Are you a manager or business leader wondering which corporate training goals you should prioritize this year?

It can be a tough call, given the sheer number of professional development courses and topics out there. 

What new skills would most benefit your team and help your company grow?  

Some organizations are prioritizing obvious and immediate needs. For example, video conferencing training to help employees conduct business or teach classes online during the pandemic. 

But in most cases, companies are looking for ways to get a competitive edge over the long term. They are seeking professional training in less tangible areas—soft skills that directly impact teamwork, productivity, morale, talent retention, and company culture. 

In fact, soft skills (versus finite technical skills) have become increasingly popular corporate training goals.  

Which skills are companies investing in most right now? Here are the top 5 trends in corporate training and professional development.

If you are interested in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), you may be considering becoming an accredited arbitrator or mediator.

Both are increasingly popular forms of dispute resolution; both offer interesting and diverse career opportunities.

People pursue ADR training and accreditation for a number of reasons. Some aspire to become professional mediators or arbitrators. Others are simply looking to handle conflict better in their personal relationships or workplace.

It’s certainly an industry in demand. From business disputes to divorce settlements, people are turning to ADR as a more flexible, less costly, and more time-effective means of resolving conflicts.

Arbitration and mediation offer two different approaches to conflict resolution. They differ in terms of procedure and outcomes, as well as training and accreditation.

Quick summary: Compare accredited Mediation and Arbitration certificates offered at Kompass. Learn how you can build your own customized online dispute resolution training program.

Disputes are an inevitable part of the human experience. From personal to professional relationships, in family groups and work settings, at the community level and between nations—conflict is a fact of life. 

It’s how we deal with disputes that defines our capacity to evolve and grow. This is an increasingly valued personal and professional skill.

We’ve been delivering online dispute resolution training for years, and are continuously surprised at the diverse backgrounds and motivations of students. 

Like many judges and lawyers, Mary Joseph entered the field of alternative dispute resolution after retiring from a successful career in law. But she’s not your typical lawyer-turned-mediator.

Mary brings a unique repertoire of skills and scholarship to her mediation practice, including 30 years as an immigration lawyer, a Master’s in Divinity, and expertise in online dispute resolution (ODR).

Two years ago, Mary added mediation instructor to the list. She teaches the accredited Mediation Certificate at Kompass Professional Development.

Updated June, 2021.

“I am convinced that nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people not on strategies.” - Larry Bossidy 

It's tough to argue with Larry Bossidy—renowned business leader, author, speaker, and now retired CEO of Honeywell. 

Bossidy was never an HR manager, but there’s no doubt he understood the enormous value of recruiting, nurturing, and retaining top talent. 

He knew that business success is intrinsically linked to employee success. And who monitors and cultivates employee success? The human resources team. 

That’s why HR has risen in stature to occupy a central role in business. Organizations must compete for the best workforce—and only talented HR professionals can give them an edge. 

Exactly what are companies looking for when hiring human resources managers? They’re looking for candidates with a specific set of core HR competencies.  

Take a look at the top 10 skills you need to work in HR. 

Updated June, 2021.

Canada is in the midst of a mental health crisis. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, at least 1 in 5 Canadians will personally experience a mental health problem or illness this year. 

Suicide is a leading cause of death among men and women, from adolescence to middle age. By age 40, 50% of our population will have, or have had, a mental illness. 

Never has demand been higher for skilled mental health counselors, clinicians, advocates, and organizers. 

We need support at every level, from grassroots community mental health organizations to policy makers and clinical practitioners. 

Are you considering a career in community mental health? Wondering what your job options are, or what training you need to get started? 

Explore some common community mental health careers. Compare roles, learn about educational requirements, and which skills you'll need to succeed in this field.

The use of arbitration is on the rise. More and more employers require workers to sign mandatory arbitration agreements, keeping conflicts like employment discrimination and wrongful termination out of the courts. We're also seeing a major uptick in intellectual property and technology disputes handled through arbitration.

Kat Bellamano teaches the accredited Arbitration training course at Kompass Professional Development. She has been working in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for 17 years.

Updated June, 2021.

It could easily be argued that absolutely everyone can benefit from a quality mental health education course.

With skyrocketing rates of depression, anxiety and suicide across the globe, it seems obvious that mental health education and resources should be a top priority for us all. 

However, until that day comes, it makes sense to support our first line of defense. We’re taking about front-line professionals who deal closely with the public every single day. 

Health care providers are an obvious part of this group, but there are many other occupations that involve working with and supporting groups of people. Educators, social workers, and HR professionals, to name a few.

Any position that involves helping, treating, teaching, coaching, managing, and motivating others can overlap with the domain of mental health. 

Curious about who takes our Mental Health & Addictions course, or if you could benefit from it yourself?  

Here's a look the professions our students come from, and why they take this training.

Training session with the Red Cross on earthquake first aid and disaster response

By definition, emergencies are sudden and unexpected events we don’t usually see coming. No matter how prepared we are, it is impossible to control every variable and predict every outcome.

However, with the right tools and systems, it is certainly possible to identify likely threats and develop response strategies that minimize impact. 

This is the role of an emergency manager. Emergency managers analyze risk to forecast, prepare for, and recover from disaster situations.