Creative Training Techniques - The Bob Pike Group

Training existing employees on new skills is a tremendous undertaking, but it’s the smart thing to do. Surveys show about half of workers need new skill training. Becky has the reasons you should make the investment.

Research Links:

World Economic Forum 2024

Labor Force Snapshot: Older People In The U.S. Labor Force

The upskilling imperative: Required at scale for the future of work

Gallup research (2024)

The Most In-Demand Skills for Learning Professionals in 2024

Harvard Business Review (2024)

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

Imagine short attention spans being your friend instead of your foe. It’s training so short that you’ll finish it before your coffee gets cold. That’s nano learning — short and delivered just-in-time. Becky says your brain doesn’t want more, it wants just enough to take that next action.

Research links:

Garnett, S. (2020). Cognitive load theory: A handbook for teachers. Crown House Publishing.

Sustaining student concentration: the effectiveness of micro-breaks in a classroom setting

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

If people don’t feel included in your sessions, they don’t do well. But not everyone engages in the same way. So Becky says the key is offering multiple ways for learners to engage. She has tips on how to allow each brain to learn the way it learns best.

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

Gamification is huge all around the word. Becky says it works for learning when it’s tied to purpose and meaningful feedback. You’ve got to know why you got it right or wrong.

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

People can recall the details of a story better than the details of a slide. Becky reveals the secret ingredient that will make a story memorable and the structure you can use to build short, memorable stories.

Research References:

Van Voorhis, S. (2023). Looking to Leave a Mark? Memorable Leaders Don’t Just Spout Statistics, They Tell Stories. Harvard Business School Working Knowledge. Link

Graeber, D. (2023). Stories, Statistics and Memory. CEPR / SSRN. Link | SSRN Link

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

The currency of learning is attention. How do you keep people engaged with so many distractions? Becky says attention spans are not shrinking, but the competition for focus is fierce. Becky has some tips on how to get — and keep — your learners’ attention.

Research References:

American Psychological Association. (2021). Attention and learning in the digital era. Link

Simon, A. J. (2023). Quantifying attention via vigilance tasks across the lifespan. PMC. Link

Cardoso-Leite, P., et al. (2021). Media use, attention, mental health and academic performance among 8 to 12 year-old children. PMC. Link

Suppawittaya, P., & Yasri, P. (2025). The effectiveness of chunking methods for enhancing short-term memory of textual information. Psychology and Education, 57(9), 6313–6327. Link

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

You can nurture the leader in everyone, starting in the training room. Becky has examples of how you can build confidence through peer teaching and group problem solving. Bonus lesson: how owning a mistake makes you a better leader.

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

Navigating the issues of copyright and sharing client data are some of the common ethical dilemmas facing trainers. Becky has some tips on how to deal with these ethically, fairly, and legally so everyone is happy.

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

Giving effective feedback is an art and a science. Becky suggests that the Oreo sandwich can be a good way of delivering recommendations.

Research References:

Goldsmith, M., & Reiter, M. (2023). Feedforward vs feedback. Coaching Journal. Future-focused feedback increases motivation. Link

Shuster, E., & Lee, J. (2024). IMBUE AI feedback tool. HCI Proceedings. AI feedback provides accurate, real-time coaching. Link

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.

Why does it matter that you know how to read the room like a pro? Becky says it makes all the difference in how you present. She covers the five components of EQ — Emotional Quotient, also known as emotional intelligence — that can make all the difference.

Purchase Becky's new book here

Podcast available on iTunes here:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/creative-training-techniques/id862555469?mt=2

On Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2L5Ej7fMWOijhAwTlJUVUd

And on the web here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/podcasts-and-videos

Bob Pike Group is the industry-leading firm to train your trainers and design your training programs.