As Training professionals, we often are looked to as experts on adult learning theory, curriculum development, content delivery, and many other specialties. Equally often, we are expected to step outside our own knowledge comfort zone to figure something out and then teach it.<\/p>\n
This is a big part of the thrill of our field. Yet, when we assume the role of expert, we can inadvertently give the impression that we are done learning. As Training professionals, we ask people to change behaviors, to be willing to be uncomfortable, to grow and adopt new habits.<\/p>\n
A key component of skillful training\u2014and of influencing your company\u2019s training culture\u2014is modeling a learning mindset.<\/p>\n
THE LEARNING MINDSET<\/strong><\/p>\n My working definition of a learning mindset: Everything is learnable, and focused practice leads to improvement. Further, I believe people and organizations thrive on continual development and learning. And finally, all of our skills and abilities are \u201cin process\u201d rather than static.<\/p>\n This view is influenced by the seminal work of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck (\u201cMindset: The New Psychology of Success,\u201d 2007). When we model this way of thinking, we give permission for others to ask questions, to wrestle with ideas, and to work through the discomfort of trying new things.<\/p>\n LEARN OPENLY AND PUBLICLY<\/strong><\/p>\n GIVE UP THE DRIVER\u2019S SEAT<\/strong><\/p>\n BE A LEARNER-FACILITATOR<\/strong><\/p>\n STAY FRESH<\/strong><\/p>\n \nTo create real change, and to maximize our long-term impact as Training professionals, it is critical to embrace our own evolution as we learn, grow, and impact others. If we do this openly, who knows how many people may join in?<\/p>\n Craig Fischer is the Training manager at SCAFCO Corporation, an Ethics instructor at Whitworth University, and a blogger at workfulblog.com. Fischer has more than 15 years as a manager, trainer, instructor, and facilitator. He recently joined the Training and Development field full time, so the learning mindset comes easy to him!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To create real change, and to maximize our long-term impact as Training professionals, it is critical to embrace our own evolution as we learn, grow, and impact others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[30],"class_list":{"0":"post-10635","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-magazine","7":"tag-how-to","8":"magazine_issues-november-2016"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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