Nicole inspires excellence by using her skills to help others develop their potential. She leads workshops and publishes self-help books to help women achieve their dreams while showing themselves kindness and compassion during the process. She is the author of the books Let’s Talk: Positive Affirmations for the Soul, #Thoughts, My View from the Summit (VFS), and the journal And for This I Am Grateful.
With a career in learning and development spanning nearly a decade, her focus has always been on professional development and self-improvement. As a Corporate Trainer she has delivered training to audiences in Fortune 500 companies and small companies in financial services and the health-care sector.
Nicole resides in New York City with her daughter and works as a Human Resources Learning and Development professional. She holds a BA in Psychology, MS in Organizational Leadership, Coaching Certificate from the Association of Talent Development and Coaching Certification from iPEC.
Lisa Crockett
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. Our guest today is Nicole Thomas. And Nicole is an author, speaker and a coach. She's a really good coach at that, by the way, I have used Miss Nicole and work with her for a long time. She's currently working at DVRs Morningstar, that's a financial services company. And she is their training manager. And we want to talk to Nicole today, frankly, to talk about the intersection of coaching and learning and development, which I think comes up for all of us, really. So Nicole, I'm going to turn it over to you just introduce yourself before we dive on into the questions.
Nicole Thomas
Thank you so much, Lisa. Thank you, Michelle, as well for having me know just exactly what you said, really excited to be here. I'm a talent manager at DBRS. Morningstar. And I'm also a coach. So I love working with my clients, and excited to be here and share my experience.
Lisa Crockett
Awesome. And, Monique, I think we there's in the call. Let's see how do we put Nicole in the focus? Oh, she's got both of us in the focus. That's like really not fair. It's only supposed to be ah, there. She's my friend now again. Oh, although I think somehow she turned my camera off. Can
Nicole Thomas
you hear me, Nicole? I can hear you clearly. Awesome. And
Lisa Crockett
you have to tell me how you did that. Monique? Okay. So, Nicole, how do you explain your role as a coach to someone who's never experienced coaching before?
Nicole Thomas
That's a good question. Because there are a lot of a lot of coaches out here. And I think what's coming up and how I would explain it is that I help clients understand their why, like, what is your why why do you why you're doing things where you going. And coaching helps define vision gives clarity, as well as provides accountability. So if I had to explain coaching, it's really holding space and helping people understand the direction that trajectory they're going in.
Lisa Crockett
That makes complete sense. That's, that's a really good answer. Actually, I like when you talk about accountability. And so I want to follow up a little bit on that. And so when you're working with a with a client, if you're working with me, let's say and I tell you, Nicole, I have been trying to write this fiction book, like for six years now, and I don't even have a full outline. What something you might suggest to me for accountability.
Nicole Thomas
Oh, for accountability. And as far as an outline, if you're working on anything, Oh, yes. Well, there a couple of things that come up immediately you're working on your outline, I want to know how you feel about the island getting a feel for you know why this outline is important to you understanding that why and then as far as accountability, what does it look like for you to get that outline completed, fleshed out in detail? So if you say you're going to work on the outline and get it flushed out, what does that schedule look like for you as far as timeframe? So scheduling time to work on the outline, then checking in from an accountability perspective on how you're doing as far as your progress. So that's what accountability looks like. It's understanding why and supporting you and following up to make sure you're completing the things you said you're going to do.
Lisa Crockett
This reminds me when we work together in a call, it really does. So I'm going to bring us to you know, a lot of the folks in our audience are l&d professionals, and many, many new l&d professionals, especially in this last year, lots of teachers coming over things like that. If you could give a new professional in l&d One piece of advice, what would you what would you tell them about let's say working in the corporate world?
