“It’s impossible to learn that which we think we already know.”
Epictetus
If you think you already know how to most effectively engage participants in training, how to create engaging PowerPoint or Keynote presentations, how to tell powerful stories and how to enhance the retention and recall of information you run the risk of becoming stagnant and failing to best serve the men and women you have the privilege of training. When you start to believe you know it all you show up at courses, workshops and seminars taught by other trainers (if you show up) with an attitude of a closed and passive knower. You sit there with your arms crossed and your mind closed and say to yourself, “I know that. I already know all this stuff. There is nothing new here. There is nothing I can learn from this person.” and you walk out at the end of day full of yourself, but void of new ideas.
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
John Wooden
As a trainer if you think you already know everything you need to know about training then you will close your mind to new ideas, new ways of thinking, new ways of teaching, new techniques, new tactics, new stories and new opportunities.
“We are not what we know, but what we are willing to learn.”
Mary Catherine Bateson
What are you willing to learn? Who are you willing to learn from? Are you looking outside the profession for new ideas and concepts? What are you reading and listening to? Are you reading and listening with the intent of collecting dots or connecting dots? What have you done in the last month, six months, twelve months to make yourself a better teacher, trainer and learner? Do you have the attitude that you can learn from your students, or do you believe that the teaching only goes one way – from you to them?
If you are willing to learn and seeking new ways to enhance your knowledge and abilities as a trainer consider theses options:
- The Excellence in Training Academy – This is a paid membership site. For an investment of less than a dollar a day for an individual membership you get access to 15 webinars and over 150 interviews with authors, researchers, psychologists, trainers, leaders and people who have been there all with the goal to enhance law enforcement training. New content is added every week. Go to https://excellenceintrainingacademy.com and use the code eitblog when you join to get the first month’s membership free. This applies to both the Individual and Training Unit memberships.
- Join ILEETA and take advantage of all the Member Benefits including access to the ILEETA Journal, the 2018 Emerson Hour talks and the ILEETA Learning Lab podcast.
- Read: Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, Mindset by Carol Dweck, InsideOut Coaching by Joe Ehrmann, Quiet by Susan Cain, Peak by Anders Ericsson, the Storytellers Secret by Carmine Gallo and Grit by Angela Lee Duckworth.
Keep seeking new ideas, new information and new methods. Keep striving to become better. The men and women you have the privilege of teaching and training deserve that commitment from you.
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 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.
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