Training Industry Magazine - Fall 2022 - 9

JASON WEBER
GUEST EDITOR
EXPANDING OUR MAP OF THE
WORLD: STRATEGIES TO BUILD
OUR VIEWPOINTS
If you look at a road map, you will see
many routes to a desired destination.
While some of the routes will get you
to your destination quickly, others
may take a longer, more scenic path.
Regardless of what you prefer, the
destination is the same. Within this
journey, our viewpoints are created.
Viewpoints are unique to each of
us. We have all taken different paths
throughout life. Regardless of the
path we have taken, leveraging
those experiences can enhance the
learning experiences we design and
interact within.
Our viewpoints consist of three elements:
1. Assumptions: These are things we
believe to be true, regardless of
whether we have all the facts.
2. Perceptions: These are developed
through our life experiences; it is how
we view things.
3. Expectations: These are the behaviors
we expect of ourselves and others.
Within these elements, there is a
uniqueness that emerges. For those
willing and open, there is great potential
for expanding how they view the world
around them. If we think about those we
engage with and consider the different
routes they have taken to arrive at
their current destination, our curiosity
gives us the opportunity to learn about
other
viewpoints.
As
learning
and
development (L&D) professionals, the
multitude of perspectives available to
us in the classroom allow us the chance
to create experiences that foster
continual growth in the minds of our
* Create space within our training to allow
participants to share their viewpoints.
These actions help assist us in creating
new " routes " to get to our destination.
Our training on accountability is no
longer an experience that we pull off
the shelf. Rather, by seeking additional
viewpoints, we can now create a
learning experience that broadens the
experiences of other learners.
As learning leaders, encouraging a
spirit of curiosity in our learners can
be difficult. Knowing how to manage
common roadblocks can play a key
role in how you influence others.
These common roadblocks could
include statements like:
* " I have way more years of experience
than they do. What could they
teach me? "
* " I do not have time for other opinions.
I need to decide and move on. "
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - FALL 2022 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
learners and demonstrates the value of
our viewpoints.
For example,
if you were asked to
develop training around the topic
of accountability, we could use our
viewpoints to do the following:
* Ask what accountability means to
others. What behaviors are needed?
What outcomes do others expect
from accountability?
* Listen to experiences to develop an
understanding of how accountability
has been lived by others.
When approaching these roadblocks,
we need to examine how we are
responding. Author David Bohm suggests
we engage our learner's curiosity
through dialogue rather than discussion.
In his book, " On Dialogue, " Bohm
states, " Discussion is almost like a
ping-pong game, where people are
hitting their ideas back and forth and
the object of the game is to win or
get points for yourself. In dialogue,
however, nobody is trying to win.
Everybody wins if anybody wins. There
is a different spirit to it. "
VIEWPOINTS ARE
UNIQUE TO EACH OF US.
Another way of looking at Bohm's
viewpoint on discussion versus dialogue
is to say discussion allows us to share
our viewpoints, but rarely will we
accept other viewpoints if they do not
align with our own. Dialogue allows us
to share our experiences and listen to
understand others.
Navigating our map of the world can
be a challenge. However, being open
to the experiences of others creates
additional routes that can get us to our
destination in the way we desire.
Jason Weber is the associate vice
chancellor - leader and culture
development for the Texas Tech
University System. In this role, he is
responsible for the development of
values-based leadership programming
at each of the Texas Tech University
System Institutions. Email Jason.
| 9
https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine
Training Industry Magazine - Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - Fall 2022