Nicole Thomas
i There a couple of things, I guess if it's one piece of advice is to listen, I think listening is critical. We see that in coaching a lot when we're holding space for the client as a coach, but also listening to your client. So if you're working with a client, developing content, getting ready to train or deploy training, understanding, listening and really understanding the client, so that you can meet their needs and deploy training effectively. Right, understanding what the expectations are. So listening is key. Yeah, not just assuming, but really getting on there. It's important, really important.
Lisa Crockett
So on that note, or, or maybe it would be a different one, if you had any skill like to do your job with that you don't have today. What do you think that would be?
Nicole Thomas
Such a good question, right? Because, you know, technology is just fluid. So as we're working on the different platforms, I would have to say the skill set to be able to better understand platforms that are rolling out there so many new content development platforms, social media now is being brought in to increase engagement. So really understanding the dynamics and synergy between the new technology so it can be incorporated in trainings.
Lisa Crockett
Do you often you know when you're talking to folks from other departments do you often get like, Oh, I heard about this or I heard about that piece of technology and like how does that play into how you're working with them like, oh, you know, do you use this? Or can we do a game or you know, all that stuff that can come up for from people outside of l&d Department.
Nicole Thomas
Right. So the funny thing about lnd, and when you're working with clients on training, some of them aren't as familiar with what's out on the market, or some of the platforms. So when they do come through, and they ask you, they're really leaning on you to provide a consultative approach. So it's important for me to stay up to speed and aware and abreast of the technology that's out there. That's why I'm always trying to improve on that skill set and understand the technology and then how to apply it. So I don't always get those questions, because they're leaning on me to provide that, that information.
Lisa Crockett
Nice. So what like, how do you keep your skills and your development up? How do you keep up to date on all of that?
Nicole Thomas
Well, there are several things that I follow through with and that's keeping up with the organization. So a part of the international coaching Federation, I attend events to stay abreast of information that I can cascade and apply to my clients. And then I also belong to the Association for eight. So ATD, talent development, and reading training magazines. Also, just learning more and staying abreast with the training industry statistics, how to analyze data. So I'm always staying aware of the websites and doing research I use this data for, yes, doing a lot of research with different organizations. So that's how I stay abreast.
Lisa Crockett
It's such an important part of our skill set. And it's something that I think, you know, either it's assumed that we haven't, or it's not something often that people recognize, but you're SMQs come to the table with a lot of information. Sometimes you have to research that technology and all the things we have to keep up with. It's like endless. Do you have like a favorite site that you go to or anyone that you follow that talks about technology a lot are any any tips, you can give folks on the best place to find that stuff?
Nicole Thomas
Well, I follow the Center for Creative Leadership. I actually go to their website for information, but they're so much out there. training industry has a magazine that I read also our chief learning officer magazine, has a digital version and print version that keeps you abreast of information. Also, HR has human resources have has a magazine that I also read. So I would say yeah, really great information right from Sherm the Society of Human Resources, so a lot of information, I would say, depending on what you're focusing on its leadership, definitely go to the Center for Creative Leadership. I also use the American Management Association, they have videos, they have articles. So I think it's finding the right content that works for you, and then sticking with it and in staying abreast of articles that come
Lisa Crockett
out. consistencies, everything.
Nicole Thomas
Oh, it is, it really is.
Lisa Crockett
It's, you know, just get that and I see we got it. Kim is talking about LNB. Folks on Twitter. I've seen that tick tock learning guys, and I think one of our folks, Heidi Kirby, I think she's part of the LDC or she's definitely been in and out of some of our events. She does a channel on tick tock so there's so many cool things out there, but to Nicole's point, like consistency, consistency, you know, I'm terrible at that. I'll be honest, like, I get into like, a moment where I'm like, okay, you know, I gotta go research this, go research this and then I'm off to something else. But if you do it consistently, you're really gonna have that in your hand. And Luis is talking about some some of the newsletters he subscribes to. I think that that is a list we need from you, Louise. Letters. Oh, and okay, and Monique, same tick, tock isn't just a rabbit hole to procrastinate shirt is, as we think sometimes, yes, sometimes there's amazing stuff. But honestly, I've learned more from tick tock in this last year, and I only got on it. You know, I was one of these COVID folks who got on it, but like, I actually do my makeup now. And it's silly stuff. And then beautiful creative stuff. And then learning stuff, which is like, which is incredible.
