Training Blog...

How do you get experience, and how much of it do you need to become an expert? 

My friend recently posed this question to me. She is a recent graduate from college and is trying master the maze of job applications that need experience… but is facing the conundrum of how- do- you- get- experience- when- all- the- postions- you- apply- for- want- you- to- be- an- expert- already.   

I am sure that she is not the only one who faces this dilemma. We all need to gain experience, and there will never be a point where we are THE expert on a skill, idea, or job position.

No man was ever so completely skilled in the conduct of life, as not to receive new information from age and experience.     -Terence 

But how do we get from the point of inexperienced to expert? I think a common misconception is to believe that an “expert” can be measured by an ultimate accumulation of facts and figures. Not that these are unimportant (to write a book, I must first know how to spell). However I think a true expert is someone who is willing to constantly absorb the new ideas and learning experiences in their “expertise”. 

An expert is not one who knows, but rather one who is able to learn.

You may be an expert in sales, technology, or your profession’s leadership skills. But you didn’t always posses that knowledge you have now and if you only applied what you knew today ten years into the future… you would not still be seen as an expert.

Taking time to train and to learn our skills is crucial to developing ourselves. I will never know everything there is to know about communication. You will never have the perfect amount of leadership expertise. But if we continue to grow and meet the challenges that face us, we will know a little more each day then what we knew before.

As for my friend, she holds a wealth of expertise and experience on her resume today, compared to the little girl that I used to ride bikes with in our driveway. And she will continue to gain experience and become an expert as she continues to train and learn. Experience is the ability to learn and apply that knowledge… not a list of years working or the school you went to on a job application.

I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I will admit there is one show I’ve begun to watch this month that is quickly becoming a secret addiction of mine. On CBS there is a new series called UNDERCOVER BOSS and on Sunday evenings you can usually find me glued to the tube for the week’s episode.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this particular piece of popular programming I’ll briefly explain. Executives from large corporations such as Waste Management, White Castle, and 7- Eleven appear on the show allowing television crews to follow them as they go “undercover” and find both the good and the bad of their corporation’s inner workings. Through the week both employer and employee learn from each other, and create a new perspective on how to make  better teams in their organization.

The premise may sound a bit cheesy (let’s face it most media saturated reality shows are), but I can’t help but smile at the end of each episode. I love seeing the upside- down model of leadership and its impact on those leading. Sometimes life’s most important lessons can be learned at the bottom, rather then the top, which can be humbling for each of us.

Personally I have begun taking this mindset into the office. Are we truly taking time to learn and grow from those who are “doing” it, or do we dictate rules and regulations without the opportunity to be taught ourselves? It’s a hard question to ask ourselves, and one that I don’t immediately know the answer to.  However it is something that I will continue to ponder… next Sunday in front of my television.

Think back to grade school gym class….back to the days of dodge ball.  The object of the game: players try to hit each other with large red rubber balls while trying to avoid being hit themselves. The gym teacher would pick the team captains.  The rest of the class would wait…some with much excitement that they would quickly be chosen while others would hide in the shadows dreading the whole process.  In my gym class the order of picking usually went something like this:

1.  Best friend(s)
2.  Kids that were pretty good athletes
3.  Kids that your best friend would tell you to pick
4.  Divide the last couple of kids that didn’t really want to play the game anyway

Then the game began.  The balls started to fly.  If you were able to avoid injury or knocking someone’s glasses off, you were golden.  Before you knew it the game was over.  If your team lost, the kids that were in category #4 usually let this roll off of them.  The other kids usually did one of two things.  Either they would blame the kids in category #4 for losing the game or they would blame someone on the other team for doing something to someone in category #4 that caused their team’s loss.  The one thing that they didn’t do is look at how their own performance contributed to the game.

The business world can be a giant game of dodge ball.  We are all part of diverse teams with expectations to win every time.  There may be a lot of pressure and pushback from your teammates.  You will have the team captains who organize the project, you may have peers on your team, teammates that have certain skills needed to get the project done, and there will be the ones that don’t care and don’t contribute.  How do you all work together and deliver? 

Define clear goals and objectives.
Clear communication is essential in order for team members to know what is expected of them.

Discuss and agree on individual responsibilities.
This step will help keep individuals on task and it promotes personal accountability. 

The leader must lead by example.
A strong leader must create a high trust environment so the team will participate in discussions, ask questions, and address conflict. The leader must also have an action plan for conflict that may arise.  With all of this in place, the team will make the most of the time that they have together.

Regularly evaluate and discuss the team’s performance and progress.
A reminder of what is expected and reviewing the goals and objectives throughout the project will keep the project defined.

By implementing these simple steps, you will understand your role in helping your team win every time and you will not get caught up in the grade school blame game.

