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Learning Bytes by Steve Semler

Leadership matters! I help IT leaders (and others) improve their performance, resilience, and relationships in all four areas of technical leadership. Get info about the Positive Intelligence® mental operating system and develop skills through coaching, simulations, and this weekly newsletter. Enjoy!

A man relaxing on a bench in an office with other people behind him, but he is thoughtful by himself.

Is it Okay for a Leader to be Friendly, but not Social?

Personality plays out in leadership roles in different ways. I was wondering recently if it is okay for a leader to be friendly, but not social. I’m curious about your thoughts on this. Which way do you lean on this question? By “friendly, but not social” I mean that the leader is open, welcoming, supportive, positive, and encouraging, but not outgoing. This person is probably good to work with, but wouldn’t usually be interested in going out for a beer. They may not reach out just to chat....

An image of a poster on a public kiosk reading "We Are One" multiple times

Take Advantage of Unity

"Great works can only be performed through unity, not uniformity." Where are you seeking to do great things? Perhaps you could tap into the power of unity to accomplish your objectives. Image by Gary Butterfield on Unsplash Unity and uniformity are different things. Uniformity is things being the same, without variation. Unity is things being part of one greater thing, contributing their variation to a collective whole. Uniformity is critically important for efficiency and quality. Often,...

A man sitting on a couch with a smile while he does fun training on his smartphone

10 Fun Things to Do with Simulations

Some people ask me what I mean when I say I work with simulations. I explain that the best learning happens when people practice real tasks in simplified real-world conditions. This simulates what they would do on the job. The more that learning activities feel like real work situations, the better the learning transfers to the real world. Typically, by 50% or more over traditional methods! Real-world relevance is why this simulation-enhanced learning strikes a better balance of complexity,...

A picture of a board game box saying 5-Step Simulations™

Why Simulations Save Time

📌 Sim·u·la·tion [sim-yuh-ley-shun]: imitation or enactment, as of something anticipated or in testing. A lot of people in the training world have been using simulations for a long, long time. I've been using simulations for learning since 1989 because they are fun, cost-efficient, and super-effective. (Yep, sorry. Dating myself there.) Why? You ever hear the phrase, “learn by doing?” Yep. That’s what simulations are for. Simulations can be very effective learning strategies, and deeply...

An image of a very surprised toddler boy dressed in smart casual clothes and holding a book, as if he's just received wonderful news

Just a little leadership feedback

Have you ever gotten some positive, validating feedback you didn’t expect? A conversation that told you that you had done a good job, even though you knew you weren’t perfect? I got three bits of very affirming feedback a while back, and they are things I still remember today. Maybe you’ll resonate with this story. Photo by Ben White on Unsplash Back about 20 years ago, I was working for The Schwan Food Company. I had been recruited to go out to southwest Minnesota as a director of learning...

A hand touching a stalk of wheat and feeling the sensations to active positive sensory input

3 Ways to Activate Your Learning Muscles

Did you know that stress interferes with learning? Reactions from our survival brains cause us to sabotage our own efforts to learn, grow, and change. I’ve made several “Activate” videos with short techniques to help learners activate the positive thinking and learning part of their brains and let their survival brain reactions fade. With just 10 seconds at a time of focused attention on a single source of physical sensory input, or by consciously producing a desired emotion, you can...

A LEGO mini figure of a worried and stressed manager sitting at a desk

The Traditional Method Just Doesn't Work

There’s a problem in the training industry that we don’t like to talk about with clients. It’s responsible for much of the cynicism and grumbling about leadership training. I’ve had the opportunity to develop and implement solutions, though. The problem is this: You cannot develop useful levels of on-the-job skill from a one-shot training program. After traditional training programs, the learner is released back to their work area and expected to “just do it” on the job. To use what they...

A group of people gathered around a table using LEGO® bricks to solve a problem.

Empathize, Explore, Innovate (and LEGOs®)

Most engineers and IT folks I know who grew up in families that could afford it loved playing with LEGOs®. Did you know that there are still plenty of ways you can use those magical bricks for more serious business purposes? Here’s a tip from the PQ library on engaging Sage curiosity and then I’ll share info with you about a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshop coming up at the end of February in the Twin Cities. Image by Sebastien Bonneval on Unsplash Tip: Use Sage thinking to Empathize, Explore,...