18: Five Ways to Support People in Learning

As leaders, we need to support learning right after it happens. In this episode, I’ll review fives ways you can do this as a leader.

1) Provide opportunities
Find something for them to start to use what they’ve just learned. If you need to, help create opportunities!

2) Review the actions taken
Do a debrief afterwards – particularly if something didn’t work well. The sooner it happens, the more likely it is that you’ll reinforce good habits and correct poor ones. Avoid reviewing things weeks or months after they happen.

3) Inquire about what they are thinking, feeling, or noticing
I mentioned Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline Fieldbook
You won’t hear much at first but over time you’ll hear people say lots of things

4) Correct the flight plan

5) Use encouragement
Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Dale Carnegie says “Be hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise” in How to Win Friends and Influence People. This is a must read for any leader. Also, review episode #9 from this show for a detailed overview on giving encouragement through recognition.

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