There are many challenges anytime you present a training seminar, including varying personalities, skill levels, and subject matter. External factors such as facilities and company activities also influence the seminar. If you want to really stir the pot, however, try holding training in London during Wimbledon and the World Cup!
My class last week consisted of Germans, English, Italians, Swiss, Spanish, French, and Dutch participants, all of whom were still in the hunt for the trophy (the Swedish students and I had nothing to do but pout about our teams’ early exits). Not everyone is a soccer fan, of course, but when your country is playing, even the uninterested sit up and take note, if nothing else because it is reason for a party. Normally, the effect on those in class wouldn’t extend much beyond excited chatter in the morning and woozy heads from a bit too much game time beer. Some of the matches during this week, however, were being played during the day or, I should point out, during the class.
Now, you can imagine how interesting learning about IAS 17 lease accounting rules and how to use them to sell off balance sheet financing can be, but even a scintillating topic such as this cannot compete when your country is playing for glory and international bragging rights. Such was the case when the Italy-Australia match was broadcast late one afternoon during our class on financial selling. As game time approached there was some distinct fidgeting amongst the Italian students, but they were professional and kept their concentration level high.
However, when, five minutes before game time, one of the Italian guys abruptly stood up and, at attention, sang the Italian national anthem a capella, and by himself, it was all lost. The class just broke up into laughter and applause. What else could we do, but troupe downstairs and continue our discussion in the bar? One can learn about leasing in the strangest places.
There is of course a useful lesson in this: once you touch the personal interest of the trainee(s), you're bound to grab their attention and keep it.
If you loose it, you could struggle on or decide to go with it (Ju-Jitzu type of teaching?).
I do see the problem of going with every different wind though. That's a real challenge with so many nationalities in one class. And there's another lesson, maybe. To recognise that an effective, international team leader (or teacher) neads to address the different cultures and preferances.
Helpful anecdote/topic.
Sicco J Bier
Posted by: Sicco J Bier | July 10, 2006 3:29 AM | Permalink to Comment