How to train your dragon - Discipleship 175

This was one of my most favorite family films in recent memory. My daughter Saydie is relentless on watching it via playback numerous times in a month.

The element that has always stuck out to me from this film is something that I believe is relevant for parents and leaders to ask themselves: what makes training successful?

There are a number of different elements present in any sort of training and/or learning environment. In this post, I want to share three elements that I believe are absolutely critical when it comes to development and formation of people.

1. Share - This is the core of the learning process. When trying to train someone or helping them to learn, you are really inviting them to share in an experience. The success of the initiative will depend on the level to which partnership is created around the learning process...in other words, the ability to share. The learning process involves both the teacher and the pupil. Each plays a role in the process as a whole. If one end of the partnership does not live up to its design, the entire process will suffer. Questions that are key when attempting to create a learning process are: Does each participant have a voice in the process? What is the mutual benefit of this process? How is sharing occurring in the learning process?

2. Model - Its been said that people who can't do teach...and I couldn't disagree with that statement more. Unless someone has some level of experience with a subject matter, they will not be able to transfer their knowledge to another person. As a father of 3 young kids, I must be willing to model things like respect, kindness and listening if I expect them to learn the value of these skills as well. As a leader or a parent, am I modelling what I hope for my audience to experience?


3. Teach - A third element that must be present in the learning process is teaching. When I describe teaching in this context I am referring to the verbal transport of information between parties. Teachers should introduce the concept, invite participation and feedback, while helping to create ownership of the learning process on behalf of the pupil.

These are the top three things that come to mind when I think about training. What do you think?