There’s a disease in training. It’s widespread and can have some pretty unpleasant symptoms. It can wear trainers out, exhaust delegates and block real learning…
It’s the belief that the trainer is the ‘Expert’. That they know more than the delegates and are there to download their expertise to the ‘less able’.
There is something fundamentally wrong with this. If knowledge is what you’re after then read a book. You can achieve a great deal more ‘knowledge acquisition’ in a shorter period of time than the laborious process of listening to someone else.
So what is the role of an effective trainer? To create a space where learning can happen would be my answer. Where experience can be tested and reflected on in a safe space designed for the experiential learning taking place.
When you go to a training do you:
- Expect to learn from the trainer?
- Blame the trainer if you don’t learn anything?
- Look for a good set of notes so you can file them neatly when you get back to work and only refer to them when people asked you what you did on the course?
- Only change your way of doing things if others do first?
Or:
- Do you decide what you want to learn before you go?
- Own your own learning and ‘how’ you will learn during the course?
- Help others to learn by engaging in the process and let learning emerge?
- Help the trainer and other learners create a safe space for exploration and reflection?
So why does this disease exist? Because that’s how we were taught at school and university. We learnt what we were told and regurgitated when requested.
But think back. When did you really learn? Perhaps when you were pushed to do something different and stretch yourself or because you were inspired to change by the example of others through real experience?
Stay curious…
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Impressed with how such a simple and short post can effectively challenge the myth of the “Expert Trainer”.
Also agree with the comments about your site.
Thanks for the feedback Jo.
You’ve just started following me on Twitter and I think it’s one of those moments of synchronicity-especially as my twitter profile doesn’t even mention I’m an NLP Master Practitioner, MBTI trained facilitator, coach and trainer. I love your website (which I’ve just had a lovely rummage around) and am thrilled to learn you’ve a Stephen Gilligan masterclass coming up.
You’re article is spot on for me. One of the greatest discoveries of my professional career was that i didn’t have to be the expert. In fact, that suggests it’s all about me-and it’s not! It’s all about the learners. I’m merely there to facilitate their learning journey. Since that discovery I believe I’ve become a much better trainer and coach. Plus I find my job so much more enjoyable.
“Stay curious” is the approach to any form of life. When curiosity flies away knowledge, interests, desire, pleasure, life ,in short, is over…
As trainer I sympathize with you when you say that the best approach to training or coaching is creating a favourable learning environment. So practice, reading and reflection.
Thanks you for following me on Twitter.
NLP is great
Ornella/Luckyreader