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	<title>Marastar Blog</title>
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	<description>Marastar Blog</description>
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	<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:56:52 EST</pubDate>
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		<title>Marastar Blog</title>
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		<description>Marastar Blog</description>
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	<item>
		<title>How the Internet is helping Human Resources management training programs</title>
		<link>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=14</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Human Resources management positions can be some of the more difficult to fill because of the wide variety of personal and professional skills required to do the job well. The training process for HR jobs also goes well beyond the typical HR training seminars and management training programs, making HR Managers important people to invest in. Human Resources Managers need to be continuously learning new skills to deal with developing issues that were not present in HR departments 10 or 20 years ago.

HR Training in an online world
The expansion of issues that fall under the Human Resources department&amp;rsquo;s discretion has put HR people are in high demand, and Human Resources management training programs are struggling to keep up. The Internet has added a new layer to HR training and requires Human Resources Management training programs and seminars to constantly evolve and stay abreast of the next level of employee communication, with other employees and with customers.

But while the Internet has added more responsibilities to the Human Resources management department, it has also made it easier to find HR training materials and information. A number of credible organizations publish Human Resources management articles, resources and news stories online, and RSS readers make staying on top of industry news a snap.

Making Human Resources management training programs work for you
However, for effective HR training, managers need to do more than just know what&amp;rsquo;s going on; they need to teach and implement what they&amp;rsquo;ve learned effectively. The demand for Human Resources management training programs is high, and the ones that demonstrate proven success find a way to present the growing amount of HR training material in a manner that is enjoyable and memorable. These programs engage employees and make their message stick by encouraging interaction with the material. 

The best Human Resources Management training programs don&amp;rsquo;t stop after the seminar is done; they carry the training throughout the workplace to provide daily reminders of what employees learned at the time and place they are most likely to use it. Our ToonUps use humor to convey the original HR training message, then provide printed follow-up materials and digital graphics that can be used in emails and PowerPoint presentations to drive the lessons home.

If you want to succeed in the competitive field of Human Resources management, you need to do your homework. But even more importantly, you need to make sure your employees are doing theirs, and that you are investing in all of your futures. Check out some of the Human Resources information sources below and use that information to find an HR training program that will work for you and your employees.

    SHRM Website for the Society for Human Resources Management, the world's largest professional association devoted to human resource management. 
    HRM Guide An international guide to Human Resources management articles, books, updates, media releases and more, organized by country. 
    Human Resource Blog A well-maintained blog from the Labor Law Center that provides a practical source for daily HR tips, news and knowledge. 
    HR.com&amp;nbsp; Full wesbite dedicated to Human Resources management and HR training, full of events, job guides, articles and HR community resources. 
    HR Blog at HR Management Today Human Resources management blog from the faculty of Capella University, an online education and degree program with a strong business management program. 
    Human Resources Management Library Free library of articles and information sources that works for both non-profit and for profit companies.
    
]]></description>
		
		
		<category><![CDATA[Training Cartoons]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Management Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Human Resources]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[HR Training]]></category>
		
			
		<author> (MaraStar)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:59:00 EST</pubDate>
		<comments>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=14&#35;comments</comments>
		
		
		
	</item>
 
	<item>
		<title>Information on the Call Center Summit</title>
		<link>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=13</link>
		<description><![CDATA[The state of the economy has dramatically slowed the push for call center training and expansion, but it is in these trying times that call center education is most important. When money is tight, excellent customer service is all the more important; it&amp;rsquo;s more of a struggle to get someone to part with their money or risk switching providers or brands, so you really need to impress.

The Call Center Summit can help. This year is the 4th Annual Call Center Summit, a conference that brings together leading professionals to share their strategies for call center success; this year will focus on success in an economic slowdown. 

Four CEO Keynote Speakers and 30 award winning speakers will take your call center education and call center training to the next level through content-rich case studies, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking discussions. This is the leading event for attaining practicable tools for customer retention, increased agent productivity, and maximized profit. 

