December 2nd, 2010, 11:33 am
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I’m delighted to share with you the December 2010 article in T+D Magazine honoring Dana and Jim Robinson and their contribution to the field. This article marks Dana’s retirement this month. Here’s an excerpt from the article written by ASTD president Tony Bingham: “For more than four decades, Dana and Jim Robinson of Partners in Change have shared their expertise in performance consulting with thousands of learning professionals and organizations around the world…” Click here to read more…. The article features multiple perspectives on the Robinsons’ lasting impact on organizations from luminaries such as Allison Rossett, Peter Block and Warner Burke. Rest assured, the Robinson workshops and services will continue to be available through Exemplary Performance. We’re proud to continue their work! While we’re building upon the Robinsons’ legacy, Dana and Jim are beginning a new chapter. What does the future hold for them? Dana and Jim will continue their passion of traveling the world. Some of their travels will be with their grandchildren, giving them an opportunity to build bonds while increasing awareness of the world’s beauty and diversity. This interest is the focus of the Robinson’s next book, tentatively titled Grandtripping: Building Lifelong Bonds While Traveling with Your Grandchildren. Dana and Jim have a website and blog in the works and also plan continuous learning and volunteer work as part of their “retirement.” To get you started, here’s the perspective of a workshop attendee from 10 years ago: “Attending the workshop changed the way that I work, the work that I do, and the opportunities I’ve had in my career as a result.” Julie P |
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In the early ’90′s I read the Robinson’s book, “Training for Impact.” Their ideas triggered my passion for measuring the business impact of training. Following their advice, I’ve built a long and successful career. The Robinson’s have my undying gratitude for setting me up on the right path.
We want to join in the thanks and good wishes to Jim and Dana Robinson , for their professional contributions to the field of performance improvement – and their generosity in sharing their know-how. Back in 1980,Jim’s development of the Interaction Management series of behaviour models influenced the decision by the Edgars Retail Group in South Africa for me to engage with him at the ASTD conference in Anaheim…and the next step was to ask Jim and Dana to review our training and development strategy and practices , throughout Southern Africa (…during what was their honeymoon and first trip to Africa !).
In the past 30 years,we have kept in regular touch with Jim & Dana as our ‘Partners in Change’ at ASTD and ISPI conferences , read their latest books with professional and personal interest, and adapted many of their learnings and performance tools for African conditions and culture ( “Zapping the Gaps” would have mystified most of us Africans : but “Mapping Performance Gaps” became a phrase that we all latched onto).
Since then, we have had the pleasure of visiting their home near Pittsburgh , sharing our Cape Winelands ambience with them…and enjoying a Botswana safari , which will hopefully not be their last visit to Africa. We certainly look forward to their ‘Grandtripping’ insights and experiences , which we have already begun to emulate with our extended family. Jim and Dana , you have given us professional inspiration, challenges to achieve results…and you remain warm friends whom we deeply value ! Enjoy your new phase of life’s journey ; we look forward to crossing paths again.
Siyabonga kakhulu ( ‘a big thank you’ in Zulu) , from Bill and Judy Sewell : Cape Town , South Africa
Thanks to T&D magazine I found “Training for Impact” the book, and it changed my focus as a social work administrator for good; then I attended the 1999 ASTD Conference in Chicago and was able to participate in Dana’s workshop. Luckily I lost my job in 2008 and was free to start my consulting practice. I give tribute to the Robinsons for providing a framework for my practice of performance consulting for human service organizations–especially ones dealing with performance-based contracting. Enjoy retirement! Cindy Brunger
You know how you go to a gajillion seminars, grab the three ring binders, and never look at them again? I can honestly say that I refer to my Performance Consulting Workshop book on a weekly basis. It transformed the way I work with leaders, my HR partners, and my team. Congratulations to Jim and Dana. The legacy they’ve left is incredible.