Returning to My Roots

I know if would appear as though this is a veiled reference to my recent decision to stop coloring my hair, but actually it is in reference to what I have been doing the last 2 days at work. I have been conducting training sessions in an effort to get a couple of people up to speed on training the material I have been creating for my project.

It’s been so nice to go back to training delivery these last 2 days. It’s like I’ve had to reactivate parts of my brain that have gone largely unused this last year. I have a better appreciation for the relative simplicity of a training day. I have a set start and stop time, my multitasking is completely focused on the training class rather than the multiple emails I field all day long, and I get to talk to other trainers and feel like I am making an impact on their development. I suppose I have missed having that type of direct connection when someone reaches their “ah-ha” moment.

So this may sound a bit strange to some of you, but I am very excited about the fact that I have experienced a multitude of technology problems today. Entire systems have shut down and I have had to rely on all kinds of other options to keep my class going. One of the main challenges I face with this group is that their facilitation experience has been limited to classroom delivery only. They are now being asked to deliver this new training program online and using a virtual classroom where they are unable to see their audience.

One of the items we have discussed is how to troubleshoot technology problems. They have their own methods for doing this in their classrooms, but it is important for them to make the connection on what they have to do differently in a virtual environment. Hence, my excitement about today. I couldn’t have planned this any better myself. At the moment, I have covered what I can cover and then finally submitted to the time tested method of sending them on break. (I’m guessing some of you are getting a good chuckle out of that.)

Anyway, I know that training delivery is really not a part of my main job responsibilities anymore, but I find that for the isolated opportunities such as this, I am really having a great time.