Some Animals Can Be “Trained”
Learning Becomes Permanent
You can teach a dolphin to jump in the air by offering a reward when done. Once that behavior has been learned, the dolphin is “trained” and will always make the jump EVERY TIME the reward is offered, regardless of the weather, the dolphin’s mood and what the other dolphins are doing.
Not With People
I have come to the conclusion that you cannot “train” people. Often times I am introduced as a “sales trainer” and I usually start my talk with a disclaimer to the introduction. It’s easy to assume you can “train” people since they are a part of the animal kingdom.
You can teach people WHAT to do, but they are oftentimes greatly influenced by things like the weather, their mood and what other people are doing, regardless of the rewards.
Constant Coaching
Once taught, people must be motivated, coached and inspired to keep doing it. Even professional athletes that have been taught the game well need constant motivation, coaching and inspiration to play at their best potential. In professional football there are more coaches on the sidelines than there are players on the field.
Head Coach
The head coach never misses a down, and these are pros; the best of the best. In business we often times find the head coach (manager) in the office, the back room, out of town, or down at the bank during the game.
No wonder there are so many “fumbles.”
