“…what matters is not the final destination, but all the interesting things that occur along the way. For wherever you are, there is somewhere further you can go.”
Tim Ingold
Wherever you are in your journey as a trainer, there is somewhere further you can go. There is more to learn, more to do, more to experience. Regardless of how good your current training is, there is somewhere further you can take it.
The first step is to keep your ego in check and be cautious about “5” ratings on the end of course evaluations, and about comments such as, “This is the best training course I have ever taken.” It is easy to let these evaluations go to your head. While those platitudes are nice to hear, they are always relative. It doesn’t necessarily mean the training is great, it just means it is better than what they have experienced previously, which may not be saying much. Stay humble and press on with striving to make the training even better next time and be sure to pay attention to the mediocre or poor evaluations and take the professionally, not personally.
It is important for us as trainers to invest in the long game, the Infinite Game and think of training from pre-hire to post retire.
“Change is not a bolt of lightning that arrives with a zap. It is a bridge built brick by brick, every day, with sweat and humility and slips. It is hard work, and slow work, but it can be thrilling to watch it take shape.”
Sarah Hepola
The screamers, the yellers, the haters, the special interest groups, and some of the politicians want “quick fixes” to what they claim is a broken system.
Are you willing to stand up and push back against the notion of quick fixes to an unidentified problem?
Are you willing to play the long game, the Infinite Game?
Are you willing to take a long hard look at your training and identify areas that may be broken or in need of change and improvement?
Are you willing to ask, “What piece of this do I own?” when officers do not perform to the expected level on the street?
Are you willing to commit to build the bridge of change and improvement “brick by brick, every day, with sweat and humility and slips”?
Are you willing to learn from the slips along the journey?
Are you continually striving to improve your mind, body, and craft?
Are you continually training your replacements?
If you are going to accept the responsibility of being a trainer, then strive to be a good trainer. If you think you are a good trainer, then strive to be a great trainer. If you think you are a great trainer, then strive to be even better. This is a journey and wherever you are, there is somewhere further you can go.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training – Providing practical training to law enforcement professionals in the areas of instructor development, Performance Enhancement Imagery, leadership and mindset.
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