Fall 2019
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CTDO Magazine

Connect With Others

Monday, September 16, 2019

This issue of CTDO magazine is full of insight for building better connections with your employees. Liz Janssen, vice president of learning, talent development, and change management at ICF International, puts this principle into practice by participating in the consulting firm's three-year-old formal mentoring program, which she sees as an opportunity for her own growth. "I'm able to coach and guide [participants] on some things," Janssen explains in the Spotlight article. "But it's also helpful for me to hear their perspectives and the reality of client-facing work."

In View From the Top, Adrian Stevens, vice president of learning and professional development at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, describes how his pursuit of purpose, power, and perspective has helped him understand that work is fundamentally about connecting meaningfully with individuals who share a desire to succeed. Leaders who thrive in today's workplace are focused on being their best, creating value for others, and maintaining perspective.

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And in Confessions From the C-Suite, former Kroger CEO Dave Dillon explains the power of feedback, comparing it to a mirror that is a true reflection of the kind of parent, partner, supervisor, or direct report you are. "That mirror is hearing what others think," he writes. "You must find a way to get people to tell you the very things that they would prefer not to tell you. That's a difficult quest to accomplish."

To help talent development leaders build up their connection muscles, Career Hacks outlines emotional intelligence skills such as reframing a situation, using positive self-talk, and visualizing your best self. Prove It provides a blueprint for showing the value of mentorship—not only for building relationships and developing talent but for improving an organization's bottom line. And for conflict-avoiders like me, Angst Index gives a new perspective on conflict, transforming its negative association into a constructive opportunity for connection, creativity, and responsibility.

I hope you enjoy this issue and find new inspiration and ideas for connecting with others. Because at the end of the day, our work is all about people—developing them, coaching them, and truly knowing them.

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As always, I'd love to hear your feedback about this issue. What article was your favorite? Which column is most beneficial in helping to inform your role as a talent development executive? Please contact me at any time with your thoughts.

Read more from CTDO magazine: Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.

About the Author

Ann Parker is Associate Director, Talent Leader Consortiums at ATD. In this role she drives strategy, product development, and content acquisition for ATD’s senior leader and executive audience. She also oversees business development and program management for ATD's senior leader consortiums, CTDO Next and ATD Forum.

Ann began her tenure at ATD in an editorial capacity, primarily writing for TD magazine as Senior Writer/Editor. In this role she had the privilege to talk to many training and development practitioners, hear from a variety of prominent industry thought leaders, and develop a rich understanding of the profession's content. She then became a Senior Content Manager for Senior Leaders & Executives, focusing on content and product development for the talent executive audience, before moving into her current role.

Ann is a native Pennsylvanian where she currently resides, marathoner, avid writer, baker and eater of sweets, wife to an Ironman, and mother of two.