Nicole Thomas
Incredibly, I agree with you. It has that approach. I mean, when you're looking at tick tock, I'm not on tick tock, I have to tell you, Instagram and on Twitter, but when you're on these platforms, I think what it helps us with his content creation, understanding how to create bite sized content that engages your audience, and that carries through to coaching carries through to also LNG.
Lisa Crockett
That's an excellent point. It actually brings me into like, we talk a lot about education in this space, right, in all different ways in from all different aspects. And I'm curious, what do you feel like about formal education versus hands on training and becoming more knowledgeable in our profession? So whether that's any part of l&d facilitation, development design, any of those things? What do you think?
Nicole Thomas
Well, I have to say that formal education is good but hands on hands down is a way to move forward. When you understand how to apply and you're in your you're going through the process you're learning and applying your We get better. So I say formal education is good, but being in the process, and that follows the 7020 10, right? So really being able to say, okay, 10% should be structured training. And then what does that 70% look like for a client or for an l&d? It's not social learning to hands on learning on the job applying yourself, and then that 20% is through social learning. So I would have to say, definitely hands on.
Lisa Crockett
Make sense make sense? For you? What is the most impactful learning that you've experienced? And that could be from any time in your life?
Nicole Thomas
I tell you, the most impactful experience from a training perspective would have to be when I went through coaching certification, I would have to say I mean, I've been through a lot of trainings, right, we sit through trainings as l&d professionals, we go through trainings. But I'd have to say the level of engagement, moving through the content and understanding and in trust, learning to trust the process, right. So when you're going through, and you're looking at training and execution, making sure that your workshops are engaging, that your adult learners are being able to bring in their experiences and apply it to, to understanding concepts, and then executing and moving forward. In the world, quote, unquote, I would have to say the AIPAC training was very, very impactful
Lisa Crockett
when you think about those weekends. And just for those of you who've never been through what Nicole and I have been through coaching training that we've done, we do for a year, and there's a lot of lot of classes involved, but we meet on weekends, and we do a lot of practice, exercises, both live and then also over phones on conversations three, four times a week, it's kind of a crazy program. So with that context, Nicole, my question to you would be, if you could think about the exercises in the live workshops that you did, and there were so many of them, you know, talking to this community who does a lot of design, both for elearning. Right, and also blended learning? What was an exercise that just really struck you as, as particularly impactful? And that you would, when it made sense integrate into something into a class that you might be working on?
Nicole Thomas
It's a very, very good question, Lisa. So when I think back to AIPAC, which was a little while ago, and the impact, it had the engagement to the workshops, you know, I'm thinking through the exercise that made me think about how I view the world, right, so there were several exercises, but it was the exercises that made me think about my approach my mindset. And that's what changed. That's why it was also very impactful. Understanding my mindset, as I as I looked at the work that was being presented. The questions that were asked as it relates to my understanding of processes in my life, because we had to complete a lot of documents, the free work a lot of information. And that pre work allowed me to look at my core values, everything that was important to me, so I can understand my why and then carried it over to when we went into the workshops, we went into the classroom, and made me think about, Okay, what did I document, why is it important? And how can I go forward, so any exercise when it gets blended, allowing the learner to really think about their experience, and then tying that to the content, and then follow through with that online training, to support for longevity and sustainability is truly key.
