Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Nellie wins my respect

Holidays (that's vacations if you're living over there) are a mixed blessing. In the days before you go away you get in a stew trying to get all your jobs done and thinking ahead to what you've got to have arranged for when you get back. And when you do get back, feeling all very mellow, you get in a stew again trying to re-engage with all your current projects and connect with all your colleagues. The last thing you want to do after only a day's catchup is to run a three-day workshop. Some things I just don't seem to be able to learn. One of those is to say 'no' to major commitments right after holidays. In fact I find it hard to say 'no' full stop (and that's not an open invitation to ring me up and try and sell me something). I'm too polite and too easily flattered. I even tried putting a big notice on my pinboard with 'no!' written on it in large letters. Trouble is, I only registered it for a few days, then it became background. Any better suggestions?

The consolation, I thought, was that this workshop was just a one-to-one (if the term 'workshop' can be used for a event that's so sparsely populated). That's me and one learner, for three whole days, which after 30 years in learning and development was a first - and I don't get to say that too often. Now I know one-to-one training is effective, when it's used appropriately. It has to be, because it's the ultimate personalised learning experience, paced according to the learner's needs and as collaborative as two people can be. I also knew one-to-one training would be hard work for the learner - after all, they have to pay constant attention because they have to participate in every activity and answer every question. What I didn't know was how hard work it would be for me. I not only have to deliver new content and facilitate any exercises, I also have to answer all the questions posed by the learner and fill the gaps left by the absence of other participants - conversing, supporting, socialising. Facilitators of proper workshops (i.e. those with groups) have it easy - they can act as catalysts, sit back and be supportive, and reflect all subject-matter questions to other participants. Nellies (of the 'sitting next to' variety) now have my utmost respect. They should be given a massive pay rise and allowed to retire early. There must be an easier way of making a living.

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