July 16, 2:26 pm
Leaders: Having the right attitude makes all the difference
After spending a day training a group of trainers in Indiana, I am pleasantly reminded about what a difference a learner’s attitude makes. Trainees who want to learn and improve make a trainer’s day memorable–in a good way. Sometimes learners don’t feel they have anything to learn, and then its a day one would rather forget.
One of the key factors in today’s situation was the attitude of the leader. In today’s class the executive director of the organization was in the class participating 100% and picking up golden nuggets along the way. It was evidence to support the theory that people will follow as they are led.
More evidence was apparent in his staff’s desire to produce practical, useful training. The trainers here wanted to improve–even though they already have a reputation for being a great training facility.
I’ve conducted other Train-the-Trainer classes when a leader skips out early or spends the day checking email on his blackberry–or, worse yet, blows off the class altogether. In those situations, well, the rest of the training staff is pretty much going through the motions, too.
I wish the leaders who give only lip service to professional development could observe the difference. Then they might actually change their own attitudes and get the results that they keep saying that they want.
Filed in Training, Motivation, Management, Leadership, Train the Trainer, Corporate Culture
Bottom line: a true leader would never ask his / her followers to do something that they wouldn’t do themselves.