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Laura Stack is America's premier expert in productivity. For over 20 years, her speeches have helped entrepreneurs, leaders, teams, and organizations improve output, lower stress, and save time at work and in life. Her company, The Productivity Pro, Inc., provides time management workshops around the globe that help attendees achieve Maximum Results in Minimum Time. Widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the field of performance and workplace issues, Laura has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN, USA Today, and the New York Times. She's the bestselling author of many books, most recently What to Do When There's Too Much to Do. Connect at TheProductivityPro.com; facebook.com/productivitypro; or twitter.com/laurastack.

Laura Stack

August 2016 - TD Magazine

Building on Drucker’s Pivotal Work

April 2013 - TD Magazine

Managing Effectively Without Micromanaging

Once upon a time, executives would go to an off-site brainstorming session, come back with a multiyear strategic plan, and hand it off to their employees to dutifully execute. But in today's world of rapid, disruptive change, it's hard enough to come up with a five-month plan, let alone a five-year plan. As one executive interviewed by author Laura Stack put it, 'You prepare a strategic plan and then put it on the shelf, while the real world passes you by.'
Nowadays, strategy can't be separate from execution it has to emerge from execution. New technologies, sudden changes in global markets, and viral customer reactions to new products require quick, nimble response sometimes even a complete strategic 180. But if your organization isn't set up to be fast on its feet, you could easily go the way of Blockbuster or Borders.
Stack shows you how to make sure your organization is ready for on-the-spot strategic execution. Her L-E-A-D Formula explains how to leverage the people and resources you need to create an agile organization; establish an environment where your employees are confident and capable enough to take the initiative and make on-the-fly changes; ensure that your team is in alignment with the organization's goals, so they'll make the right strategic choices; and remove obstacles, so they can drive the organization forward quickly.
Of course, you'll still need to have a great strategy in place, but your goals must be subject to constant readjustment and revision. You have to work with your team to build effective business strategies in real time, not be bound by a plan that may be out of date as soon as it rolls off the printer. Execution really is the strategy that will propel your organization forward, and Laura Stack can help you build an organization ready to meet the challenge of constant change.

Execution Is the Strategy: How Leaders Achieve Maximum Results in Minimum Time

For the sales training or enablement function to have a positive effect on the business, those employees must create, commit to, and sustain stakeholder relationships.

17 Steps to Stakeholder Satisfaction

You can use experience maps to gain perspective about what and how a learner performs in a particular context. This template can be expanded to include as many columns as you need. You can also do this exercise along a wall, using sticky notes for column and row headings.

Experience Map Template

Sometimes it feels like the hardest part of the e-learning journey is getting a talent project funded so you have the tools you need to help the workforce grow. Once you make the investment, how do you know that it’s paying off so you can continue your excellent work? As the world’s largest e-learning provider, Skillsoft has helped thousands of organizations show the value of e-learning. They call this codified collection of practices and results the Skillsoft Effect. In this webcast, Laura Rexford, director of value engineering at Skillsoft, will share three practices that have helped clients around the world get and maintain funding for e-learning projects. Additionally, she will discuss three types of metrics recommended when telling the learning value story to stakeholders.
Participants will take away:

three practices for getting and maintaining funding for e-learning projects and programs
three types of metrics recommended when telling the e-learning value story to stakeholders
a value chain worksheet for connecting use cases to organizational goals to business impact.
 


The Skillsoft Effect: 3 Metrics and 3 Practices for Showing the Business Value of E-Learning

How do you successfully obtain your dream job when your current position does not properly reflect your skill set?This was my exact situation two years ago: I was struggling to find a path to my ideal career using the work experience I already had. Here are three quotes that demonstrate how I was able to find my way. Each quote promotes a mindset that will help you build a sound career foundation. “Do what you have to do, in order to do what you want to do.”—Denzel Washington, The Great DebatersThis concept is similar to having to take one course before you are allowed to take another. Ensure that you research the prerequisites for whatever you want to do and complete those tasks first (educational courses, certifications, work experience, outreach, and so forth). Additionally, don’t resist taking on responsibilities you initially may not find beneficial. For instance, before I became a trainer, I was working as an eligibility clerk. I was given tedious assignments such as consolidating registration forms or making appointment reminder calls to patients, work I thought was more suitable for interns or volunteer staff. However, later I realized that the experience helped increase my customer service and curriculum-building skills. Thus, it is important to view every job as an opportunity to optimize your skills and not as a setback.“Wise men make more opportunities than they find.”—Sir Francis BaconTime and time again I was turned down for positions that I felt were more in line with what I wanted to do. I began to feel stuck and frustrated, but I learned that I had to create the opportunities I wanted instead of trying to find ones that already existed. So, I contacted the organizational learning and effectiveness (OLE) department at my company and asked if they had any open positions. They told me they didn’t, so I asked if I could volunteer in their department to gain experience. Although they said the volunteer position would be unpaid, I happily pursued the opportunity. I volunteered in the OLE department for four months, gaining experience in facilitating new employee orientation, designing and coordinating workshops, developing standard works, and deploying employee engagement surveys. I was able to network with people who had the job titles and knowledge I wanted; as a result, I was referred to a group facilitation skills workshop that became a vital addition to my resume.Be confident and resourceful when establishing a career foundation. Remember, the only limits that exist are the ones you create.“For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.”_—_Amy Carmichael, IfIn the midst of trying to find the job that’s right for you, your patience and politeness will be tested. Learn to persevere and remain humble despite life’s trials and tribulations. When you feel angry, uninspired, or defeated, ask yourself:How will being rude to my co-workers or customers benefit me?How will being lazy at work because it’s “not what I want to do” positively contribute to my work ethic?How will being cynical allow me to approach challenging situations objectively?Try to envision what your triumphant testimony will look like once you have successfully accomplished your goals. Don’t let spiteful co-workers, irate customers, unorganized work environments, or an unsupportive manager deter you from growing professionally. Consistency and patience are key, and you may even enjoy the journey if you smile along the way!According to R.M. Frischmann in Online Personal Brand: Skill Set, Aura, and Identity, “Transferable skills are the ones that can be used across subjects and disciplines. Technical skills are related to a specific discipline.” You must work passionately to obtain the technical skills you need to be hired for the position you want. But equally important, you must identify which skills you currently possess that are transferable. There’s strength in being proactive; do what’s necessary, create a path if there isn’t one, and remember that a smile is your greatest accessory.ATD young professionals are encouraged to get involved and submit content to ATD blogs. Find out more about how you can share your content and ideas. Attending the ATD 2015 International Conference & Exposition? View a list of events and activities for young professionals.

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