Make Them Right

Like a crazy person, I have been training for my Level III Certification of snowboarding instruction and just recently completed a two-day preparation at the luxuriously posh Blue Knob Resort in Central PA.

While I was told I was not ready for the exam, I did pick up a nugget that I have been thinking a lot about.

During my teaching segment (where I had to teach about 9 other experienced instructors something to improve their riding), I asked an open question to the group, and one instructor gave me an unexpected response. I thought it was wrong, and I said, "I am still looking for an answer."

My examiner, Ted, would have failed my personal riding (boo), but passed my teaching segment. However, in my debrief, Ted gave me a bit of advice that has hung with me for the past week:

One part I didn't like is when you shut Evan down in your teaching segment. You need to find a way to make him right. You asked a question, and though he gave you a different answer than you expected, you need to find a way to build on what he said if you want him to improve during your segment. Otherwise, he will just shut down. He is a Level II instructor with 10 years of experience, so his answer makes sense to him. You need to make him right.

What great advice. If I have to do this in my $12/hour job, why can I do it in my regular job more often? In fact, why can't we all make those around us right more than we tell them they are wrong.

Still noodling on it ... good stuff, I say.