iNStep Consulting Learning Services Image Hero

LEARNING SERVICES

In Step With your Organization’s Growth

At iNStep Consulting, we stand at the cutting edge of team and leadership transformation. Our founder, Nicole Stephens, brings over two decades of unparalleled expertise in instructional design and leadership development, underscored by extensive work within high-tech and advanced manufacturing industries. This targeted experience, including collaborations with industry giants, equips us with the insight and depth to address your unique challenges.

What Makes Us Unique

Our learning services are tailored specifically for technology-focused companies.

We excel in…

Developing leadership skills for technical professionals transitioning to management roles

Aligning learning initiatives with rapid technological advancements

creating business-aligned professional development solutions for evolving tech industries

Boosting sales and customer service teams with a relevant understanding of advanced technologies and innovative engagement tactics, driving sales excellence and customer loyalty

Refining operational workflows with specific skill upgrades, enhancing efficiency and productivity in tech-centric environments

At A glance

Our Process

Let iNStep Consulting become your ally. Whether crafting learning strategies from scratch or refining existing programs, we are dedicated to your success. We pride ourselves on being a versatile partner, adapting our solutions to fit a wide range of needs.

OUR DISCOVERY PROCESS

Strategy and Discovery

Our collaborative approach begins with in-depth understanding, utilizing our expertise to uncover your specific needs. From there, we tailor a learning strategy that not only meets your immediate goals but is agile enough to evolve with the industry, ensuring long-lasting impact.

We hone in on crucial aspects of your business that will benefit most from specialized learning programs, particularly those involving the integration and optimization of new or complex technologies.

“I've worked with many instructional designers over the years and Nicole is truly one of the very best. What makes Nicole unique is her ability to execute on every part of the project skillfully.”

Sharon Lo
Senior Training Manager
Fairfield

OUR PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

Planning and Recommendations

Once our analysis is complete, we provide you with our findings, a recommendation plan, and training roadmap – all focused around your 
unique needs.

Once it is time to put the plan into action, we take a collaborative approach, partnering with you to construct a project plan and building a development team perfectly suited for your project. We make sure you have all the ingredients for success … step by step.

“Nicole's attention to detail when guiding groups and getting to the core of the need has been a constant boon for the projects she works with us on.”

Tony O’Dell
Senior Training Manager
Illumen Group

OUR CREATIVE PROCESS

Design and Development

Employing state-of-the-art learning methodologies, we craft unique educational experiences, from immersive gamification to succinct micro-learning and comprehensive blended learning paths.

We not only identify optimal solutions but also actualize them with our in-house development team. Our training is crafted with award-winning visual design and robust programming, ensuring both elegance and functionality.

Beyond eLearning:
A Spectrum of Solutions

Expanding on traditional eLearning, we offer a diverse array of training modalities suited to the digital age. This includes hands-on or virtual-led workshops, software simulations, and real-time performance support.

iNStep Consulting Beyond eLearning Image Gamification

Gamification & Interactive Scenarios

iNStep Consulting Beyond eLearning Image Software Simulations

Software Simulations

iNStep Consulting Beyond eLearning Image Micro-Learning Courses

Micro- Learning Courses

iNStep Consulting Beyond eLearning Image Blended Learning Journeys

Blended Learning Journeys

iNStep Consulting Beyond eLearning Image Presentation Guides

Presentation Guides

iNStep Consulting Beyond eLearning Image Interactive eLearning

Interactive eLearning

We craft learning solutions for:

Leadership Development Programs

Compliance and Safety Trainings

Product Knowledge & Certifications

Sales Enablement & Customer Excellence

Process Training & Skills Development

OUR SUPPORT PROMISE

Quality and Support

From content accuracy to technical functionality, our comprehensive reviews uphold the highest standards.

Our user testing catches usability issues before launch. With real user feedback, we optimize your training for an engaging, seamless
learner experience.


Understanding that true learning extends beyond initial training, we provide comprehensive performance support tools and strategies. From leadership coaching to practical job aids, we ensure your team has the resources to apply new skills effectively, driving continuous growth and development long after the initial training event.

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"Nicole brings such a high degree of professionalism to every task she's involved in, big or small."

