Winning Mind Training

  • Home
  • About
    • About Winning Mind
    • Testimonials
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Courses Listing / Calendar
    • Training Schedule
    • Course Descriptions
      • Dare to Be Great: Strategies for Creating a Culture of Leading
      • The Heroes Path to Excellence in Law Enforcement
      • Excellence In Training
      • Performance Enhancement Imagery
      • The Pursuit of Personal Excellence
      • Lessons From Life’s Most Powerful Question
      • Ground Fighting and A.C.E. Edged Weapons Defense Instructor Course
      • PPCT Defensive Tactics / HFRG Use of Force Instructor Course
  • Resources
  • Contact Us

September 8, 2020 By Brian Willis

Assume zero knowledge and infinite wisdom.

This morning I started listening to an Instagram live session with Andrew Huberman Ph.D. and Samer Hattar Ph.D. Andrew Huberman, who set the ground rules for their conversation, hosted it. The first of the ground rules was, “No acronyms, and if we do use any we need to explain what they are.” The second rule was based on a quote from a famous physicist (whose name I could not decipher), “When speaking to an audience assume zero knowledge and infinite intelligence.”  

Those are two very important ground rules for all trainers to adopt. Law enforcement, like the military, seems to be in love with acronyms. There are a few problems with acronyms:

  1. Not everybody knows what the acronym means.
  2. They can mean different things to different people.
  3. Even if it were possible, most people do not want to interrupt and ask what that acronym means. 

I enjoy listening to interviews with Huberman as well as Matthew Walker Ph.D., both of whom are brilliant and have important information to share and both of whom live by that adage of assuming the audience has zero knowledge and infinite intelligence. Regardless of the knowledge level of the interviewer, they both understand that the information is for the listening audience, not the interviewer. As a result they both explain terminology, principles and concepts so everyone can understand.

This is not “dumbing it down” for the audience. I hate that term as it implies the audience is dumb, or at least not as smart as the speaker. Just because an audience has no knowledge of a topic does not mean they are not intelligent. Assuming infinite intelligence demonstrates respect for the intelligence of the audience members and their ability to understand, learn and apply the information you are teaching. 

If you cannot teach it in a way that makes it easy to understand, the problem is likely with you, not the audience. Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” 

Two of the Guiding Principles of the Excellence in Training philosophy are directly aligned with the ground rules Huberman established. Those Guiding Principles are:

  • It’s Not About You.
  • You have not taught until they have learned. 

The rule regarding no acronyms, and if you are going to use them be sure to explain them, also applies to codes for types of calls. The code your agency uses for a domestic, or officer needs assistance is not universal across all agencies. The code for, “What is your current location?” is not universal across all agencies. So, instead of using codes from your agency, just use common language to describe the call. 

This may take some conscious effort on your part to change the language that you use, but your audiences will appreciate the effort and more easily understand your message. 

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. 

EXCELLENCE in Training Academy Black

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Subscribe To Our Blog

Sign up to the Winning Mind Training blog to receive new articles, tips and posts directly to your email inbox.

Excellence In Training Blog

  • Five of the smartest things I have done as a trainer. January 19, 2021
  • My biggest regret as a trainer. January 12, 2021
  • Have you actually trained them to turn on their body worn camera? January 5, 2021
  • We must. You must. December 29, 2020
  • Are you preparing them for their future, or your past? December 22, 2020

Contact Winning Mind Training

Address:
246 Stewart Green S.W., Suite #2486
Calgary AB. Canada. T3H 3C8

Phone: 403-279-5954

Email: winningmind@mac.com

Connect With Us

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Winning Mind Training is a proud member of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. To get more information and to find out how you can become a member of the Chamber of Commerce go to www.calgarychamber.com

Events

  • Excellence in Training Course - Denton, Texas
    • Monday, Mar 29, 2021 - Friday, Apr 02, 2021
    • Denton
  • Leadership Lessons from Life's Most Powerful Question - 26th Annual FCJEIA Graduates Training Session
    • Tuesday, Apr 27, 2021 - Wednesday, Apr 28, 2021
  • Excellence in Training Course - Okotoks, Alberta
    • Monday, May 31, 2021 - Friday, Jun 04, 2021
    • Okotoks

Copyright © 2021 · Winning Mind Training