Lisa Crockett
And what Nicole's referring to is a life inventory that we had to complete ahead. Yeah, it was crazy deep guys. And like, I mean, could be painful at moments, you know, but it was only for us. But it gave us the context to then be able to have these conversations with our peers inside of and so yeah, that I agree with you. That was that thoughtful time ahead, right. And then that follow through in the course. And then as we took it out the door and started learning how to practice as coaches. It was just, it was a very seamless way. So it's, I think that the message there is it's just not one thing when you're developing learning or delivering it, right. I mean, and it's not one thing for one person either, by the way, it can be 10 things for one person. It's all part and parcel.
Nicole Thomas
I'll just one thing I wanted to add when you mentioned that, Lisa, is that, you know, the A lot of times when we're designing content, or rolling out training, we we stay away from pre work. I think sometimes pre work is necessary and we shouldn't shy away from it. Because we're afraid that You know, please don't have time to complete the training. I think it's key in order to tie in concepts and help people understand the within what's in it for me. So I think free work is something and that's that's what AIPAC helped me. Also, remember that free work, applying it to self is important.
Lisa Crockett
And like Nicole said, it is it was all about us because I see Louise to ask the questions. Did we have to share that? No. It actually went into it did go to our to our train, not our trainers, they went into like AIPAC into they did their homework kind of thing. Right? So someone said, okay, all the questions are answered. But that was never something that was shared with anyone personally, or in our sessions unless we were being coached and wanted to share it, which sometimes you do, most times you don't, is coaching, so different from from a psychology session or something like that? Where, right, we're only going forward. But it was it was that was the best exercise. I agree with you, Nicole. And it was the hardest.
Nicole Thomas
It was, it was so was.
Lisa Crockett
So you've come through this yet you you've written four books, right? Your poetry books, and journaling and all these beautiful things. I have to imagine you have a favorite quote or mantra that you live by? Hmm, because you're so inspirational. Could you share that with us?
Nicole Thomas
Oh, thank you. I tell you, I do have a lot of collages. And I do have a couple of favorite quotes, because I love quotes. But if I have to leave anyone with a quote, I would just say be grateful and every season in with being grateful. It's seeing the possibilities. It's seeing the solution. Seth Godin mentioned that in a recent course, I recently discussed this, the fact that we should lean into seeing the possibilities, seeing the opportunities, even if things don't go the way we expect them to. So it's important, be grateful. And then also be curious, ask questions so important as a part of the process. So don't shut down. Be grateful and be curious.
Lisa Crockett
And Flipside. Don't let anyone shut you down. In that sense, either. It can be hard to be curious. And people want to get things done in a work atmosphere all the time. But being curious gets you to the right answer, as opposed to just the first answer that comes up that often is not the right answer. Yes. Right. Yeah, we've been there together, haven't we?
Nicole Thomas
We have and it just reminds me to have such a long time ago, we had I don't know, I think you were in the Project Management course. discussion in which you always have to ask why keep drilling down? Why, why and it goes to when you're designing and you're training. Ask the last why and get to the root so that when you're rolling out training, it's effective. You're hitting the mark, asking the questions why we'll help you get the right target. It'll it'll align your training with your audience. So why is key
Lisa Crockett
so perfect? Yes, it really, really is. Okay, so let's see, how about icebreakers. We've done a lot of icebreakers we have. What do you value like what value do you see in icebreakers in let's say, live training or virtual live training now, which is most of our training.
Nicole Thomas
A lot of our training is virtual. I have to tell you, I love icebreakers, icebreakers. That's what they're designed to do. Break the ice so that you can collaborate, begin to build trust. It opens the conversation to just getting going people to get to know each other but also sets the stage for learning, right? So you have to set the stage for learning. So I think it's important, icebreakers are important for both virtually as well as in person. They're cool.
Lisa Crockett
Let's see, as you're getting into the zone to do those icebreakers, right? You're walking into a room you're about to facilitate. What do you do to get yourself into the zone and like ready to just get in there and do it?
