He who learns but does not think, is lost!

“He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”

 Confucius

I doubt Confucius had trainers in mind when he said or wrote this, but it very applicable.

He who learns but does not think, is lost!

As a trainer you must continue to learn. Learn about your area of expertise or specialty. Learn about the profession as a whole. Learn what others are doing. Learn about your officers and their needs. Learn about adult education theory. Learn about presentation skills. Learn about coaching. Learn about the mind. Learn about learning. Learn platform skills. Learn about the art of telling stories. Learn from others in the profession. Learn from those outside the profession. Learn from your experiences. Learn from your mistakes and failures. Learn from your successes. Learn from the successes and failures of others. Learn from your students. Learn from those who have gone before you. Learn from those who wish to succeed you. If you do not learn, you are lost.

As Confucius pointed out it is not enough just to learn, you also need to think. Think about how this new information can be applied to what you do. Think about how you can best serve your officers with what you have learned. Think about the best way to share what you have learned with fellow trainers. Think about how you can improve your training programs through the application of what you have learned. Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is potential. The potential to empower. Knowledge is only of value if it is applied and shared. If you learn but do not think, you are lost.

He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

If you think you know everything, you are in danger of failing to learn and to grow. If you think you are the best, you are in danger of not improving. If you think there is something wrong with your students because they are not “getting it”, you are in danger of failing them. If you think ‘it is all about you’, you are in danger of failing your officers. If you think there is nothing you can learn from people outside the profession, you are in danger of settling for mediocrity. If you do not learn from your mistakes, you are in danger of repeating them. If you think but do not learn, not only are you in great danger but so are your officers.

Next week I will provide a list of books that have been beneficial in helping me to both learn and to think.

Excellence in Training is a course that will help you learn and think. For a list of dates and locations for upcoming Excellence in Training Courses go to www.brianw260.sg-host.com and click on the Training Schedule Link.

Take care.

Brian Willis