"It helps me cognitively."

We just returned from ASTD ICE in Chicago and it was, as always, a very rewarding experience. There is something about the conference environment that sets a tone that is both exciting and relaxed at the same time, and this always results in our having conversations with our LeaderGuide Pro users that we just don't otherwise get to have.

Two conversations in particular stand out. One was with Valerie Noll, CPLP, who said that LeaderGuide Pro has helped her cognitively. As she explained it, we can only hold so much in our heads at once, and not having to think about formatting frees up mental space for focusing on what the instructional content should be instead of how it should look. I have been saying for years that LeaderGuide Pro is a thinking tool as much as a productivity tool, but it took Valerie to convey it in a way that really resonates. Thank you Valerie!

The other conversation was with Paul Donovan, a professor at the National University of Ireland, who is doing research on Learning Transfer. One of his key findings so far is that trainer effectiveness is a key factor in the learning transfer process. This seems intuitive when you think about it, but Paul's research documents it. So, how can we help our trainers be more effective? Provide them with clear, well documented, easy to follow leader guides. Thanks Paul! By the way, I have asked Paul to send us a link to his research, which we will make available as soon as we receive it.