Nicole Thomas
Oh, I don't know if you remember this when I especially when I used to train a lot, for instance, or stand up doing a lot of instructor led training, I would go into the training room early, make sure the room is set up, right. And then make sure I have my music. Playing music in the background classical music, we step indoor play, yes. To set the stage. Change the energy, the energy is so important. Yes. So getting into the right mindset and remembering why you're there. It's not about you, it's about the learner, and what you're trying to deliver. So the mindset becomes, how do I get grounded and make sure that I am presenting a space, creating a space where people can learn and have trust
Lisa Crockett
Okay, so we're gonna
Nicole Thomas
get a little deeper now. No, I'm worried Lisa. Ha.
Lisa Crockett
Don't be worried. Don't be worried. I'm curious what is something people might not know about you that they might find unexpected?
Nicole Thomas
Oh, that's a good question that people don't know about me and they We'll find unexpected is that I like to sketch. I know it sounds, and I cannot I cannot draw her eye at all. I don't know why I think it's just creative expression. So I love to sketch I, when I'm at my desk now that I'm working from home, majority of the time I am sketching, when I'm on calls, it just helps me. I think it just helps me with learning. And I don't know if you've had that experience. I know when we used to train in our previous role, but we used to set up the tables where you would have different things for people to doodle and play with during the training because people process information differently. So I actually sketch and it helps me at all levels.
Lisa Crockett
What types of things do you sketch? Is it doodlee? Or is it cats? Is it better?
Nicole Thomas
I actually like like sketching bridges the Brooklyn Bridge, and which is really weird. And I love faces I love the facial profile. So I will sketch a face and shade it in and then draw some crazy hair and to set the mood right what is the environment? What is the energy I'm feeling now so that it helps me and so I love to sketch I actually have a sketch that I plan to frame and so I I enjoy, I enjoy sketching
Lisa Crockett
that is really interesting. And I never watched you sketch now I wish I had noticed and was looking over your shoulder but that's a whole nother discussion on Sunday. So I'm about to be worn that we are 20 minutes in and so I have to move on to the speed round. Should I warn you about the speed round Nicole?
Nicole Thomas
I think you did. But now I have heightened anxiety so
Lisa Crockett
I know all answers should be peachy so no hate and anxiety. Okay, so speed round to see how many we can get through and if we get through them all you get absolutely nothing except a big round of applause that sounds good. What's the last song you listen to?
Nicole Thomas
Oh my goodness. Are you kidding? Oh my God, I don't think I can say that. Oh,
Lisa Crockett
gosh. Oh my goodness. What is this woman listening to?
Nicole Thomas
I'm blushing over here even know this singer, but I would I would try to sing it but I don't know if that's the right platform. I know it's so weird. You've got it girl. You've got it.
Lisa Crockett
I don't know what it is anybody if anybody knows what you got it girl you got it is please put that on in the in the
Nicole Thomas
foraging. It's just so weird. I can't even Yeah, that's a lot. That's what I was listening to it. So it's, you know, I love upbeat music. So I listened to so many genres. It's just
Lisa Crockett
hey, full disclosure, guys. Same here. I listened to the Jonas Brothers. I am a much older woman. You want to laugh at me knock yourself out, but they get me to work out. And it's so fun. So I'm with you. You got to have fun and energy with your music. Whatever mood you're in. You do. Okay, so speed round and I'm not being speedy in Monique's going rolling her eyes at me. I know I can feel it. Last book you read. Let's look.
Nicole Thomas
Oh my goodness. Goodness. You're really good. I can I say this? You're a badass by Jensen. Grant. Got atomic habits on my table right now. So really good stuff, but I'm really good love Jen.
Lisa Crockett
sincero someone put me on to her this year. She's amazing. His favorite form of entertainments.
Nicole Thomas
Oh my goodness. You're going to laugh? Reading I'm reading
Lisa Crockett
that is not that is not laughable. That's amazing. And well, reading is reading is great. You can make your own imagination.
Nicole Thomas
You can Academy
Lisa Crockett
Harry Potter was so much better in my mind, though. And it was a good movie. No.
