THE POWER OF BECOMING A BEGINNER AGAIN
Have you ever felt like a stranger in an strange land?
That's the feeling I have every time visit my home country. Incidentally, I've lived outside the US for the better part of 30 years.
On a recent business trip to Munich, I felt like a stranger in a familiar land – Munich was home for over 24 years.
In my defense, I was staying in a part of town I didn't know well.
Getting from the main station to the hotel was challenging. I checked my phone just as much as I would have in Hamburg or Berlin.
I kept reminding myself that new experiences help, often force you to grow.
They force you to look at things differently. They can provide much needed perspective when you get stuck in a routine, for example.
Leaving your comfort zone is recognized as a growth accelerator – not always painless.
TEACH THE TEACHER
A few years ago, I attended a 3-day online course to get certified in a skill. My biggest takeaway had nothing to do with the course content, however.
As a workshop participant, I was forced to concentrate in a virtual environment for hours at a time. Resisting the temptation to clear my inbox was extremely hard, especially during the non-interactive parts.
Without this experience, these two learnings would have continued to elude me:
1. The importance of interaction in the virtual environment.
Getting “talked at” is hard in any situation; the multitasking temptation makes it even harder. When someone is monologuing, it’s easy to check out. Interaction among participants is key to sustaining engagement.
2. The concentration problem. The mixing it up solution.
Attention spans are different between people – for some, a 20-minute presentation is an eternity. However, anyone can focus for long periods if workshop activities are mixed up. 40 minutes of theory is fine if followed by an exercise to help people experience the theory.
Mixing it up with interactive activity from recent workshop
Without a doubt, putting myself (as teacher) in the shoes of a student made me a better facilitator of online workshops – I’ve been leading my own since 2020.
Without this experience, I never would have known how hard it is to concentrate for extended periods. Neither would I have understood the temptation to multitask.
Enjoying this perspective?
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
When were you last a stranger in a familiar place? Or out of your comfort zone with a new skill?
If it could help you in your work, I urge you to find a way to experience your craft as a beginner or non expert.
TIP: Put your self in a situation where you are a beginner.
Imagine if a right-handed person broke their right arm? The left arm would develop fast.
Don’t get me wrong - I am NOT advocating breaking any bones.
However, learning to be a beginner again at something will accelerate personal growth; it can also make you better at your craft.
I believe the online course helped me better understand my participants and develop my craft.
Absolutely NOT a waste of money – my initial feeling after the 3-day certification.
What new experience could help you develop your craft?
For my support building a new skill or refining your craft, let’s talk.