"Nicole played such an integral role in the growth of our business. From laying out foundational processes to providing a clear vision for our organizational structure, her ability to plan, manage, and implement highly-complex projects, curriculum, and courses was both impressive and impactful. She brings such a high degree of professionalism to every task she's involved in, big or small."

Nathan Wolfe

Community Manager
|
Devlin Peck
"I am always impressed with Nicole's professionalism and ability to conceive an idea and carry it through to the finish line."

"I worked directly with Nicole for many years providing multimedia and educational services for corporate and government customers, including NASA, SAIC, and Adtran. I am always impressed with Nicole's professionalism and ability to conceive an idea and carry it through to the finish line. Nicole is the complete package -- project manager, communication strategist, graphic designer, programmer, and problem solver."

Darlene Smith

Communications Strategist/Multimedia Creator
|
PCI Productions
"What makes Nicole unique is her ability to execute every part of the project skillfully."

"I've worked with many instructional designers over the years and Nicole is truly one of the very best. What makes Nicole unique is her ability to execute every part of the project skillfully. Nicole is an excellent communicator and I look forward to partnering with her on many future projects to come."

Sharon Lo

Senior Training Manager
|
Fairfield
"Nicole's commitment to excellence and a passion for training really shines through."

"Nicole has shown time and time again that she can listen to the client, and even with the most abstract information, deliver a powerful and professional path forward to a successful and very well received online course. Her commitment to excellence and a passion for training really shines through. Illumen has worked on several challenging projects with Nicole and plan many more in the future."

Tony O’Dell

President
|
Illumen Group
"Nicole influences those around her to keep growing in their practice."

"Nicole is result-oriented while staying empathetic to the needs of her audience. She leads projects to ensure that all needs are met by her learners and users. Nicole influences those around her to keep growing in their practice."

Aleksandra Drobik

Learning Experience Designer
|
"Nicole is a strategic, forward-thinking leader in learning and development."

"Nicole is a strategic, forward-thinking leader in learning and development. From her high-level consulting skills to her empathy-driven coaching skills, she knows how to pinpoint key challenges and execute on thoughtful solutions."

Devlin Peck

Founder/CEO
|
Devlin Peck
"Nicole provided the level of rigor and relevance that established a culture of collaboration and enrichment."

"Nicole partnered with classroom teachers to develop engaging lessons that enriched her students' knowledge and intuition. As the building principal, I recognized that our students needed to be more engaged. Through her curriculum, Nicole provided the level of rigor and relevance that established a culture of collaboration and enrichment."

Keith Trawick

School Principal
|
Madison County Schools
“Nicole strives for absolute excellence, but I have never seen that desire for quality hinder her progress."

"I’ve had the opportunity to see who Nicole is daily and how she works. When it comes to her approach to crafting projects, she draws on knowledge and experience and applies the most applicable theory and style for the right reasons. When asked, she is gifted in explaining why she makes the decisions she does, down to each detail. She strives for absolute excellence, but I have never seen that desire for quality hinder her progress."

Robbie Christian

Freelance Instructional Designer
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"Nicole's attention to detail, creativity, and willingness to go above and beyond makes her an exceptional team member."

"Working with Nicole is always a pleasure. Her instructional design approaches have consistently guided our team to produce top-quality training courses. Her attention to detail, creativity, and willingness to go above and beyond makes her an exceptional team member."

David Charney

President
|
Illumen Studios
"I really cannot stress how wonderful and how beneficial it is to work with Nicole and how much success she can bring to whatever team she is working with."

"Nicole can absolutely join a team in a consulting role and offer leadership, mentorship, strategic planning, and project management. But I also believe she is an effective teacher of her ways so that she can coach others to be more effective leaders for the people that they lead on their teams. I really cannot stress how wonderful and how beneficial it is to work with Nicole and how much success she can bring to whatever team she is working with."

Scott Schmidt

Instructional Designer
|
Minneapolis Public Schools
"Anyone working with Nicole should know that she is professional, highly skilled, and able to adapt to different team and project environments."

"Anyone working with Nicole should know that she is professional, highly skilled, and able to adapt to different team and project environments. She provides an excellent balance of expertise and leadership alongside her capability to work as a member of a broader team."