Nicole Thomas
books into movies. Yes. Really? So much. You really do.
Lisa Crockett
You truly do. Um, if you were gonna fanboy fangirl anybody who would have been
Nicole Thomas
Oh my god. I don't even know these are oh my goodness, Lisa. I didn't get I don't know these. I can I pass? I don't know. I don't have
Lisa Crockett
that one. Pass the next one. Oh, gosh. Okay, what What's your guilty pleasure,
Nicole Thomas
Nicole? Oh, no, Lisa, chocolate. Yes,
Lisa Crockett
chocolate. I was thinking that I love chocolate.
Nicole Thomas
And it's so funny. When I used to do a lot of writing. We used to do a lot of Stand Up training. I would have chocolate with me everywhere. I became I became the chocolate monster. And I'd say crazy because you think of ways to get grounded as you're going into training or even when you're looking at trying to design content, whether that's for our personal workshop or you know, corporate America becomes how do you get your mindset and my mindset on chocolate at that time, which is groundsmen,
Unknown Speaker
it's a great way to reward it is.
Lisa Crockett
Okay, so could your partner best friend daughter accurately explain what you do for a living?
Nicole Thomas
No, they cannot. Oh, I get this all the time. I'm not going I get this a lot. Mom, what do you do I really three years. So it's interesting, you should ask that questions I question I don't think anyone could can really explain. And when I say I work for Morningstar, they say, Oh, my God, what kind of companies?
Lisa Crockett
Are you making? Sausages?
Nicole Thomas
Exactly. Or? We focused on credit ratings, and FSA? Well, no, it's not Equifax. It's not. Its debt instruments. So I don't think people really, you know, the safest thing to say is that I'm in human resources, and people somewhat have an idea of what I do. And when I used to say I'm in training, you know, you say training and people like, Oh, is that physical training? And I said, Absolutely. What's, why do you? Why is that the first we'll have a coaching.
Lisa Crockett
Someone asked me today we were joking around, I said, My husband said coaching to somebody the other day, and he's like, Well, what does that mean? He like Coach Soccer, like football coach. And I'm like, Yeah, exactly. But I don't really do that for a living. So it's kind of funny. I think we're five for five now nobody can accurately explain of all of our guests so far. What I think I think Monique is the only one who's partner could probably explain what she does for a living.
Nicole Thomas
Oh, that is good. I want to know the secret. I want to know the secret.
Lisa Crockett
Well, I think this is the perfect time for you and I to mute ourselves. And for Monique to come back on and tell us that secret and announce next two weeks or next week. Our next guest. Thanks so much. Thanks so much,
Monique St Paul
Nicole. Awesome. I, I'm very excited, at least interviewed you. But I so want to like pick your brain. So I will probably be hitting you up later. I hope everyone else also appreciated having Nicole on. It's definitely a breath of fresh air on this rainy day for those of us who are going through rainstorms right now. And I just want to say that thank you, of course. But then next time we are on on November 9 At 11am, we are going to have a guest on his name is Adrian Miranda, and he is someone who has brought film into something that you would think is boring physical therapy. So he's a physical therapist by trade, and he has a huge interest in film. So he decided to start treating, trying to start training people about their bodies using humor and other things. So that's his, his YouTube channel is gross anatomy. Anyway, thank you again, Nicole. I wanted to just drop in your LinkedIn if anyone wants to connect with you online. Pardon me. Thank you all for forgiving me behind the controls. Lisa is better at this than I am. But I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon and we'll see you at the next class. Thank you so much. Have a good one. Oh, Lisa, you RMU I will unmute you. What are you saying? Oh
Lisa Crockett
my goodness. Oh my goodness. She unmutes me she turns my video.
Monique St Paul
I know Mata control. Okay, have a good one. Thank you so much. Bye.
Nicole Thomas
Thank you. Bye bye.
