If you don’t go, you won’t know what you don’t know.

“If you don’t go, you won’t know what you don’t know.” This is a phrase that popped into my head during an ILEETA Live event hosted by three great trainers and leaders Brian Hill, Todd Fletcher and Joe Willis with special guest host Graham Tinius, who is also a great trainer and leader. We were discussing why trainers should attend the annual ILEETA Conference in St. Louis. This conference should be on the list of “must attend” events for every law enforcement trainer at least once. Being part of the ILEETA community since the organization was founded 20 years ago and attending every conference with the exception of the 2021 event in the middle of COVID, has opened my eyes and my mind to a vast array of topics that I did not know, and that I did not know I did not know. 

The presentations, classes and conversations at the ILEETA Conference, as well as articles in the ILEETA Journal, have led me to do a deeper dive into a variety of topics increasing my knowledge and understanding of a variety of topics and improved my effectiveness as a trainer. The connections and relationships I have formed over the years have resulted in people reaching out and suggesting books and blogs I should read, podcasts I should listen to, and people I should interview for The Excellence in Training Academy. 

If you don’t go, you won’t know what you don’t know does not just apply to the ILEETA Conference.

If you don’t go to conferences and attend a wide variety of presentations, then you won’t know what you don’t know.

If you don’t go to courses, workshops, seminars, and presentations that are not in your area of expertise, then you won’t know what you don’t know.

If you don’t go to training outside of your organization, then you won’t know what you don’t know. 

If you don’t go out of your way to read books on a wide variety of topics, then you won’t know what you don’t know.

If you don’t go out of your way to listen to a variety of podcasts, then you won’t know what you don’t know. 

If you are not intentional about asking other people what books they would recommend and then follow-up by reading them, then you won’t know what you don’t know.

If you don’t do debriefings to find out what happened, without blame, judgement, or criticism, then you won’t know what you don’t know.

If fail to embrace curiosity, then you won’t know what you don’t know.

The challenge to all of us is to stay curious, keep an open mind and strive to continually reveal what we don’t know that we don’t know. Once you shine the light on that then you can determine how much deeper you are willing to explore that topic. Just remember, “If you don’t go, you won’t know what you don’t know.”

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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