TAG® Blog

It's around the holidays that we typically wax nostalgic. We remember friends, family, co-workers, pets... you name it. The holidays tend to give us a chance to pause and reflect.

Working on diverse teams with divergent points of view, creates opportunities for a different kind of courage. This kind of courage is the willingness to have difficult conversations respectfully and in doing so, to form deeper team bonds that build inclusion and engagement for all team members.

As organizations focus on the implementation of diversity, equity & inclusion programs they sometimes, mistakenly, assume that there is no longer a need for EEO or affirmative action/affirmative employment efforts. This can be a serious error as each program contributes to the organization’s success in different ways.

Having a diversity, equity and inclusion strategy in place within an organization is fantastic! But having a well-planned and result-driven program that is getting results is never implemented without careful planning. Here are some common mistakes we've seen organizations make in the name of 'diversity.'

Diverse teams with members from different backgrounds will offer an even greater variety of expertise and personalities. While it may take an increased amount of respect and awareness to work in concert, the team has a greater potential for victory.

There are times when faced with the choice of following the rules or fighting for a principal such as equality, that a fight against the rules is the right action to take.

If you’re like most managers, your greatest need is for a system of interviewing that doesn’t force you to rely on a gut feeling or your intuition. You want a system that enables you to gather the right information and use it to make informed hiring decisions. You want a system that has built-in predictability, so you know that the person you hire will be successful on the job.

Sollah is content rich and format agnostic. For self- directed learning, we design for all training platforms and help you aim your message and fulfill your learning goals by taking into account your ultimate objectives, specific requirements and the needs of your audience and facilitators. For workshops and classroom needs, we provide full instructional design services, train-the-trainer sessions, training delivery and implementation support.

When working on teams, having a different point of view can provide powerful insight, if people feel respected enough to share that idea. If the team lacks respect for individuals then great ideas won’t be shared. Being respectful of others’ points of view is the first step to developing powerful teams.

We are often asked about the 'formal definitions ' of the terms used in Sollah's video programs and eLearning courses. We work closely with our subject matter experts to present the terms used in our training materials as both legally correct and easy-to-understand. Here are some of the key terms and concepts we're most asked about.

Bias (whether conscious or unconscious) can impact teams and with workplace as a whole. What can you do to combat it in your organization?

The impact of the current pandemic has been felt by just about every business around the world. Organizations are navigating a broad range of issues that span from keeping their employees and customer safe to re-configuring business operations and getting things to a 'new' normal

On teams, it is important to be willing to invest time into the lives of other team members. We do this by learning about what they need and what obstacles they face and by then offering our assistance.

When working on diverse teams, sometimes you have to create your own opportunities by putting forth new ideas, proposing collaborations, and building networks that will help accomplish your goals.

In an effort to educate employees about ethical business practices and regulatory compliance within the organization, many organizations are developing ethics and compliance programs. These programs encourage ethical behavior and compliance with regulatory requirements.

So, now you’re working from home. Awesome! Right? Working from home is great on so many levels. Not having to commute saves money and time. You can avoid the fish and popcorn smells emanating from the break room. And new technology tools make it simple to check in with office teammates.

Our fears limit us. They hold us back. They keep us from living a positive, proactive life that embraces the good and decries that which needs to be changed. Fear-based decisions hurt us, and they hurt others who are affected by our decisions. The child who is never allowed to make decisions because we fear she’ll make the wrong decisions finally rebels and turns into the teenager from the black lagoon.

Little kids run everywhere they go. Ever notice that? They don’t just move in a dignified way from room to room like we do. You get the impression that they’re afraid they’ll miss something exciting if they don’t approach life at warp speed. And they can be brought to a screeching halt by a colony of ants or a pile a leaves. If you catch us running, it’s because we’re late for a meeting.

During these stressful times, Sollah Interactive is here to help. Whether it’s walking through training needs or simply for an ear to listen… we are here. We are open. We are present. We are prepared to help.

