Are you a sponge or a rock?

“Be a sponge. Spend as much time as possible with people who truly know their craft and be a great listener. That is how you learn.”

Jerry Colangelo

Are you a sponge or a rock? A sponge absorbs as much knowledge, wisdom and information as possible from people who are great teachers, trainers, coaches and leaders. A rock sits there and lets all the new ideas, information, and research bounce off and flow over and past them.

Do you show up at training, as an instructor or a student, with an attitude of being an open, active and engaged learner (a sponge), or with the attitude of being a closed and passive knower (a rock)?

Spending as much time as possible with people who truly know their craft can be done one on one (in person or on the phone), by attending seminars, workshops or conferences, by reading books, by watching webinars, taking online courses and listening to audio books and podcasts.

To be a sponge you have to be willing to set your ego aside and be humble. You need to be willing to listen. You need to ask questions for clarification and to probe deeper. You have to strive to connect the dots not just collect the dots. This means you have to reflect on how the information you are absorbing and learning connects with what you already know.

You then need to find ways to share and discuss what you are learning with others so they can help you clarify and understand the information at at a deeper level and highlight new ways for you to use what you are learning. By sharing the knowledge you allow others to reflect on, explore, understand and apply that knowledge.

The Excellence in Training Academy is a membership site created for sponges who would like to spend time every week with people who truly know their craft and soak up their knowledge and wisdom. (Use the code eitblog to get the first month free.)

The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) is an organization of sponges and holds an annual conference which creates an environment designed to allow you to soak up as much information as is humanly possible in one week.

So, what about you? Are you a rock or a sponge?

Take care. 

Brian Willis 

Winning Mind Training – Dedicated to helping good trainers become great trainers and great trainers to deliver awesome training.  

The Excellence in Training Academy – Where trainers come to grow. Join the Community of trainers committed to the pursuit of excellence in and through training.  Use the code eitblog to get the first month’s membership (individual or training unit) free. 

Interested in hosting an Excellence in Training Presentation, Seminar or Course? Contact to me at winningmind@mac.com and we can work together to determine what will best suit your needs.