On my way to work last week, I noticed a new billboard sign along the side of the highway. In simple black letters against a white background, it read…

Recession 101- Your self worth will always be more important then your net worth.

I spent the rest of my commute mulling over these words. How do we learn to measure ourselves? Have you “made it” in life when you have the six figure income, and nice house in the good part of town? Or is there a something more?

In the business world, it can be very easy to put a higher value on concrete measurements such as income, benefits and the title of your job. These are all good important things; however, I think that the less tangible items are what truly compliment our success. I cannot put a price on working with people who I respect and challenge me to grow, nor can I find the worth of giving 100% on a project.

What I love about working in the training industry is the excitement that comes with learning something new. Learning leads to change, change leads to growth, and growth can never be a negative ROI.

My small and humble thought for myself (and you reading) is…how am I judging my worth today? Is it with numbers or my investment to others? What is my worth and how can I make it grow?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you think of the billboard quote? What are ways the we can measure our self worth and invest in it?

Cabin fever: extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time.  Is this a term that is used only in the Midwest?  I can’t imagine that anyone in Florida or California experiences the feeling of cabin fever.  I saw a news report a couple of nights ago stating that there were 35 days until the official date we can declare the Spring season.  I have to tell you, knowing that tidbit of information helped put a spring in my step the next morning.  I could have very easily looked at my calendar and found out this information, but I didn’t realize that it was important to me or would change my attitude until I heard it that day.

Influence:  to have an effect on the condition or development of.  Have you ever seen a commercial for some sort of food item or restaurant and then find yourself feeling hungry?  Have you ever heard the phrase, “Smiling is contagious”?  Every day we encounter something or someone that may influence a thought or feeling.  Small things that you see or hear may change your thoughts or feelings; possibly from a negative to a positive.  With that in mind, how can you contribute and be a positive influence?  Smile at someone you pass today, hold the door for someone that has their hands full, tell someone today that you appreciate them or their service. 

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”  – Hellen Keller

Today we live in the land of “the instant” (and I’m not talking oatmeal). Technology has made our communication always available and always now with cell phones, emails and texts messages. As if those aren’t quick enough, social media applications like Twitter, Facebook, and the new googlebuzz have cut down the waiting (and reading) time for feedback, ideas, and comments.

As a twenty-something I cannot express how much I love this “at- your- finger- tips”  kind of communication. I use it constantly to stay in touch and stay on top of what I need to get done during the week. With instant communication I can share exactly what I am thinking, at almost the exact time I think it.

However , I’ve begun to believe that this “insta-talk” can also have its drawbacks. Sometimes my first thought isn’t the best or most helpful one to share with others (shocking I know). How many of you have quickly responded to an email from a co- worker only to wish you could un- send and put the words back in your mouth? I think that with instant communication we often send out the first rough draft of our thoughts, rather then the published edition.

It’s with this thought in my mind; I can’t help but hear my mom’s voice , “Erica, think before you speak!” Just because I can communicate instantly doesn’t mean I should. Sometimes the best way that I (and you) can speak with others, is by taking a few extra moments to keep our mouth shut.

Like many of you, last night I spent my evening with friends and family eating a lot of food and watching the Super Bowl.  Now I’ll admit I’m not a very big football fan and I usually end up watching the commercials more then the game. But I have always enjoyed the amount of passion and excitement that some of my friends can put into their favorite team, and how much that team’s win (or loss) means to them.

This morning among the highlights of the top plays, and top commercials, I noticed an article in the Washington Post that was written about the Saints Super Bowl win and the important impact it’s having on the New Orleans community. 

“There was something about this Saints team, which stormed through the National Football League season that seemed to inspire a city worn down by the rebuilding…. The way the Saints kept fighting toward the Super Bowl gave people hope. 

“It’s a gateway for everyone to believe,” said Herbert Williams, who lives near Sidney’s Saloon in Treme. “It’s showing everyone that we’re coming back from Hurricane Katrina and showing that this can be a great place to be.”

The article makes a good point. Winning makes a difference for our morale and can very often provide encouragement and confidence that brings a helping hand to pick us up in our outlook on life.

 However, I think it’s the tendency with many of us to leave this winning excitement behind with our team’s jersey, and forget to put it on with our suit Monday morning.

Having an organization that can pull together and celebrate success has a profound impact on how we see ourselves, our team, and our future. But it is sadly something that is often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the work week.

So my thoughts for the week are:

How are you winning Super Bowls for your company?

And on the flip side… 

How are you taking time to celebrate your organization’s victories?

