Google training and you’ll find LOADS of great references, recommendations for books, websites, conferences and more out to help you learn more about honing your training skills. Taking time to read and learn using these types of tools is critical to your expanding performance.
I also think great training professionals should regularly spend time connecting with nature. Observing, listening and looking for what Mother Nature can teach. Today we’ll explore three of my most favorite training lessons learned from nature:
![3 Training Lessons from Nature]( "3 Training Lessons from Nature")
Learning by observation is critical to the learning process.
How does a lion cub learn how to hunt to survive? How does a fawn know that it needs to be aware of its surroundings all the time to avoid predators? How does any baby animal really know how to “be” as it grows up? Sure, instinct plays a big part, but most of what little animals in the wild learn is by observing their pride, their pack, their herd, etc.
In your training classroom, what are you doing to allow learners ample opportunity to observe new skills? Many people will tell you they learn best by doing, but having a good model to follow is going to make that first “do” much more successful.
Making mistakes when trying out new skills can hurt your ego, but the lessons you learn from the experiences are powerful!
When a horse is born, it attempts to stand within moments. The first few attempts are not pretty. They throw themselves at the goal, thrashing around, trying to figure out gravity, balance, and technique. The first successful attempt is often met with an immediate and hard tumble back to earth.
But the determined little buggers keep trying and trying, building strength and avoiding their prior mishaps. Before you know it, they’re prancing around, showing the world their beauty.
Do you allow for or build in opportunities for making mistakes in your classroom? When you see a learner completing an exercise, but heading down the wrong path, how quick are you to jump in and point out the error?
I vividly remember when I was in training to learn how to be a bank teller. One day I was completing mock transactions and my cash drawer didn’t balance at the end of the day. I was upset because I was the only one in class who didn’t have a perfect drawer, and I had to go back and find my error. It was painful, but I tell you what, from that point on I always double checked the type of deposit I was making and I never made that same mistake again, plus I was thrilled the mistake was made in training and not in the “real world”.
You have to push the baby bird off the ledge at some point.
When I worked in the banking world, we often discussed the “best” training approach for bringing new hires up to speed in running teller drawers, opening new accounts and making loans. Managers would often say “keep them until they’re 100% ready to do the job.” This often meant more than a month of training, and new hires would be chomping at the bit to leave the classroom.
After many iterations of new hire training we learned that you should teach the 80% and then let the little birds fly. You cannot possibly teach 100% of all things that a person will encounter on the job. You have to set the learner up for success, and avoid risk for your organization, but you also need to know when it's time to cut the cord. You can’t coddle them forever. Just be sure to provide a good support system and then push...
How do you know it’s time to let your little birdies fly?
When is the last time you took time to learn from nature? Schedule some time today!
It will be worth it!
I also think great training professionals should regularly spend time connecting with nature. Observing, listening and looking for what Mother Nature can teach. Today we’ll explore three of my most favorite training lessons learned from nature:
Learning by observation is critical to the learning process.
How does a lion cub learn how to hunt to survive? How does a fawn know that it needs to be aware of its surroundings all the time to avoid predators? How does any baby animal really know how to “be” as it grows up? Sure, instinct plays a big part, but most of what little animals in the wild learn is by observing their pride, their pack, their herd, etc.
In your training classroom, what are you doing to allow learners ample opportunity to observe new skills? Many people will tell you they learn best by doing, but having a good model to follow is going to make that first “do” much more successful.
Making mistakes when trying out new skills can hurt your ego, but the lessons you learn from the experiences are powerful!
When a horse is born, it attempts to stand within moments. The first few attempts are not pretty. They throw themselves at the goal, thrashing around, trying to figure out gravity, balance, and technique. The first successful attempt is often met with an immediate and hard tumble back to earth.
But the determined little buggers keep trying and trying, building strength and avoiding their prior mishaps. Before you know it, they’re prancing around, showing the world their beauty.
Do you allow for or build in opportunities for making mistakes in your classroom? When you see a learner completing an exercise, but heading down the wrong path, how quick are you to jump in and point out the error?
I vividly remember when I was in training to learn how to be a bank teller. One day I was completing mock transactions and my cash drawer didn’t balance at the end of the day. I was upset because I was the only one in class who didn’t have a perfect drawer, and I had to go back and find my error. It was painful, but I tell you what, from that point on I always double checked the type of deposit I was making and I never made that same mistake again, plus I was thrilled the mistake was made in training and not in the “real world”.
You have to push the baby bird off the ledge at some point.
When I worked in the banking world, we often discussed the “best” training approach for bringing new hires up to speed in running teller drawers, opening new accounts and making loans. Managers would often say “keep them until they’re 100% ready to do the job.” This often meant more than a month of training, and new hires would be chomping at the bit to leave the classroom.
After many iterations of new hire training we learned that you should teach the 80% and then let the little birds fly. You cannot possibly teach 100% of all things that a person will encounter on the job. You have to set the learner up for success, and avoid risk for your organization, but you also need to know when it's time to cut the cord. You can’t coddle them forever. Just be sure to provide a good support system and then push...
How do you know it’s time to let your little birdies fly?
When is the last time you took time to learn from nature? Schedule some time today!
It will be worth it!