“Wisdom lies in recognizing our own ignorance.”
Stuart McMillan
We discover our own ignorance through reading books, blogs, and research papers, listening to audio books and podcasts, asking questions, attending conferences, courses and workshops, and getting honest feedback from participants in our training. We discover our own ignorance by following the lead of Yo-Yo Ma who said, “Each day I move toward that which I do not understand. The result is a continuous accidental learning which constantly shapes my life…”. What I have discovered on this journey is that the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.
As you study and learn be deliberate about spending time thinking about how this new knowledge connects with what you already know and how you can put it into action to improve the design and delivery of your training. Once you gain new knowledge and insights and realize there is a better way to design or deliver the material you teach, you must take action and begin to implement changes in your training. You can start with small changes using the question from Robert Cooper PhD as a guide, “Where might the smallest change make the biggest difference?”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Maya Angelou
Beware of the lure of complacency and the ease of continuing to do what you have been doing. That is the easiest approach, and the most dangerous approach to training.
Beware of arrogance; thinking you know what is best and have nothing to learn. Arrogance will reinforce your ignorance and your officers, your agency and your community will pay the price for that arrogance and ignorance.
Have the wisdom to recognize your own ignorance, and the courage to do something about it. What you do is too important not to.
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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