How do you engage the "forced" learner?

 Author:  Ellen V. Platton, Learning & Talent Development Professional

How do you engage the "forced" learner? 

How do you engage the "forced" learner? We've all had the adult in the classroom who has been "forced" to attend our training.  Either the training was "recommended" or the course was a mandatory requirement.  Regardless, she/he does not want to be in our classroom.  This person feels out of place, does not say much and their body language sends the message that she/he is not interested.  As the trainer, how do you engage this learner without disrupting the class? 

What has worked for me has been to encourage conversation.  Telling stories, referencing current events, asking questions, and using analogies are all informal ways that have led to classroom conversation. Once one person speaks, before long a number of people are engaged in a conversation, even the "forced" learner.  The "forced" learner has become interested and involved.  This person's body language now sends a different message.  Sometimes quoting a line to a popular show, movie or song (where appropriate) has allowed the learner to feel safe enough to get involved because I've now become relatable.  Asking questions is a sure way to start a conversation:  Has anyone ever experienced a similar situation?  Can anyone tell me a time when....?  How would you have....?...Who has an example of.....?  What worked?  Does anyone......?  Why do you think...?  Once the learner can relate and has an opportunity to share their story, she/he eases into the conversation. Telling stories, using current events, and analogies have worked for me.  

   

As trainers, we want to engage the learner while at the same time provide valuable information.  Everyone has something to say, has a question to ask, or just needs a bit of guidance.  Most learners want to tell their story but may need to first feel comfortable and secure in their surroundings.  When someone enters our classroom, they may initially feel out of place.  I've described what has worked for me. 

How do you engage the "forced" learner?  Please comment or share your story. 

Are You Passionate About Your Career?

Author:  Ellen V. Platton, Learning & Talent Development Professional

Are You Passionate About Your Career?

Have you ever asked yourself if you are following your passion? If you are unsure, think about what you like to do, what inspires you in your everyday life.  What do you enjoy doing?  Do you like to analyze situations?  Are you someone who finds joy in creating something with your hands?  Do you like to help others?  Once you discover your passion, ask yourself another question.  Are you incorporating your passion into your career? 

A friend once advised me that my career should involve my passion.  So what was my passion?  I knew I felt so incredibly inspired when I was a coach for the Manhattan Special Olympics Volleyball team.  By coaching the athletes, I helped them to become the best human beings possible.  The game was not just about winning, rather "being brave in the attempt to win".  I thrived on their engagement.  They pushed themselves and helped each other to stretch their abilities on and off the court.  We worked together to improve their skills and worked as a team.  When training, my #1 rule was to enjoy the training and to have fun.  

I knew I needed to incorporate this same passion for training into my career. I became a Learning & Talent Development Professional.  To this day, I am still incredibly inspired to engage individuals when training.  I am passionate about providing people with the tools and resources that help them to become more efficient and effective at their jobs.  My goal is to stretch their skills and abilities both in and out of the classroom.....and to always enjoy and have fun.  I am still passionate about my career. 

Are you following your passion? Please comment or share your passion

Interviewing is Presenting

Author:  John M. Dix

Trainer, Facilitator, Strategist, Founder JMD Partnerships

Interviewing is Presenting

I’ve done a lot of work with professionals at all levels on presentation skills.

Everything from how to physically prepare for a presentation, to content development, to tips to avoid anxiety, to what to do after a presentation to guarantee your next presentation is even better.

And I have done exactly the same with professionals preparing for an interview.  Same preparation, same content development, same tips and techniques.  And that’s because when you are interviewing you are presenting …presenting your “self”.

So I’d like to share with you some ideas on how to prepare for a presentation and an interview:

Get a Theme Song

Len Mozzi of Dramatic Difference (http://www.lenmozzi.com/) shared this tidbit with me.  Watch any late night talk show and you see the host has a theme song.  Every night, every show, Johnny Carson’s theme song begins and he enters the stage, with confidence and energy.  So get your theme song, get it in your head, listen to it very loudly in the car on the way to your interview and increase your confidence and energy

Loosen Up

That tightness in your neck, stiffness in your shoulders …that’s nervous energy, that rigid tension.  If you walk into an interview with that … it will manifest itself in your speaking.  So you have to loosen up those muscles.  Find a private place to relieve that tension.  Jump up and down, do windmills with your arms and rotate that tight neck.

Anticipation

When I prepare for a presentation, I anticipate those areas of the content that could produce the greatest confusion, that might stir up emotions or that I am less familiar with.  I have to anticipate that those hurdles and obstacles may trip up my presentation.  On the other side of that, I also look for points in the presentation that are going to be “good news” for the audience.  Same goes for an interview.  What parts of your experiences are particularly extraordinary in terms of your fit for the position?  And where are the gaps, what experiences might you lack to win a job offer. How can you address those gaps?

Critic Your Presentation

So how did it go?  Whether a presentation or an interview, immediately following the experience take serious time to review how you did.  What would you do differently?  What areas tripped you up?  How was your body feeling during the interview?  Make notes and refer back to them for your next interview.

I always go back to the work I have done with the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) and remember their tag line.  “Preparation is Everything”, so true for cooking but even truer for presentations and interviews.