THE BEST TRAINING – STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN

Thinking back to the very best training event you can remember; what was it that made that experience valuable? Maybe the topic was important and covered well, or the instructor was interesting, or maybe it was a something else. Perhaps it was a combination of several things. Or it could be that the class stands out because you went into it thinking it would be just another boring day in the classroom, but to your surprise it actually turned out much better.

I well remember a three-day class that was truly rewarding. The instructor was successful in his field and knew his subject. He was an interesting person, held everyone’s attention and we all gained much from that experience. I left that class better informed an even inspired!

I also remember the very worse class I have attended. That class was not only a complete waste of time, but afterwards I had a very bad attitude toward the topic. The instructor was definitely a subject matter expert, but instead of teaching the subject, and paying attention to us, he just talked about the subject. He repeatedly stated that we only needed to know “this much” of the subject (holding up a part of the regulations) but he did not come close to explaining anything of importance that I could take away. So, the biggest disappointment and frustration for me was that I needed to understand the subject enough so I could put it to use back on the job. The instructor not only didn’t teach us anything, his attempts to answer questions just seemed to be a repetition of things already emphasized. He kept drawing on the first page of the flip chart, re-drawing diagrams and concepts on the same page repeatedly to the point that it soon resembled a Rorschach inkblot test. I left the class uninformed, stressed, uninspired, and fairly sure he was on drugs.

What are the important differences between those two events that can serve as a help for those of us interested in improving our training skills? I’d like to use something I learned from training guru Bob Pike to focus on just one of the differences. Bob talked about an FM radio station that everyone is tuned in to: WII-FM. That radio station is an acronym for “What’s-In-It-For-Me”. Every person in a class is there for a reason, their reason, and instructors who keep that in mind and focus on it throughout the class will be more successful.

In the first example I gave (the great class), that instructor was constantly involving the participants in the discussions. At the end of each session, he would ask for a key concept that each of us got out of the discussion. He would write down the key concept and many times during these summaries, more in-depth discussion would follow.

That never happened in the second example (the worse class). That instructor did not bother to check for comprehension which compounded the problem when he moved on through the course material. The confusion began to build early and our efforts to understand were thwarted right from the start.

I’ve only focused on one of the differences between those two classes although there were many more. Primarily I want to highlight Bob Pike’s idea of focusing on the participant. Perhaps if we instructors make it a habit to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN it will give us an idea of how things are going for the participants as we work through the course material.

STOPPING gives the participants a chance to digest what they’ve been learning. It also gives them a chance to think about “What’s In It For Me”. By writing down key concepts, the participants are thinking about the relevant and important ideas in advance and most are ready to share. There are probably several reasons why an instructor is hesitant to slow down or stop. One could be time constraints, but the instructor might also be uncomfortable with the subject matter and not wish to dwell on a particular aspect of it.

LOOKING gives us an opportunity to read the class. Where are they? Where is their attention? Are they following along and engaged, or are they lost? Knowing the instructor cares about where they are can also make a lot of difference.

LISTENING to the participants gives them an opportunity to seek clarification as well as articulate how what is taught might be applied back on the job. Listening skills are rare and when an instructor pays attention and truly listens to participants, that alone can affect a participant’s attitude toward learning.

If you’ve read all the way to this point, thank you. I appreciate your interest in this article. I hope your training sessions are memorable for participants in the most positive way.

If you are involved in excavation safety in any capacity you might also be interested in my excavation safety book found at www.trenchandexcavationsafety.com