2005 Winter Amplifier - Atlas Van Lines

WebinarsAtlas Agent Webinars:Debbie Ulrich,Atlas Corporate Trainer,interacts with webinarattendees fromagencies inHouston, TX,North Canton, OH,Signal Hill, CA,Bozeman, MT,Oxnard, CA,Canton, MI,Birmingham, AL,Elgin, IL,Pasco, WA,from her deskin Evansville.Flexible newway to learnYou’re in New York. You’re in a training session, andyou’re studying with people who happen to be inMissouri, Nebraska, California, Ontario, Texas and Nevada.Oh, and the trainer is in Indiana.Atlas webinars, a training hybrid that combines theInternet and telephone for facilitated group study, is givingAtlas agents a new option for acquiring the knowledge toenable success.According to Tiffany Browning, Atlas Corporate TrainingManager, “the webinar is like a telephone conference ofpeople stationed at their computers. A trainer presentsmaterial and facilitates the discussion, just as in abricks-and-mortar classroom.”Tiffany says the format offers the convenience ofInternet-based training, in that it eliminates the need fortravel. But it has an important differencefrom passive Internet techniques.“In any training environment,individuals often have questions notcovered in the content,” says Tiffany.“Having a trainer on hand makes it morelikely that the question can be answeredor put to wider discussion. The flexibilityof the webinar format allows someattention to the individual needs ofeach participant.”The first webinar engaged 32 peoplefrom 18 different agencies and wasfacilitated by Debbie Ulrich, AtlasCorporate Trainer. Although it fulfilledthe training objectives, Debbie says themost efficient number of participants isaround 20.“We’re hearing favorable comments,but we’re also looking for ways toimprove,” says Debbie. “So we aresurveying our agents for feedback onhow we might refine this product tobetter serve them.”“The webinars are designed tocomplement, not replace, othertraining programs,” says Tiffany. “We intend to add contentbased on the needs of agents and the opportunities wesee to strengthen our overall curriculum.”To date, content has focused on AtlasNet Dispatch.Future webinars may address new agent orientation andsales training. Tiffany urges agents to stay tuned to theAtlas Bulletins for upcoming webinar events.In addition, Tiffany wants to remind Atlas agents theyshould plan to complete four Atlas Academy courses byJune 30 to be eligible for the Milt Hill and World ClassCommitment awards.“Webinars will count towards the Atlas Academytechnology standard,” says Tiffany. “We believe this isthe beginning of a new era in training.”“The webinar is like atelephone conferenceof people stationedat their computers.A trainer presentsmaterial and facilitatesthe discussion, just asin a bricks-and-mortarclassroom,” saysTiffany Browning,Atlas CorporateTraining ManagerNew Atlas Video:“This is the realityof loading.”This new Atlas video trainingprogram takes a contemporary“reality TV” approach as itdocuments an actual move fromEvansville to Kansas City. Vignettesdetail the finer points of planningand loading 25,000 lbs. of householdgoods, including stretch-wrapping asofa and preparing a big-screen TVfor safe transport. After a preview atthe Atlas convention, this new videowill be available on DVD or VHSfrom the Atlas Supply website.26 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005 27