Teaching to Teach

By Yvette Van Veen

Consultants often provide advice. However, some consultants advise how to advise. Take for example the software trainer who works one on one with a member of management. Management then uses the information they have learned to train staff. The consultant is teaching people to teach.

Much of the success or failure of your business depends not on how management enjoyed your presentation, but on the success or failure of the students. If the students are unable to learn the skills, this ultimately leads to frustration in management and negatively reflects back to the consultant. So, is there anything a consultant can do to reduce “3rd party learning” problems?

Fortunately there is. The first step a consultant needs to take is to identify the problem. The best way to do this is to take the time to ask questions focused on the needs of your client and their team. If possible, try to involve the end user in determining how you can benefit the organization as a whole. For example, ask a staff member what he or she would most value in learning a new software program. Is it a help line, or maybe a manual?

Next, evaluate the information you have received, and take the time to define the problem. You want to analyze your information and make an accurate judgement about what your client really needs. Your client may not be aware of what this is, but often you can take clues from his or her behaviour. For example, you see management telling a staff member to “revise changes and bring them back for further approval and discussion.” Your client may prefer to keep track of all activities in the organization. If in doubt, ask, then appeal to his or her preferences.

When the groundwork is completed, you are ready to offer a solution. When preparing your material, make it easy for everyone to succeed. Five ideas are to:

1. Use Positive Reinforcement. Encourage success – it makes your client feel great!
2. Provide handouts your “new teachers” can distribute.
3. Break complex activities down. Create simple steps that management can use.
4. Provide tools. Visual displays and charts may be helpful.
5. Be available for follow up questions. Remember, on average it takes four repetitions for any person to learn a new skill fully.
   

Of course, tips are rarely a substitute for good advice, but for anyone who wants to take the time to learn more about teaching methods, the psychology section of your local university library would be a great place to start. Lastly, enjoy your work and have fun, and hopefully your client will remember you with a smile.

Yvette is a behaviour consultant, and the owner of Awesome Dogs™. Awesome Dogs™ provides effective solutions for behaviour problems in dogs. Customized programs are developed for owners, and step by step instructions are taught to owners in an easy, fun, and relaxed manner. Yvette is also a student at the University of Western Ontario, with the goal of attaining a PhD. in psychology followed by certification as an animal behaviourist.

Published in Networking Today, March 2003.