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ToP trainers worldwide offer an introductory Facilitation Methods course. The learning objectives seemed to align with what I was looking for, so I quickly registered to attend the two-day course in Chicago. As a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, it was exciting to be a student again. While I had no idea what to expect, I was eager to meet new people and to gain a new skillset.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival to the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), I was a bit surprised. While the fa\u00e7ade of the building was to be expected \u2013 old, intricate and beautiful \u2013 the inside was a bit worn, to say the least. I even needed a special code \u2013 presumably for security purposes \u2013 to make my way up the designated elevator to the sixth floor training room.<\/p>\n
I simply didn\u2019t anticipate the well-worn and outdated furniture in the main common area or the plants lovingly cared for by Carmen in old commodes just outside of the women\u2019s restroom. Inside the training room, a cassette tape playing old-time music, tribal print table coverings, and a collection of mismatched toys and handheld fans greeted me. Later that day, I\u2019d also come to learn the HVAC system had only one setting \u2013 hot!<\/p>\n
The trainers themselves were incredibly kind, but equally quirky. One was a tall, frail, more seasoned man and the other a bubbly, outgoing and eccentric woman \u2013 each dressed in their standard-issue \u201ctraining attire.\u201d Both were quick to say hello and shake my hand before inviting me to find a seat and partake in the continental breakfast \u2013 a smorgasbord of fruit, homemade breads, English muffin halves, string cheese and coffee.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, these first few minutes \u2013 before the training even began \u2013 colored my entire experience for the next two days. Almost instantly, I had become\u00a0an extreme skeptic. Following are just a few of the thoughts that crossed my mind:<\/p>\n
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- This is a joke.\u00a0<\/strong>At any moment, Ashton Kutcher is going to jump out of nowhere and shout those three hilarious words: \u201cYou\u2019ve been punk\u2019d!\u201d<\/li>\n
- This is old school.\u00a0<\/strong>What can I possibly learn from such outdated methods? They don\u2019t even use modern technology in their facilitation techniques.<\/li>\n
- They don\u2019t have anything new to teach me.\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019m far more knowledgeable, sophisticated and well read than they give me credit for.<\/li>\n
- I\u2019m already a skilled trainer.\u00a0<\/strong>I have a long track record as a successful educator, but also I regularly teach adult learning theory to other speakers.<\/li>\n
- Perhaps I could duck out early.\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll still give me the certificate and, of course, I already have the manual I can refer back to, if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
But fast forward a little more than two years later and:<\/p>\n
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- I\u2019ve taken most courses offered by this dynamic duo.\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019ve even gotten to know them on a more personal and professional level.<\/li>\n
- I\u2019ve made the best of friends.\u00a0<\/strong>Unknowingly, I met someone in that very first class who would later become one of my best friends. She and I now work together and use the methods to collaborate on successful client outcomes.<\/li>\n
- I became a certified ToP facilitator.\u00a0<\/strong>Not for the additional letters behind my name, but because I truly believe in and utilize the methods nearly every day.<\/li>\n
- I became a qualified ToP trainer.\u00a0<\/strong>Further exploring the methods as a trainer has solidified my understanding and application of the techniques.<\/li>\n
- I\u2019m beginning to mentor others in ToP facilitation methods.\u00a0<\/strong>I now find myself supporting others who are learning about and practicing the methods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So I encourage you to reflect on the story you\u2019re about to write. As you prepare for your next professional development experience (whether online or in person), consider the issues you face and the challenges you\u2019re hoping to tackle. Perhaps they\u2019re related to your association\u2019s governance or membership. Or maybe some new ideas could really help breathe life into your organization\u2019s education portfolio or communication efforts.<\/p>\n
No matter the scenario, push pause before immediately dismissing that next session or speaker. Take those couple of moments to truly consider and reflect on the reasons you\u2019re not connecting. Instead of showing up as an extreme skeptic, commit to exploring this experience through the eyes of an eternal optimist. Following are just a handful of examples of what this contrast might look like in practice:<\/p>\n
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\n <\/td>\n Extreme skeptic<\/strong><\/td>\n Eternal optimist<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Content<\/strong><\/td>\n This content is vague and not grounded in research.\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n What key takeaways from this content apply to my situation?<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Dialogue<\/strong><\/td>\n It\u2019s clear that I know far more than my tablemates on this topic.<\/em><\/td>\n What new connections or resources can I uncover from this discussion?<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Examples<\/strong><\/td>\n The provided examples would never work in my organization.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n How might I modify these examples to work for my organization?<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Space<\/strong><\/td>\n What were they thinking? I would never have set the training room this way.<\/em><\/td>\n What changes to the training environment might our members really enjoy?\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Speaker<\/strong><\/td>\n This speaker needs some coaching on better presentation methods \u2013 stat.\u00a0<\/em><\/td>\n How might we better coach our speakers to design\/deliver engaging learning?<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n It\u2019s easy to be dismissive. For some of us, that\u2019s become our default. Blame it on our childhood or those lessons learned along the way. But if we continue to participate in each new learning opportunity with a skeptical mind, we\u2019re closing ourselves off to the possibility of what could be. We dismiss the entire book before giving the first full chapter a chance.<\/p>\n
I invite you to approach each new meeting or event with the mindset of possibility. In reality, each new experience offers us a palette of possibilities from which to selectively pick and choose. So long as we\u2019re open to the intent of these experiences and really take the time to unearth the nuggets of wisdom unique to our circumstances, we can \u2013 and will \u2013 gain something special from each and every encounter.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s true that the original intent may manifest itself differently in the eyes and the minds of each learner. And, quite honestly, that\u2019s the beauty. We have the freedom and flexibility to adapt and modify as we see fit \u2013 sometimes to the point that our understanding no longer reflects the original idea. And that\u2019s okay.<\/p>\n
Challenging problems require creative solutions. But if you always do what you\u2019ve always done,\u00a0you\u00a0will\u00a0always\u00a0get what\u00a0you\u2019ve always\u00a0got. Therefore, we have both the power and the responsibility to innovate upon those who have come before us. So, today and every day, choose to see the good in association learning. Choose to create your palette of possibilities.<\/p>\n
Photos courtesy of\u00a0Pexels.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Lindsay Gross<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
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<\/div> - I\u2019ve made the best of friends.\u00a0<\/strong>Unknowingly, I met someone in that very first class who would later become one of my best friends. She and I now work together and use the methods to collaborate on successful client outcomes.<\/li>\n
- This is old school.\u00a0<\/strong>What can I possibly learn from such outdated methods? They don\u2019t even use modern technology in their facilitation techniques.<\/li>\n