JMReid Group White Paper – How to Insult the Learner

You Should Read This

You may remember back in the 1980s, our industry had a habit of categorizing training participants into “prisoner,” “tourist” and “learner” groups. In fact, facilitators would begin workshops with these broad labels, stating that 2/3 of the people probably did not really want to be there. Clearly the “prisoners” and “tourists” were a problem—flawed individuals with their poor attitudes on display. The facilitator would ask (beg?) everyone to try to be a learner today. Bless the evolved “learners, ” for they shall inherit the instructor’s wisdom.

When you think about it, any participant could feel this attitude to be profoundly insulting. And I mean profoundly insulting.