Grasping
Some days I am glad I have this blog so I can just poke a pin in and let the steam out. Blogging is therapeutical. At least it is for me. I don't know that it helps any one else, but at least I can try and sleep at night.
I have not completed the 13th day of training a small class of people. I guess I should re-phrase that, we have completed the 13th day, but their has not been a great deal of training the last three. They have been practicing what we learned the first 10 days. Yesterday afternoon, my class was joined by the other group that was getting the same training from another trainer. Their training was similar in job function, but more specialized, so it took a little longer for them to get trained.
Today, I walked away trying to figure out how the other trainer kept her sanity. Both groups were on the practicing their new learned skills most of the day. However, there are a few in the other group that seem to be doing everything they can to make their new jobs impossible. I noticed this on Monday when we were first put together, but let it slide. With the combination of yesterday and today, I am having a hard time sliding now.
Let me preface by saying the other trainer had a previous engagement today, so she was not present. That meant that the students were allowed to say at any given time, "We were not taught that..." Now remember we started classes on the same day, we covered the same material provided by the corporate offices, theirs just went into a little more depth in some areas. I trust my fellow trainer whole heartily. So at first, I would give these agents a strange look and roll my eyes.
About mid-day, I was found myself doubting this trust. I did not like the feeling, but it was creeping in. I finally gave in to this creeping feeling in my gut and had them all sign out to training. I made the mistake of asking what they did not understand. Of course, they did not understand a single thing. It did not take long to understand why. It did not take long for that creeping feeling to dissipate and a new one to rise.
I was given a long list of topics that they wanted me to cover and started covering them one at a time. As I introduced the first topic, I noticed the agents that had asked were suddenly not fully engaged. In fact, they were so un-engaged that they did not notice me training and walking behind them. Some were chatting with other agents in the class and else where in the world via Instant Messenger. Others were playing games on popular social network sites. An finally, some were trying to slyly text on their cell phones without me noticing.
I did my best to remain professional and in control. I merely called on them to answer questions as to what the next step in the process would be. This brought them back into the classroom, but they were clueless as to what we had just discussed. I sent them on break, did my best to calm down, and put them back to the practicing we had been doing all day long. This did not go over so well. Those who had been most vocal and the least engaged, started raising their hands on ever call. They will have to learn by experience, when they are forced into engagement.
It has bothered me a great deal. I wonder where the world is headed. I wonder how many of us are in class, at work, or physically present in the room, but really are mentally someplace else? How many of us tune out when we are someplace we don't want to be and turn to texting, chatting, or playing on social networking sites? How many of us work harder to distract ourselves from the task at hand than we do to complete the task? How many of act like we are engaged until the phone vibrates or the messenger bings?
Unfortunately, I have noticed that in my current surroundings. It happens during dinner, family home evening, face to face conversation. One of us is engaged and the other is not. How do we change it? It all comes down to choice.
I hope the choice is made. I hope the small thread of hope I am grasping for will thicken up and support me in my faith.
I have not completed the 13th day of training a small class of people. I guess I should re-phrase that, we have completed the 13th day, but their has not been a great deal of training the last three. They have been practicing what we learned the first 10 days. Yesterday afternoon, my class was joined by the other group that was getting the same training from another trainer. Their training was similar in job function, but more specialized, so it took a little longer for them to get trained.
Today, I walked away trying to figure out how the other trainer kept her sanity. Both groups were on the practicing their new learned skills most of the day. However, there are a few in the other group that seem to be doing everything they can to make their new jobs impossible. I noticed this on Monday when we were first put together, but let it slide. With the combination of yesterday and today, I am having a hard time sliding now.
Let me preface by saying the other trainer had a previous engagement today, so she was not present. That meant that the students were allowed to say at any given time, "We were not taught that..." Now remember we started classes on the same day, we covered the same material provided by the corporate offices, theirs just went into a little more depth in some areas. I trust my fellow trainer whole heartily. So at first, I would give these agents a strange look and roll my eyes.
About mid-day, I was found myself doubting this trust. I did not like the feeling, but it was creeping in. I finally gave in to this creeping feeling in my gut and had them all sign out to training. I made the mistake of asking what they did not understand. Of course, they did not understand a single thing. It did not take long to understand why. It did not take long for that creeping feeling to dissipate and a new one to rise.
I was given a long list of topics that they wanted me to cover and started covering them one at a time. As I introduced the first topic, I noticed the agents that had asked were suddenly not fully engaged. In fact, they were so un-engaged that they did not notice me training and walking behind them. Some were chatting with other agents in the class and else where in the world via Instant Messenger. Others were playing games on popular social network sites. An finally, some were trying to slyly text on their cell phones without me noticing.
I did my best to remain professional and in control. I merely called on them to answer questions as to what the next step in the process would be. This brought them back into the classroom, but they were clueless as to what we had just discussed. I sent them on break, did my best to calm down, and put them back to the practicing we had been doing all day long. This did not go over so well. Those who had been most vocal and the least engaged, started raising their hands on ever call. They will have to learn by experience, when they are forced into engagement.
It has bothered me a great deal. I wonder where the world is headed. I wonder how many of us are in class, at work, or physically present in the room, but really are mentally someplace else? How many of us tune out when we are someplace we don't want to be and turn to texting, chatting, or playing on social networking sites? How many of us work harder to distract ourselves from the task at hand than we do to complete the task? How many of act like we are engaged until the phone vibrates or the messenger bings?
Unfortunately, I have noticed that in my current surroundings. It happens during dinner, family home evening, face to face conversation. One of us is engaged and the other is not. How do we change it? It all comes down to choice.
I hope the choice is made. I hope the small thread of hope I am grasping for will thicken up and support me in my faith.
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