Featured speakers for this year&amp;rsquo;s summit include GE Commercial Finance, Canada Post, 1-800mattress.com, Unilever, Voices.com, optionsXpress, CIT Group, Assurant Canada Solutions, American Teleservices Association, Disney Destinations, Diamond Resorts, Office Depot, and more. Visit http://callcenterevent.com/ for more information.]]></description>
		
		
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Service]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Service Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Call Center Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Call Center Education]]></category>
		
			
		<author> (MaraStar)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:12:00 EST</pubDate>
		<comments>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=13&#35;comments</comments>
		
		
		
	</item>
 
	<item>
		<title>Using web based training for harassment without making anyone blush</title>
		<link>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=12</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Human resources management positions might be some of the most difficult to fill and execute successfully, because there are a lot of &amp;ldquo;touchy subjects&amp;rdquo; to deal with. Diversity and harassment training for in the workplace, issues of punctuality and absenteeism, helping employees work as a team and deal effectively with change in the workplace; just thinking about making it your job to help employees grasp these tough concepts is exhausting. However, human resources management is a vital part of any major company.
Why web based training for harassment works
Online resources and web based training for harassment and other sensitive issues has made it easier to inform and instruct employees without running the risk of offending or embarrassing them in front of their colleagues. Sure, we&amp;rsquo;re all adults, but that doesn&amp;rsquo;t mean we always act like it. Web based training, for harassment and diversity courses especially, allows employees to view material and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of it on their own time, away from the prying eyes of potentially judgmental coworkers.

Our experience with human resources management has shown us how challenging it can be to train employees in any subject, but it becomes increasing difficult when employees are uncomfortable with the subject matter. Our training materials and sessions can be taught to a group, as a live diversity or harassment training for in the workplace, or individually online as web based training. For harassment issues, it is crucial that all employees know the protocol, but teaching what behavior to avoid can cross a line in itself. That&amp;rsquo;s where an e-course comes in handy.
How online training helps with human resources management
Web based training for harassment, diversity and other personal issues can spare the human resources management team and everyone else involved from having to listen to an insecure jokester&amp;rsquo;s embarrassing attempts at humor, getting through the training faster and in a more comfortable environment that the employee can tailor to his or her preference. The human resources management team can also conduct a group session of harassment training for in the workplace after everyone has reviewed the material.

However you present it, web based training for harassment is a safe bet for human resources management professionals responsible for employee training. Try different methods of delivery and see what kind of harassment training for in the workplace works best for you and your employees.]]></description>
		
		
		<category><![CDATA[Training Cartoons]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Diversity Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Human Resources]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Harassment Training]]></category>
		
			
		<author> (MaraStar)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:41:00 EST</pubDate>
		<comments>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=12&#35;comments</comments>
		
		
		
	</item>
 
	<item>
		<title>The trick to diversity training</title>
		<link>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=11</link>
		<description><![CDATA[As the world we live in has shifted and moved forward, employees are often left struggling to keep up, leading to a new breed of human resources issues surrounding cultural and lifestyle differences. Diversity training programs have been implemented to try to help people who find it difficult to separate the personal from the professional, an important distinction in many workplaces. The goal of diversity training is to teach tolerance, if not acceptance, and to demonstrate that personal choices and cultural beliefs do not need to play into a respectful professional relationship.
What does diversity training do?
Diversity training programs are defined as &amp;ldquo;training for the purpose of increasing participants&amp;rsquo; cultural awareness, knowledge and skills, which is based on the assumption that the training will benefit an organization by protecting against civil rights violations, increasing the inclusion of different identity groups, and promoting better teamwork.&amp;quot;
Diversity&amp;rsquo;s role in human resources issues 
Human resources issues arise when one employee has strong, negative feelings about some aspect of a coworker&amp;rsquo;s lifestyle, religion, culture, belief system, gender, race, sexual preference or other characteristic not related to work or indicative of job performance. The difficulty lies in that the employee&amp;rsquo;s issue with a coworker usually stems from some deep-rooted belief or childhood upbringing and is difficult, if not impossible, to break or change. So, an achievable goal for diversity training programs is not to change beliefs but to increase awareness and tolerance of people and lifestyles that are different from what one may consider the &amp;ldquo;normal&amp;rdquo; or &amp;ldquo;right&amp;rdquo; way to live.
This is one of the major arguments against diversity training; it doesn&amp;rsquo;t actually work, it just masks the problem, if it even does that. The underlying human resources issues are still there, just lying in wait until a tense day at the office.
Are diversity training programs doomed to be ineffective?
Investing in diversity training is not akin to placing a BandAid where there should be a stitch; it&amp;rsquo;s more like using a different type of stitch to achieve a slightly different, but equally desired, solution. It is unreasonable to assume a few days of diversity training can change a 30 year bias, but it&amp;rsquo;s possible that it can open a 40-something employee&amp;rsquo;s eyes to the fact that, like it or not, their coworker performs his or her job well &amp;ldquo;despite&amp;rdquo; their cultural differences.
Diversity training programs fail when they are afraid to confront the major human resources issues at play and really dig into the problem. This is how diversity training has been labeled a &amp;ldquo;throw away fix,&amp;rdquo; a training seminar in name only that looks good but does nothing.
Why old-school diversity training programs don't work

