Return to astd.co.za website

February 2011

ASTD Global Network S.A. is the official South African global network partner of the International American Society for Training and Development. Through exceptional Learning and Performance, we create a world that works better. Our aim is to assist H.R.D / H.R. professionals in South Africa to identify and promote awareness of best International Practices, in Training and Leadership Development and provide Annual Research on the current State of the Industry. We also conduct an annual International Conference.

Upcoming events

  • One Day Workshop on “The Instructional Revolution” featuring Dr. Spencer Kagan from the USA. Date: 18th March 2011 in Johannesburg and 22nd March in Cape Town. He is also our opening speaker for our annual International ASTD Conference to be held in Cape Town 23 - 25th March. Click here
  • A half day workshop on ”Facing Future Challenges: Preparing for the next Crisis and Leading your Organisation in Turbulent Times”. Presenter: Roger Collantes from the Philippines based on his best selling book “Beyond Survival”. Click here for more info.
  • March 23 - 25th is our 7th annual Local ASTD Conference running at The Cape Sun, Cape Town. See www.sbs.co.za/astd2011 for the full programme; featuring 8 overseas experts and over 20 local pro’s. Academia get a special 20% discount for attending.
  • Pre-conference workshops at the Cape Sun International Conference on 22nd March 2011. Click here
  • ASTD USA Annual Conference 22 - 25th May, Orlando, Florida. Please join our study group from South Africa, leaving on the 18th May to visit some world class companies en route. This is the most prestigious gathering of HRD professionals world wide. See conference programme on www.astd.org and click under International Conferences. Contact Robin on e-mail: probartr@worldonline.co.za for details of the South African study tour and conference package. Click here

Highlights from the 2nd Peter Drucker Summit held in Vienna, Austria

November 2010

Several speakers from all over the world spoke at this prestigious event, which now is held every year in Vienna, Austria to commemorate the Management and Leadership guru, Peter Drucker. He was one of the greatest sociological thinkers of the 20th Century. Some of the great wisdom captured in his remembrance from this two day session were:

  • Management is a systematic discipline to create value through people and profit is the presence of good Management.
  • The best way to manage the future is to create it.
  • To-day we face an open society where everyone challenges everyone else. We cannot afford not to be transparent and ethical in the way we manage and lead our businesses.
  • To stay ahead we need to embark on perpetual innovation and reinvention of our businesses.
  • No longer should we harp on outsmarting and resorting to “stealing” a piece of the cake from our competitors. We need to differentiate ourselves and constantly re-invent.
  • Drucker and Jim Collins were both right when they suggested that things like GREED and COMPLACENCY will lead to the downfall of many a leader.
  • It is not the smartest that will survive but the most resilient leaders.
  • You cannot delegate to someone where there is no knowledge, because the lack of knowledge will increase the level of inefficiency. Many managers and leaders are often promoted to their level of incompetence.
  • The older generation has screwed up and the new generation coming to power, will screw up even more and a lot has to do with authority that has lost it’s credibility, especially public authority where our present leaders are not living up to challenges.
  • To ensure sustainability, you need to attract the best minds and the best people in our talent pool.
  • The purpose of an organisation is to enable common men and woman to do uncommon things.
  • Today it’s not what you know but your capacity to learn.

Some of the Biggest Local and Global Challenges facing us in 2011

  • Travel and infra structural upheavals due to natural disasters, weather conditions and power fluctuation.
  • Being able to run a productive business within the stringent legislatory constraints.
  • Continuous economic challenges for fringe countries in the Euro zone to lighten the economic crisis.
  • Many austerity measures imposed by governments in especially the EU.
  • The developing countries (BRIC - South Africa to be added) are catching up fast with the rich countries and hopefully attracting more investments due to low interest rates overseas and struggling economies.
  • More emphasis placed on accountability governance, especially the African Union and Zimbabwe.
  • The gravy train is straining our financial resources due to greed, gluttony and sloth while funds should be utilised in needy areas. We need to create many more jobs and spending less on nurturing a “HANDOUT” mentality.

The National Skills Development Strategy.

the premier workplace improvement programme … the unveiling of Phase 3 (See www.skillsportal.co.za)

Goals of NSDS3:

    • Establish a credible institutional mechanism for skills planning.
    • Increasing access to occupational-directed programmes (10,000 artisans p.a. to qualify).
    • Promoting growth of public FET college system.
    • Addressing low levels of language and numeracy skills to provide access to additional training.
    • Encouraging better use of workplace-based skills development.
    • Support for small enterprises, non-profit organisations, co-operatives and worker-led training initiatives.
    • Increasing public sector capacity for improved service delivery.
    • Building career and vocational guidance.
    • Encouraging and supporting worker-led NGO – and community training initiatives.

10 tips for being a great LEADER

Peter Drucker once said that the Manager’s and Leader’s task is to make people capable of joint performance, to make their strengths effective and their weaknesses irrelevant.

  • Lead by example : honesty, enthusiasm, punctuality, consistency, upliftment.
  • Be a good respectful listener.
  • Have empathy and be available and accessible in times of need.
  • Create harmony: Take the blame, give praise where due, avoid arguments, have fun.
  • Communicate. No news is bad news. Provide ample feedback.
  • Grow leaders around you: Share responsibly, delegate and allow mistakes.
  • Build your team as your greatest asset.
  • Be transparent and value others' inputs.
  • Be an outstanding Role Model at all times.
  • Create enough time to lead and to manage.

More value added to your ASTD MEMBERSHIP

Local ASTD members can now also log onto ”The SA Journal of Human Resource Management” and download informative articles. See www.sajhrm.co.za

ASTD activities over the past year

  • Conducted the 6th Annual local Conference at Champagne Sports Resort, Drakensberg successfully. Over 200 delegates attended with 6 international speakers and 28 local experts. The theme was “Growing Leaders for Africa”.
  • In May a study group visited IBM in New York, as one of the world class companies to benchmark against and then went on to attend the 68th Annual ASTD International Conference in Chicago.
  • Numerous feedback sessions of the ASTD Conference highlights were held in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Thanks for IPM’S joint venture in the Cape and Dionysus super hosting in Durban. Over 15 other presentations were made to various companies on the feedback. Thanks to Guy Blackbeard, Juan Lewis, Michelle Ally and Nico Gibson who assisted us in all these presentations.
  • Newsletters were distributed on a bi-monthly basis and all members received regular monthly copies of “Management To-day” from February through to November. Apologies for the last few copies being bunched together due to printing problems. Let us know if your address has changed.
  • ASTD members now also receive an electronic copy of “HR Future “ Magazine.
  • The 7th Annual State of The Industry Report was published. Thanks to Marius Meyer, Melanie Bushney, Ndayi Takalani and students for a great effort in producing this report. We are the only country outside the States which produces such a report. The latest one is due in February / March.
  • Our ASTD website was overhauled twice during the year to make it more user friendly. See www.astd.co.za. Thanks to Ashley Glover.

Promoting the great year ahead.

May 2011 grant you all the good wishes and blessings you can absorb. Let’s also go out and make a difference in everything we do and with who we come in contact with.

 
Great Things, Robin and the ASTD Team.