to lead or to direct October 22, 2007
Posted by Lance in leadership, learning, web2.0.2 comments
“Lead by example”.
“Do as I say, not as I do”.
We’ve heard these quotes a thousand times and as much as we aspire to the former, how often do we fall into the category of the latter?
A large proportion of people that I have trained have commented on how terrified they were when they had to perform in the role for real: the gap between simulation and reality is vast. The advice given in each case is to remember that fear, not to fall victim to it, but to remember it.
One of the harshest accusations levelled against experienced staff and supervisors is that they cannot empathise with new staff: they have forgotten what new staff are going through. In essence, they have forgotten where they came from.
I make no secret of the fact that I am new to a lot of these ‘new’ social networking tools: up until a few months ago, I had only the vaguest idea of what web 2.0 referred to. I am in the same situation as those trainees: it’s a big world out there and I had no idea just how big it was.
In response to an earlier post, Sue made the comment that “the good aspect of extending ourselves is to remember how confront[ed] we feel when we do this - so that we can relate to how our learners might feel.“
Can we ask that our trainees/students utilise tools that we ourselves are too afraid or self-conscious to use and actively demonstrate?
Now that would be poor practice.
At least for the moment, its easy for me to remember where I came from: right here, right now, and the view is glorious.