Diversity training programs have earned this reputation because many employers are afraid of talking about the very sensitive human resources issues that necessitated the training in the first place. They avoid training that could make people uncomfortable and demand watered down versions of diversity training programs that amount to little more than &amp;ldquo;can&amp;rsquo;t we all just get along?&amp;rdquo; Diversity training companies oblige in the interest if making money, because it is easier to waste time on ineffective training that to come up with creative solutions.
But diversity training programs can work, if approached thoughtfully. The trick is to make them so outlandish that no one can be offended; all you can do is laugh. But when the chuckles subside, the core human resources issues remain, leaving room for a discussion that can flow naturally thanks to the ice-breaking laughter. 
Don&amp;rsquo;t believe us? Check out these diversity training cartoons for proof. 
]]></description>
		
		
		<category><![CDATA[Cartoons]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Training Cartoons]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Diversity Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Human Resources]]></category>
		
			
		<author> (MaraStar)</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:52:00 EST</pubDate>
		<comments>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=11&#35;comments</comments>
		
		
		
	</item>
 
	<item>
		<title>The truth about telemarketing training tips</title>
		<link>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=10</link>
		<description><![CDATA[Telemarketing is a tried and true direct marketing method, but it can be hard to get right. Telemarketing training can help, but when it comes to telemarketing skills, tips won&amp;rsquo;t help you make sales; for many, it comes down to an innate selling ability. Either you got it or you don&amp;rsquo;t. the good news is, there are a lot of websites, books, classes and seminars offering tips on telemarketing, so there are plenty of opportunities to perfect the acquired skills and try to make up for a lack of &amp;ldquo;the selling gene.&amp;rdquo;

How to make telemarketing skills tips work for you (or your employees)
The trick to excelling at telemarketing is to take in all the telemarketing skills tips and combine them with more general sales technique training to make yourself more of a natural seller. Telemarketing goes wrong when it is too preachy, pushy or salesy; to effectively close a sale and be a successful salesperson, you need to employ some of the lesser known tips on telemarketing. Training, at least in the traditional method, won&amp;rsquo;t teach you everything you need to know, but it&amp;rsquo;s enough to get you started.

If you&amp;rsquo;re really serious about building up your salesforce or improving your own telemarketing skills, tips and hints training is not going to do it. Most guides that promote themselves as the authoritative &amp;quot;tips on telemarketing training tutorial&amp;quot; are peddling the same tired telemarketing skills tips and sales guidelines as all the other publications before them. Think about it: how much can you learn about selling, one-on-one, to another person, from a book? Reading some top ten tips on telemarketing lists is not going to help you convince someone to part with his or her hard earned money.

Take traditional tips on telemarketing one step further
Now, that is not to say these telemarketing skills tips books are useless. If you&amp;rsquo;ve never sold before, particularly over the phone, they provide a good introduction to direct marketing. But you also need to brush up on your people skills, your phone voice, your general attitude. Comprehensive telemarketing training needs to be a degree in sales, with a minor in psychology and a concentration in interpersonal relationships. There&amp;rsquo;s a lot going on in a very brief phone call, and it&amp;rsquo;s your job to make sure it ends in your favor.

To show there are no hard feelings to all those thoroughly researched telemarketing skills tips articles and published tips on telemarketing books, here are a few telemarketing training tips we think are worth looking over:

Telemarketing Training Tips That Are Actually Useful

    42 Telesales Tips 
    Expert Telemarketing Tips 
    Telephone Marketing Tips 
    Best Telemarketing TIPS 
    Tips for Closing More Sales 
]]></description>
		
		
		<category><![CDATA[Call Center Training]]></category>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Training Cartoons]]></category>
		
			
		<author> (MaraStar)</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:19:00 EST</pubDate>
		<comments>http://blog.marastar.com/index.cfm?CommentID=10&#35;comments</comments>
		
		
		
	</item>

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