Traditional Management Training: What's Wrong with this Picture?

On Friday I posted a 'Napkin' picture that I had drawn for a client. It began with an image something like this first picture, designed to show the 1-day workshops that make up our Leading Change Summer School.

Later I asked one of my colleagues, "What's wrong with this picture?"

He got it immediately. It's a lecture, not the kind of learning that we advocate and practice. (I find it interesting how many people in our business have 'Lecturer' or even 'Senior Lecturer' as their job title!)

So I drew this second one. What I have attempted to show is the delegates learning by discovery, where the trainer is more a guide on the side. [The trainer is top left in the picture.] 

Reflecting on what I had drawn, I realise I had drawn the trainer smaller and in the background. It made me wonder how much the ego of a trainer comes into this. I recognise in myself that I would rather be 'the sage on the stage' than 'the guide on the side'. There is something ego-centric in me that I want others to recognise my learning, knowledge and insight. I think this, more than anything else, has allowed the traditional model of training to persist for so long, when the alternative is so much more effective.

What's your experience?

Comments

[UAE universities]

Hi,
I think traditional management training can effective for the view of management courses.And if any one can give this training with the it is really effective.I like to give my comment on your blog that is really enjoyable.