Charlie bit my finger… again (avoiding learning traps)
Posted by Lee-Anne Ragan | Filed under Diversity & culture, Training & development
This simple, short video below has generated almost 223 million hits. Aside from the astonishing capacity for videos to spread through the ether, I was keen to ponder why the popularity.
(The video, if you’ve not seen it, is about a baby biting his (presumably) brother’s finger. The brother then proceeds to once again place his chubby little digit into the carnivorous mouth, which once again chomps down.)
The video has to do with not being able to avoid traps that are right in front of our face. It has to do with doing the same action repeatedly but expecting a different outcome. It has to do with learning.
The video reminded me of Portia Nelson’s famous ‘Autobiography in Five Short Chapter’:
I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.
II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place
but, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
V
I walk down another street.
When it comes to training and development what traps do we need to look out for? What new and different streets do we need to walk down? Here are some suggestions:
– when someone asks if you can do a session in what you know is too short of a window, walk down another street
– when someone in your workshop is disruptive, rude and/or cracking inappropriate jokes, don’t fall down the hole and do nothing. The other learners are looking to you for action
– when someone in your workshop suggests an activity that you know most of the participants would love BUT a few wouldn’t, don’t be seduced by popularity to do what’s easy, do what’s right – be inclusive
Tags: access and inclusion, autobiography in 5 short chapters, inclusion, learning traps, Portia Nelson
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