Bennett Winga

Relationship Manager
|
Dashe

Discover how iNStep’s tailored learning solutions can propel your organization to the forefront of the tech-driven world. Partner with us to forge a success roadmap that not only aligns with your unique requirements but catapults your team towards breakthrough growth and innovation.

FAQs

What types of organizations can benefit from iNStep's learning services?

iNStep Consulting specializes in helping organizations facing change or innovation stalls, particularly within the tech sector. Our expertise lies in transforming complex information into trainable material. We have a proven track record in the tech industry and understand the unique challenges these companies face. However, our services are valuable to any organization undergoing change and in need of effective training solutions. We focus on both operational training and leadership development to help leaders guide their teams through change and foster innovation. Our experience spans various industries, from hospitality to legal, and includes working with global Fortune 100 companies. 

How does iNStep determine what services I need?

We begin by forging a strong, personal partnership with you and your team. Our first step is to engage in comprehensive interviews, where we listen intently to understand your specific needs, challenges, and objectives. Leveraging our expertise as trained coaches, this approach enables us to connect deeply and comprehend your unique situation in a way that's both empathetic and insightful.

Following this, we compile additional data, aligning our findings with your budget and timeframe. This thorough and collaborative process ensures we can craft a perfectly tailored suite of services to meet your organization's precise learning and development ambitions. Following this, we compile additional data, aligning our findings with your budget and timeframe. This thorough and collaborative process ensures we can craft a perfectly tailored suite of services to meet your organization's precise learning and development ambitions.

How does iNStep ensure the learning content is relevant across different roles within my organization?

Within your organization, we prioritize ensuring the right people have access to the most relevant information by helping map out appropriate training paths as part of our project planning process. This targeted approach is crucial in the tech industry, where advancements happen rapidly, and learning needs can shift quickly. Our content is designed to be adaptable, minimizing disruption when changes are necessary.

How does iNStep measure the impact of its training programs?

From the onset of our partnership, we collaborate to establish an effective evaluation plan tailored to the life of the training. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative metrics, including feedback surveys, performance assessments, and business outcomes, we continuously refine this plan. This ongoing evaluation allows us to quickly identify when and where changes are needed, enabling us to target updates and optimizations efficiently to ensure maximum training efficacy.

What distinguishes iNStep's learning services within the realm of smart technologies and digital services?

At the heart of iNStep’s distinctive approach is our expertise in seamlessly blending in-depth technical knowledge with creative brilliance. This unique combination breathes life into the learning process, transforming complex, technical topics into engaging, intuitive, and compelling educational experiences. Our team excels in taking the dense technical jargon that often characterizes smart technology and digital services and infusing it with the right amount of creativity and energy.

Moreover, creating effective training isn’t just guesswork on our part; we've been in the trenches, from the sales side to operations management, experiencing firsthand the challenges and pain points. This direct experience has given us invaluable insights into what truly works for addressing those unique needs, ensuring our learning solutions are precisely tailored and deeply impactful. It's this fusion of technical precision and creative innovation, grounded in real-world application, that sets our learning solutions apart, empowering your teams with the knowledge they need in a way that excites, motivates, and inspires lasting change.

Do you only create eLearning?

No. While sometimes eLearning is a perfect fit, our capabilities extend beyond eLearning to encompass a wide range of training mediums tailored to fit the specific training environment and needs identified during the needs analysis phase. Depending on what’s most effective for your organization, we can deploy in-person or virtual workshops, blended learning experiences, web and mobile eLearning courses, and performance support materials.

How long will it take to create my training?

The timeline for developing training solutions varies widely, depending on the complexity of the content, the chosen delivery medium, and budgetary considerations. Throughout the needs analysis phase, we work closely with you to define a timeline that aligns with your goals and resource availability, ensuring we deliver high-quality, impactful training within a realistic timeframe.

If I’m not in the tech industry, am I still a good fit to work with iNStep?

Absolutely. While iNStep is uniquely aligned with the tech industry, we have a rich history of working across a variety of other industries as well. Our experience extends to legal, education, healthcare, hospitality, commercial sectors, military and defense, and aerospace. This diverse industry exposure enables us to tailor learning and development solutions that meet the unique challenges and objectives of your organization, no matter the field. At iNStep, we believe in the power of strategic learning to transform organizations, drive growth, and enhance leadership capabilities across any industry.

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