[Neurons] Training Mastery #2

[Colin Cox]

From: Colin Cox (NZ)

 

Hi everyone out there in trainers land. 

 

Firstly an apology for the delay in getting this the 2nd in a 21 series of
writings on Training Mastery – We have just completed NS Trainers Training
here in NZ which saw an exceptional group of men and women from 13 countries
become NS Certified Trainers. Congratulations to each of you from both
myself and Lena. And we hope each of you are well recovered from your
travels.

 

The article below is a foundational principle for Trainers. Please do email
me directly your feedback or suggestions on future articles in this series
you’d like to know etc.. and thank you to those who have already done so and
to those that asked me ” 
where is #2 in the series?...” 

 

 Apologies for the delay and you can expect the next one by this time next
week and then I’ll be back on track for 2 articles a month on Training
Mastery.

 

Take care and enjoy!

 

 

Who Cares Anyway?

When I first started out as a trainer I was presented with a quote from
another more experienced trainer. This quote was to become, as I was to
later discover, an important quote that would grow to be a defining
assumption that would direct me throughout my training development & career.

Before I introduce that quote to you what I would like you to do is to think
back to a person you had learnt from, a special person that most positively
influenced you to learn easily and quickly. Take a moment and think of that
person now. 

When I think of the people who have in the past have assisted me to learn
easily there is a specific component that stands out. What I’ve found is
that those people who had positively influenced me to learn easily have been
people who I found demonstrated they cared for me at some personal level.
Yes that’s right, these people took an interest in me personally. They were
supportive; encouraging and protective of my learning. 

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the unique quality that has been a
key determinant of whether I or you learn or not. You learn faster and
easier when you know that the trainer you’re learning from cares for you. In
my own opinion as trainers we must move away from the idea that the learner
is not to get know you nor you them. 

In trainers training one of the very first assumptions that I teach is this
one quote. This is the quote that has guided me and the many trainers I’ve
trained. This quote you must learn to memorize and then act on. You’ll
recall in the first lesson of the Training Mastery Series I wrote that we
must not only “
know what we do but we must do what we know
and know what we
do does to the learner”. 

Now
 know layer this quote into your best training state and hold it in mind
as a dominant frame for the advancement of your training skills. Here it is:


“They do not care what you know until they know you care”


Too Touchy and Feely!


This quote will challenge you if you think that learning is a disconnected
relationship between trainer and learner. A relationship where there is a
clear separation between the 2 parties is not an option for those trainers
choosing to pursue mastery. Learning is a collaborative partnership where we
want transference to take place. For some this is big news – ...”you have to
get to know the learner!” 

Learning will always take place when the learner knows that you have a
professional interest in them and they know what you stand for. 

Ø Would you like to increase learner receptivity?

Ø Would you like learners to absorb and recall what you taught them?

Ø Would you like to break down any resistance to learning what you have to
present to them? 

This is not some touchy-feely; wishy-washy; new age concept for trainers but
a practical assumption that you must have if you truly want to be masterful
as a trainer. It is a foundational principle which if you were willing to
allow it to guide your success and the success of your learners, will take
you training delivery to the next level.

Ø Would you learn well from a trainer who you know has no interest in you?

Ø Would you learn from a trainer who ignores your needs and values?

Ø Would you learn from a trainer who cares more about themselves and the
delivery of the content rather than your learning? 

Yes it is still possible to learn with a trainer like I have described in
the bulleted points above. They learn  not because of the trainer but in
spite of the trainer! The learn because they want to learn the content and
will overlook the trainers in adequacies. This is not acceptable! 

I’m hoping that you now realise that this quote is an important concept. 

“They do not care what you know until they know you care”

I thought at the time as I progressed through the schooling system that the
teachers I had each day materialized in the morning and travelled off to a
distant planet at the end of each day to re-materialise the next day,
specifically to piss me off on the days I went to school. I never considered
they ever had a “life” that resembled anything like my own! That they loved
or could love; cried; cared for others or existed in any shape or form
outside of the school room. This is distanced approach is unacceptable if we
are committed to increasing the learning experience.

 Allow the learner to get to know you. To know what you will and will not
stand for and demonstrate how you care for them and their learning
experience. Become transparent and share of yourself while showing you care
for them. Do this consistently and learning will be the end result.
Resistance to learning will be lowered and the joy of learning will be
present in all that you do as a trainer.

How do we show we care so that they will then be interested in what you have
to say?

Here a dozen ideas which you can begin to integrate into your training
programs to show you care. The list consists of a mix of either, things you
are to do or to stop doing immediately:

1.    Email them a visual map and written directions on how to get to the
training venue.

2.    Have a sign easily seen from the car park leading them to the training
room.

3.    Phone them personally once they register to chat with them and thank
them for registering. 

4.    Meet and greet them upon their arrival at the venue

5.    Arrive early at the venue and set the room up in adequate time so you
can focus exclusively on them as they arrive and not be distracted with you
finalising the days setup.

6.    Enquire of and provide special individual eating needs they may have.

7.    Provide them with a personalised handwritten card offering positive
and encouraging statements for their continued growth. Give this to them at
the end of a training or during a multiple day training.

8.    Provide your content using multiple sensory delivery techniques to
match your delivery style with their learning style.

9.    Give them 3-5 minute breaks for rehydrating, restroom stops and
stretching. I suggest 2-3 of these over a days’ training not including the
usual 15-20 minute breaks you have in the morning and afternoon.

10.                       Eliminate all confrontational individual call-outs
or any activity that may intimidate the learner. i.e. round the room stand
up introductions of themselves or you putting them on the spot by asking
them a direct question to answer in front of the group.

11.                       Running overtime at breaks or finishing late at
the end of the day.

12.                       You arriving late to the venue and rushing in
ignoring them as you quickly prepare to begin the day of training.

There you have it. Simple really isn’t it? All you need to do is  think of
ways that you will show the learner you care about them. I know that each of
us will have our own personal limits to how far we are willing to take this
principle. 

Begin now to consider how else, beyond what you are doing presently, will
you show them you care so they will want to know what you have to share with
them. What will you do to achieve this? Apply the answers that come to mind
and I assure you - you will have an increase in learner receptivity and
another milestone passed on the pathway to training mastery.

 

 


Ignition&logo100%

Colin Cox


Director Ignition


NS Master Trainer


 

( 027 4774 560


 <http://www.ignition.org.nz/> www.ignition.org.nz 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://eight.pairlist.net/pipermail/neurons/attachments/20070824/78ddad45/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1907 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : <http://eight.pairlist.net/pipermail/neurons/attachments/20070824/78ddad45/attachment-0001.jpe>