As a trainer attending training as a student here is a list of things for you to bring and to do:
To Bring
- An open mind.
- A high level of curiosity.
- A positive attitude.
- Pen and paper to take notes.
To Do During the Training
- Show up early.
- Be on time coming back from breaks and lunch.
- Stay off your phone. Check your e-mail on the breaks.
- Participate, but don’t dominate.
- Ask thoughtful questions to gain new insights (not to try and show how smart you are).
- Take notes.
- Seek to connect the dots between what you are learning and what you already know.
- Reflect on how you can apply what you are learning.
- Write down action steps on how you can apply what you are learning.
The Next Day
- Take 10 to 15 minutes and without looking back at your notes from the day before reflect on the training and write out “What I learned yesterday”. Let yourself work at this. This is an exercise in Reflection and Active / Effortful Retrieval.
- Review and add to your list of action steps from the day before.
- Create an action plan on how you will implement those action steps.
When you have the opportunity to be a student in someone else’s training, be a good student. I see too many trainers who show up at training without a pen and paper to take notes, or without a tablet or laptop to take notes as they obviously have no intention of taking notes. It is clear they see attending training as a passive activity where all they need to do is show up and go through the motions. That attitude from students in their class frustrates them, so why is it now ok when you are in the student seat.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training – Dedicated to helping good trainers become great trainers and great trainers to deliver awesome training.
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