On February 2^nd of every year, we depend on a little critter named Punxsutawney Phil to tell us if we are going to have 6 more weeks of winter or if we are going to have an early spring. If he sees his shadow there will be 6 more weeks of winter, but if he doesn’t, the whole world rejoices, well at least everyone here in Minnesota, because spring will arrive early!  It is breaking news all day long and Groundhog Day news continues for days after this much anticipated event.  In 1993 there was even a movie released, Groundhog Day (clever name), starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  Phil (Bill Murray) is a local weather man who travels with his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell), to Punxutawney, Pennsylvania to cover a story about a weather forecasting “rat” (as he calls it).  Phil wakes up the following day to find out that it is Groundhog Day yet again, and again, and again forcing him to spend the rest of eternity in the same place, seeing the same people do the same thing EVERY day.

Have you ever felt that way?  I know I have, the feeling of monotony and same “stuff”; different day repetition. If you asked most of us we may say we would invite positive changes in our lives, but would not be able to take the first steps toward it. Change has to be one of the most uncomfortable things that we go through.  It doesn’t matter if it is in your personal or professional life.  Although change is most of the time a positive thing, it can be portrayed as negative.  If you look back and reflect on your day, your week, month, year etc. does it look similar to what Phil went through? 

For a lot of people, 2010 is a fresh start for those pesky New Year resolutions.  Exercise more, take a vacation, write that thank you letter that you keep putting off, get more organized, save money and the list goes on.  In a recent article posted on TIME Magazines website, author Maia Szalavitz states, “…poll[s] also found that while 65% of people who made a resolution in 2008 kept their promise for at least part of the year, 35% never even made it out of the gate.” 

Sound familiar? We find a great way to change and improve our life and then we forget about it.  It becomes a dusty memory sitting in our closet of “should haves”.  The good news is…it’s only February 4, 2010.  Starting late is always better then never starting at all!  Pull out your list and look at it again.  When you wake up tomorrow are you going to feel like Phil and have yet another Groundhog Day or is it time for some small changes in efforts to reach your larger goals?

No man ever listened himself out of a job.

                                                          -Calvin Coolidge

In college I had a professor who always made it a point to emphasize with students what it meant to really listen while working with others. He stated that sadly we often live in a “debate” society. We each speak our opinion and the many reasons its right and then politely pretend to listen to the opposition’s point of view, only to be impatiently waiting for our turn to speak again. He always ended his lectures saying “You got two ears and one mouth for a reason. Use them accordingly.”

 Listening is an essential tool that should be used… well… everywhere. In listening we are better able to understand the needs of our clients, kids, co-workers, spouses, friends, parents, strangers, neighbors… the list could go on but I think you get the picture. When you listen, you give people what they are asking for, not what you think they want.

Listening is more then just not talking, and nodding your head in agreement. To truly listen to another person is to work at understanding them. You listen to their words and watch their body language. Do they seem upset? Excited? You listen to what they are saying, rather then just their words. “I am really frustrated with that inconsiderate decision she made” usually means more then just “I am feeling the emotion of frustration.”

We ourselves find more satisfaction when we are listening to others. I know for myself I prefer to take the time with those around to me to understand and provide a solution, rather then being another part of their problem…and I can’t do that without first listening with my ears and not my mouth.

Did anyone read the news online, receive a live news feed on your mobile devise, or listen to your local news on your commute home yesterday?  If so, you probably heard about the unveiling of the new Apple iPad.  We talked about it in the office yesterday.  What are they going to call it?  How much will it be?  What is Steve Jobs going to be wearing during his keynote?  It even got to the point that a coworker and I had a bet on this.  She said that Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple for those that may not know who I am referring to, would give his presentation in a black turtleneck and jeans….that’s his “brand”.  I thought he might spice it up a little and wear a black shirt of some kind (maybe not a turtleneck) with an Apple logo with jeans.  Well, I was wrong.  He did have on a plain old black turtleneck with jeans.  Very similar to Batman…same outfit different day of the week!

Branding.  This seems to be the new buzzword.  There are many blogs, forums, websites, and articles etc. that are focusing their campaign on helping you brand yourself and/or your company. It is a marketing strategy.  The focus isn’t to get your target market to choose you over your competitors, but to have your target market think that you are the ONLY solution to their needs.  About.com posted an article, by Laura Lake, stating the objectives that a good brand will achieve are:

• Delivering the message clearly
• Confirming your credibility
• Connecting emotionally with your target market
• Motivate your buyer
• User loyalty

Wow!  That is exactly what Steve Jobs does time after time.  If we think outside the box of “having to be in the marketing department to do this”, you can apply these points to just about anything.  Your job, your social life, your role as a parent and the list goes on.  Think about how you, or your leaders, are branding the training or learning within your company.  Is there a clear message about the expectations of training?  Is there follow through with the training to confirm credibility?  Does your company provide training that the learners can connect with emotionally?  Is there motivation to learn?  Are the learners loyal?  You may find that all 5 items are covered, but if not, how can you help?