Yesterday was an interesting day for me. 

It all started when I got a notice from HR a month or so ago that I *had* to take some mandatory company class.  I’m thinking “uh-oh,” another sexual harassment training or rah-rah session on goals, objectives or maybe a facilitator class.  I thought I left that all behind me when I left the Big M or the Big I or even the Big G.

I am not a fan of instructor-led classes.

They go too slow.  The classes are boring.  Most instructors are failures in REAL life, so they go around and teach.  There are enough other failures running government, so they send themselves to training as a requirement, and as a result the whole training process atrophies.  I fall asleep unless I contribute.  The content is material for a professional hypnotist to practice with.

When I showed up to Creative Leadership for Managers, I ready for the same-old same-old.  At least the class was 9am-4pm, with a healthy 1hr lunch and not a lengthy all-day thing.  I might survive with nary a nap!

The instructor looked a little like Drew Carey, and made a point of coming around before the class and shaking hands, introducing himself, asking who we were, where we were from, and providing general chitchat.  I was positive that he was gathering intel for the onslaught of mediocrity that surely lay in wait for me.  So I decided I needed to bare my teeth and show I am not your typical prey.

The class got underway and first off, I was unimpressed with the projector screen (booorrringggg!), as well as a mispelling in the workbook!

Look! there even seems to be an extra space between “Leadership”and “Skills”.  If it’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s improper use of white space. 

I also wondered at the apparent insult my company lobbed at me from nowhere - what are they saying?  I’m NOT a creative leader?  I need help with this stuff?  What, I’m a clown to you?!?!?  What happened to the days when if you didn’t do a job, you just got fired for it?  Why do we have to hold everyone’s hand with everything, coach them and teach them, and help them to be the best them they can be (the preceding italicized words are meant to be said with a fake little girly voice, intending a high level of mockery.  It helps if you envision me doing fake quotes in the air with my fingers as I say each set.)

Fortunately, I was disappointed.  I loved the class!  The speaker rocked!  Or more accurately, the speaker turned out to be phenomenal, armed with fantastic content.  I picked up some great tips on leading vs managing, how to address conflict, stay on agenda, reward employees in more creative ways, and keep track of delegation better.

So, as a result, today I informed one of my employees (leading) that he was to attend the next class for me (delegation).  When he objected and threw a fit (conflict), I informed him of the business impact to the company (stay on agenda), and I told him he could continue receiving a paycheck if he goes (reward in creative ways).  Win-Win!

Bill is an experienced Certified Enpowerment Coach who is credentialed by the global International Coach Federation. He is an effective, well-seasoned trainer and facilitator who regularly receives accolades for life-changing experiences for learning participants. His generous spirit, sense of humor, and ability to connect with individuals within the learning environment make a sought-after speaker internationally.Bill is a Maine native living in Chicago, IL

Um, err, um, there are all these WORDS up there. What the heck.

…

Ok, I went back and read. Nice use of new skills learned!

Poppys last blog post..ok, now I’m bawling my eyes out

PS - I took a class like this one, but she wasn’t a doctor, that’s for sure.

Poppys last blog post..ok, now I’m bawling my eyes out

You are correct, most of those leadership classes and courses are an utter waste of time taught by people that didn’t learn any of what they are teaching when they got booted from their last three jobs.

Sounds like you found someone that wasn’t part of the above class of classroom leftovers.

And yes, he does look like Drew Carey.. Did you yell out “Go Cleavland!” when he announced himself?

martymankinss last blog post..Movie Meme Copycat

I’m glad it turned out well. I’ve been to a few of these and tit does depend a lot on the instructor how much worth the class is.

Life Coachs last blog post..Success in Business Coach Training

Whall: I will NOT abide by the improper use of white space. LOL!

Dragons last blog post..Seven Deadly Sins Dinner

Uh dude… I am a teacher. I train groups of kids and/or adults. Not all instructors are big losers! Just most of us are, so there!

Y2K Survivors last blog post..Boobs Down Below Your Knees?

Poppy, words are like analogies that are self-referential. They are as containers of letters are to… Oh wait. That’s what words are.

martymankins, no, but I yelled ‘Cleveland Rocks’ and I got crickets. That’s how I knew it wasn’t him.

Life Coach, it definitely comes down to the instructor. The right instructor can make *anything* interesting. The converse is also true.

Dragon, I will not go quietly into the abyss of bad grammar!!!!! Give me clarity or give me death!

Y2K survivor, oh I only meant instructors. Only half the teachers are horrible

I am going to make two very rude statements.

1. “Most instructors are failures in REAL life, so they go around and teach” That is tacky. I used to train all the time. You are thinking of post-secondary educators.

2. Why point out other’s misspellings when one can clearly see that you don’t know the difference between an adjective and an adverb, nor do you know how not to end a sentence with a preposition?

By the way: You misspelled the word “misspelling”.

And for those of you who are about to get all over me, just remember, Wayne gets abused by me on a daily basis.

Absurdists last blog post..Sorry peeps

Absurdist, you wouldn’t know subtle sarcasm if it bit you in the ass.

Wayne, you don’t catch a clue even when someone screams something at you three freakin’ times.

Absurdists last blog post..Sorry peeps

I’d hire him just because I like Drew Carey.

Robins last blog post..Losing The Future

Oh my gosh! He DOES look like Drew Carey! Hahahaha! And what reason did you give him for snapping that pic?

Half brother of Drew Carey perhaps?

Buckys last blog post..Death And Taxes

I wonder if Mimi teaches these classes too.

dmarkss last blog post..Keeping Up With the Cardassians

Really weird…I was scrolling down and yawning and I saw the photo of you yawning just as I was…..okay, back to scrolling.

Went to the seminar. Fell for the sales pitch and purchased several CD “programs” which cost a little over $350 out of my own pocket. I never received the merchandise I ordered. I waited several weeks. Then I tried to find a phone number so that I could call these folks. After with much effort and web research, I finally found a phone number that I could call about my missing merchandize. They did not even provide a phone number or address on the “Admission Ticket” that I had taken to the seminar. It seems they want your money, but they don’t make it very easy to contact them. The woman who answered the phone stated that my merchandize had been shipped quickly after I had placed my order. I explained that I never received the merchandize. She stated, that sometimes merchandize gets lost in the mail. She stated they would reship the merchandize. I made sure she had the correct address. I never received the second shipment of merchandize. This seems very strange to me especially being that I order merchandize from Amazon and other companies all the time. d I don’t have a problem receiving the merchandize I order from other companies. I think it very strange that I receive all other orders at my home address without a problem and yet, this company has a problem with delivery not just once, but twice.