Two weeks ago we began to explore how the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People can apply to the big, wide-world of training.  Today we continue the journey, starting with habit four.
(Curious about what habits one–three look like through the eyes of training? Check it out!)


HABIT #4—Think Win/Win

American Idol, The Bachelor, The Super Bowl...every where we turn, we see competition.  Someone wins and someone looses (Win/Lose).  Even in the training classroom we see competition.  Learners can be motivated when they are put in competitive situations..  So if this habit is called "Win/Win", are "Win/Lose" situations a bad thing?  Not at all! Competition definitely has its place in this world.  It can challenge individuals and teams to reach new limits and create new solutions to problems, or in the case of sports and TV, "Win/Lose" can be very entertaining.   

The key to apply with habit four, "Think Win/Win", is with relationships.  With personal and professional relationships that are very important to you.  Training relationships would definitely fall in this category.  Does it serve you well to be competitive with a spouse?  How about a peer?  In most cases, the answer is no, "Win/Lose" thinking will leave one person feeling defeated.  "Win/Win" thinking on the other hand leaves both parties feeling excited, energized and enthusiastic! 

One of my favorite pieces of the "Win/Win" habit is creating Win/Win agreements.  These types of agreements should be created each time we step foot into the classroom.  To determine if you create "Win/Win" agreements in your classes, evaluate the following:

• Are the desired results clear?
• Do your learners know the guidelines to follow?
• Do your learners know all of the available resources at their disposal?
• Do your learners have accountability for their actions?
• Do your learners know the positive and negative consequences of their actions?

It's amazing how many times I've heard from learners that they really didn't know the resources available to them, or what the true desired results and consequences were.  As trainers we can NEVER assume these items are known by all.  If we clearly communicate the bullets above with each class (and with all relationships which matter to us), each day, we will be WINNING all around!
 

HABIT #5—Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

"Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we can listen twice as much as we speak."

This is the habit of listening with your eyes, heart and ears.  You would probably say listening is a very important skills for a trainer, right?  Knowing this fact, how many trainers really are great listeners?  How many trainers listen with the intent to reply or have muttered to themselves "Oh I've heard this questions before!" as a learner asks a question?
 
Trainers should always remember learners, especially in new hire situations can be highly emotional (even if they don't show it).  They want to succeed and if they're putting themselves out there to ask a question or share a concern, they need to feel heard before you jump in and solve their problem. 

If a trainer doesn't really listen to or acknowledge the true emotion or intention behind a learner's question, the employee can feel disrespected or not important.  It can pay huge dividends to pause and use empathic listening in these situations.  Simply restate what the person said, identifying the emotion they're displaying and the reason. 


This habit, if mastered can help to make a good trainer, GREAT!


HABIT #6—Synergize

1 + 1= 3, 100, 10,000. 

This habit articulates the power of the TEAM.  Team activities in training are so powerful because when you put individuals with different ideas, experience and education into a group, amazing conversations and outcomes can prevail!  

One of the biggest lessons this habit can bring to the training world is this: Find creative and fun was to engage team activities and discussions...not just once a day, but throughout the day.  Just be sure to let everyone know what the desired results are, the guidelines, consequences, etc (win/win agreement looking familiar?)

Let everyone know differing ideas are NOT a bad thing and ask everyone be open to a new perspective and give everyone a chance to share their point of view. 

At the end of the day it isn't about "my way" or "your way"...it's about a HIGHER WAY.   


HABIT #7—Sharpen the Saw

When is the last time you took time out for YOU? 

Habit 7 is all about taking time for continuous improvement for YOURSELF! 

There are four dimensions of renewal:

• Social/Emotional
• Mental
• Physical
• Spiritual

Do you plan time each week to sharpen your training saw?  When is the last time your read a great training book?  When's the last time you took a hike in the mountains and stood in awe of the nature around you?  When is the last time you had dinner with friends?  These are all questions that you should consider each week.  If the answer is "Wow!  It's been a while," stop, identify something you could do to give yourself this "gift" of renewal and DO IT!  Don't pass go, collect $100, etc...do it NOW.  It will pay HUGE dividends in all other areas of your life.  

What happens when a logger doesn't take time to stop and sharpen his saw?  It's not pretty.  Same thing applies to training!  Don't wait until your training course evaluation surveys start to show a decline in training and development satisfaction to take the time to sharpen your training tools.
  

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts about how the 7 habits can apply to training...or how you're doing something differently in the classroom or for yourself after reading these thoughts.  Please share!

Did you know it only takes 21-days to form a new habit?  What are you going to focus on in February?