The 2013 ASTD Conference finished its final day with a bang as session leaders discussed topics including gamification, communicating with the C-Suite, social learning, leadership, and employee engagement. Continue reading below for highlights from conference attendees including: slides from workshops, key learnings, and links to relevant articles.Visit Disney Institute on storify for additional conference recaps and leave your thoughts on the discussed topics in the comments below! [View the story "The Best of #ASTD2013 Day 3" on Storify] …… Continue reading →

[View the story "Lessons and Insights: The Best of #ASTD2013 (Part 1)" on Storify] …… Continue reading →

Your corporate culture reflects the values of your organization. It is a way for potential candidates to identify their likelihood of success, and a way for the organization to optimize performance by maximizing the happiness of its employees.Take for example Googles quantitative approach to creating an environment that supports a highly productive corporate culture. In reviewing their data they found the impact of:The length of the lunch line. The optimal lunch line has a 3-4 minute wait. Any shorter and employees will not have enough time to meet new people, any longer and efficiency is sacrificed.Eating at longer lunch tables. A larger numb …… Continue reading →

In selecting a candidate to fill a role in your organization, prioritize cultural fit — behaviors trump skills. Your organization’s culture is a melting pot of desired behaviors that ultimately portray who you are what you value. At Disney, we talk a lot about the importance of a strong culture. When people are aligned with your culture, they are happier, more productive, and more apt to provide an exceptional experience for your customer.That’s why, "We hire for culture first,’ says Sparc CEO Eric Bowman [of Charleston-based Sparc, a software development shop]. The interview process typically requires candidates to spend time working with the teams they’ll be sitting next to. Then those team members get to vote ‘yay’ or ‘nay."At Sparc, everyone from executives to interns have the authority to vote down a potential hire, for any reason. What do you think of Spa …… Continue reading →

SilkRoad’s TalentTalk Research Program recently surveyed 781 HR professionals who reinforced the importance of employee engagement and provided insight into increasing employee retention.According to the survey, the top three reasons employees become disengaged are:• Burnout and overwork• Dispersed workforce (working remotely)• Lack of strategy from the companyCreating trust in management was the number one way respondents said employee engagement could be fostered and 89% of respondents agreed that engaged workforces have higher levels of employee productivity and employee retention.At Disney, we believe that the extent to which you genuinely care for your people is the extent to which they will care for your customers — and each other. Taking an intentional approach to caring for your people, even if ther …… Continue reading →

Lewis Carroll said, "One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others." This follows a Disney belief that the extent to which you care for your people is the extent to which they will care for your customers.Sometimes we lack the realization that caring for our people is not an incidental, fortuitous event. Caring for others is a leadership skill that can and should be very purposeful. Watch the four ways LendingTree CEO and Director, Douglas Lebda, inspires and motivates his employees. Then, in the comments below, describe the impact Douglas’ suggestions might have for you and your team. What might you add to his list? …… Continue reading →

Leaders know employees are less likely to put forth their best effort when they are only partially engaged. Great leadership comes when you are able to maximize your employee’s potential. And the best part? It doesn’t have to cost you a penny, and the rewards are priceless.When it comes to engaging your employees, think “ARE.” Appreciate, respect, and encourage. Here are examples of how you can begin doing each:A: Spend meaningful time with employees. Employees know how valuable your time is, so spending some of your time with them makes them feel valuable as well.R: Recognize employees by name. Don’t underestimate the power of recognizing someone as an individual.E: Catch them doing something right. Leaders are great at sighting shortcomings, providing feedback, and making adjustments. But it’s the positive reinforcement that comes from acknowledging good behaviors that fuels an individual’s self- …… Continue reading →

Once your employees understand their purpose versus the tasks associated with their day-to-day job, empowering them with genuine authority will motivate them two-fold.• Human factor: Empowered employees are happier employees. Happier employees are more engaged in their jobs.• Service factor: Empowered employees are more driven to serve with their heart.Remember, empowerment is not improvisation. Genuine authority can be delivered to your employees and supported by equipping them to execute within clearly defined boundaries.How do you empower your employees? What impact has it made on your service experience?Continue reading →

This week marks the start of another magical run towards history — it’s not the Walt Disney World© Marathon, but it is sport related.Tonight the road to the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship will kickoff as the North Carolina A&T Aggies face the No. 16 ranked Liberty Flames. The game will be played during the evening, but as the tournament progresses, games will be played throughout the day. Naturally, organizations might begin to worry about the productivity of their basketball-enthralled employees.So how can your organization keep employees engaged during “the madness?” In a recent article by Dr. Bob Nelson of Recognition PRO, Dr. Nelson suggests leaders begin by asking their employees what the tournament means to them.For the fans:• Host an after- …… Continue reading →

At The Walt Disney Company, there is no more prestigious honor than the Walt Disney Legacy award. Recipients “are individuals who consistently Dream, Create and Inspire each day by supporting the business objectives and goals of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.”This month, Disney leadership has traveled to multiple locations to inform recipients that they have been selected for this distinct honor, and Disney Institute was among those stops.The entire Disney Institute team is happy to congratulate Jeff Noel on this momentous achievement!His career with The Walt Disney Company began in 1982 as a Skipper at the Jungle Cruise attraction at The Walt Disney World® Resort, and by 1999, Jeff had accepted an invitation to join the facilitation team at Disney Institute.Since then, he has not only taught the best practices of The Walt Disney Company, he has personified them. True to the title of the award, Jeff has left a lasting Legacy that ins …… Continue reading →