Informational vs Transformational Training
Years ago when I taught the Teacher Training at our church I would attempt to shift their paradigm by telling them, "Teaching isn't talking, listening isn’t learning." We make a fatal mistake in leadership development when our only approach to training is dumping information from the teachers mouth to the learners ears . Dumping information doesn't necessarily produce transformation. But many organizations use an informational rather than a transformational approach to developing leaders. Here are some of the big differences between the two.
- Informational tells learners what they need to know. Transformational challenges learners to behave in new ways by putting principles into practice.
- Informational dumps content. Transformational develops competencies
- Informational the trainer provides the relevant information. Transformational the trainer adapts content to the need and competency level of the learner.
- Informational is one-way communication. Transformational is a two-way dialogue
- Informational uses a one dimensional form of lecture. Transformational uses the multi-faceted approaches of adult learning.
- Informational follows a linear pathway. Transformational customizes learning based on the learners present situation, curiosities and needs
What percentage of your leadership development efforts are Informational versus Transformational? What steps can you take to increase the percentage of Transformational training?