When we feel that we have no control, many (ok most) people get frustrated, fearful and stressed. None of this helps to improve our interactions with others who inhabit this planet with us. But, we can all make a difference – large or small – to ourselves and others as we move through this challenging time.

When working on teams, it is important not to look at limitations but instead at the potential contribution that each person can make – regardless of what kind of package that contribution comes in. This will allow you to maximize the skills and abilities of all team members. Action Step: The next time you interact with someone, ask yourself, what potential contributions do I see this person?

The individual brilliance of an employee is not always realized until a group comes together to collaborate. Working with other employees on diverse teams helps each team member to tap into their creativity, often producing ground breaking products and services that could only be discovered through collaboration.

In order to reduce harassment claims in your organization, employers should establish, distribute to all employees, and enforce a policy that prohibits inappropriate behavior (including harassment), and communicates a procedure for making complaints.

Be patient when working on diverse teams so that together you are able to accept challenges and to grow from them.

A single drop of water splashing against a rock may not seem to have an erosive impact. However, there is power in water drops, for over time water has the strength to wear down stone.

Seriously... what's all this talk about inclusion? Leveraging the power of diversity is all about embracing inclusion!

Interviewing can really suck! Having a hard time getting it right? Behavior-Based Interviewing works when it comes to hiring for a good fit.

Jumping out of an airplane might seem insane to some people, while to others it is an exhilarating and often repeated experience. What makes one person deeply afraid may not be at all scary to another person.

A documentary about life in the sea will provide knowledge about ocean life. However, that knowledge is enhanced when it is combined with the experience of scuba diving. The combined knowledge and experience deepens your understanding of the sea exponentially.

During the Revolutionary War, lobster was considered such inferior food that it was used to feed the British prisoners, and even they revolted against it. With the advent of railroads, trains brought lobster to the Midwesterners, who had no cultural bias, and found it to be a delicacy.

Documenting Discipline™ our newest Classic course has just been released. Lack of solid documentation is the single most common mistake employers make when handling discipline or terminations. What if you need to justify an employment decision or termination long after it occurs?

Crisp, clear, high definition video is great for home... and even better for training. Sollah Interactive has been releasing new content in high definition video and now it's being added to TAG®!

Based on the best-selling interviewing program of all time. More Than a Gut Feeling™: Leveraging the Power of Behavior-Based Interviewing eLearning Program Has Been Released! This interactive course will empower and increase understanding that the single best predictor of future job performance is past job behavior.

When a rubber band is stretched taut it has potential energy. This potential energy is only important if the rubber band is released and the band moves towards a target. A diverse team can also have incredible intrinsic potential. However, if team members do not feel comfortable contributing their unique ideas, they will not release their great potential energy towards the target of innovation.

Sollah Interactive, a premiere training content producer and curator has announced today the acquisition of Media Learning International’s content library.

Even with the most common of words, understanding the context in which that word is used is critical to understanding the significance behind what is being said, whether communicating across the world or across the hall.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) or Emotional Quotient (EQ) is considered to be the compliment to traditional IQ (Intelligence Quotient). EI has been offered as the missing link which explains why people with average IQ outperformed those with the highest IQ 70% of the time.

The majority of the time, a male peacock looks ordinary and small. However, when given an opportunity to showcase himself, he becomes a world-renown beauty.

The energy of a “match on the pitch” comes from a group of people sharing in their common passion. Being in the midst of your passion is an energizing experience.

With effective instructions, open communication, and management support, employees are able to unlock and cultivate their natural talents and interests into skills that add to the strength of their team.

It's always great having a resource to help understand tough workplace issues - like harassment and discrimination. The EEOC has published their matrix for noticing the risk factors for workplace harassment and discrimination. We've added a column - called Sollah Solutions - that helps our customers find the best resources to combat those risks.

Having preconceived notions about other people is like assuming that you know all of the ingredients of an item of food just by looking at it.

On a calm, sunny day a lighthouse keeper’s job may seem unnecessary and unimportant compared to that of a ship’s captain. In the midst of a stormy night, however, the captain relies upon the crucial guidance of the lighthouse keeper to safely navigate the ship.