Four Critical Learning Outcomes • Step 3: Working with Subject Matter Experts to Focus Content and Skills Practice • Example: Defining the Outcomes for a Sales Training Course • Engage: Delivering the Value Outcome • Share: Delivering the Knowledge Outcome • Practice: Delivering the Skill Outcome • Perform: Delivering the Adaptation Outcome • Summary • Reflect • Act

Chapter 10: Assessment: Integrating Measurement into Training Design and Delivery 299

Evaluating at Four Levels • “On-the-Way” Versus “At-the-Gate” Assessment • Level 1: Value— Evaluating for Learner Reaction • Level 2: Knowledge—Evaluating Knowledge Gained • Level 3: Skill—Evaluating Skills Gained • Level 4: Adaptation—Evaluating Performance and Business Impact • Summary • Reflect • Act

Case Studies

Aveda 325

The Center for Creative Leadership 329

Grundfos Pumps 335

Holland America Line 339

Next Steps 343

Bibliography 345

Index 349

About the Author 357

About the Author

Jeanine O'Neill-Blackwell is the president and CEO of 4MAT 4Business® (4mat4business.com), a training and development company that provides consulting, training, and assessment tools for leaders, managers, and trainers on using the award-winning 4MAT® Learning and Leadership Cycle to effectively communicate, lead, train, and coach.