As trainers, coaches, catalysts and change agents, we find ourselves motivating our participants on this powerful quote quite often:
"Sow a thought and you reap an action,
Sow an action and you reap a habit,
Sow a habit and you reap a character,
Sow a character and you reap a destiny."
As we pause, reflect and truly comprehend this causal relationship, the profundity of this quote truly sinks in.
That thought is a powerful seed that germinates into one's attitude, choice of words and action is itself a powerful thought! Let me elaborate…
How many times are we prepared to dig deep in the iceberg beyond the visible tip of an individual's observed behaviour, habits and accompanying results? Amidst the frenetic pace of today's existence, there is an inordinate focus on dissecting one's behaviour - what wrong did he do? what did he say? what is the pattern of results? You get the drift....
As trainers, we strive to accomplish change of behaviour of the participants. We find ourselves investing huge energy in not only training (hopefully, with engaging activities in the classroom or otherwise!) but also motivating them to surpass benchmarks and at times, do what perhaps, nobody has achieved. Motivational speakers seem to flirt with this tip of the iceberg in ample measure and leave their audience spell bound, seemingly ready for some dramatic action. Alas, this excitement is short lived with no tangible action or a behaviour change seeing the light of the day - in the long term. Memories of a 'feel good' experience are carried forward by the participants as a saving grace.
Let us shift our attention to the 90% of the iceberg that is hidden. Therein lies the proverbial mass that comprises thoughts and feelings, beliefs and values and even underlying needs of the individual. How can we understand these? The challenge lies in the complexity of this mass with a multiplier effect due to variations on account of different individuals. One of the ways is to trigger their thought processes by asking questions that encourage learners to dig deep within and look for affinity and congruence to their feelings, set of values they hold dear, their belief system, and the needs they feel will be met.
Therefore, some essential questions to consider can be:
My belief is that these questions check on and build the willingness of the learner towards the learning journey that lies ahead. This mental priming is essential and should not be missed or neglected. As the learners find their own answers, clarity of thought emerges clearing the cobwebs in the learners' minds. The learners then, are prepared to acquire new knowledge and skills and are ready to even slog it out. This is evidenced through the change in their body language, vocabulary and of course, 'willing' action - all to the delight of the trainer. The learner is now ready to take the plunge - with both his heart and mind in complete sync - into the realms of learning and emerge strongly influenced and motivated to ‘change’.
We get credible evidence of this in sports and military training. In both, the trainer and the coach highlight the importance of winning the mind game to outwit the opponent or the enemy. The presumption is that winning thoughts clearly precede and determine the action on the ground. At the thinking and willingness level, enough lessons and time is invested so that the learner focuses on the action (to be performed and perfected) with an uncluttered mind. An adversary who hasn't prepared at commensurate levels of priming and preparing the 'thoughts' is clearly at a disadvantage!
Be a willing and ‘thinking’ learner yourself and create tribes of learners who are harnessed on the power of clear thoughts!!
Source - Rajneesh Mathur
"Sow a thought and you reap an action,
Sow an action and you reap a habit,
Sow a habit and you reap a character,
Sow a character and you reap a destiny."
As we pause, reflect and truly comprehend this causal relationship, the profundity of this quote truly sinks in.
That thought is a powerful seed that germinates into one's attitude, choice of words and action is itself a powerful thought! Let me elaborate…
How many times are we prepared to dig deep in the iceberg beyond the visible tip of an individual's observed behaviour, habits and accompanying results? Amidst the frenetic pace of today's existence, there is an inordinate focus on dissecting one's behaviour - what wrong did he do? what did he say? what is the pattern of results? You get the drift....
As trainers, we strive to accomplish change of behaviour of the participants. We find ourselves investing huge energy in not only training (hopefully, with engaging activities in the classroom or otherwise!) but also motivating them to surpass benchmarks and at times, do what perhaps, nobody has achieved. Motivational speakers seem to flirt with this tip of the iceberg in ample measure and leave their audience spell bound, seemingly ready for some dramatic action. Alas, this excitement is short lived with no tangible action or a behaviour change seeing the light of the day - in the long term. Memories of a 'feel good' experience are carried forward by the participants as a saving grace.
Let us shift our attention to the 90% of the iceberg that is hidden. Therein lies the proverbial mass that comprises thoughts and feelings, beliefs and values and even underlying needs of the individual. How can we understand these? The challenge lies in the complexity of this mass with a multiplier effect due to variations on account of different individuals. One of the ways is to trigger their thought processes by asking questions that encourage learners to dig deep within and look for affinity and congruence to their feelings, set of values they hold dear, their belief system, and the needs they feel will be met.
Therefore, some essential questions to consider can be:
- what would you gain in this learning engagement?
- how will you overcome the odds to keep yourself motivated during the training?
- how would the learning help you back on the job?
- what changes can you visualize for the better?
- how does it relate to what is dear to you?
- how do you see yourself progressing hereafter?
- what will you lose if you were to miss out on this experience? Etc.
My belief is that these questions check on and build the willingness of the learner towards the learning journey that lies ahead. This mental priming is essential and should not be missed or neglected. As the learners find their own answers, clarity of thought emerges clearing the cobwebs in the learners' minds. The learners then, are prepared to acquire new knowledge and skills and are ready to even slog it out. This is evidenced through the change in their body language, vocabulary and of course, 'willing' action - all to the delight of the trainer. The learner is now ready to take the plunge - with both his heart and mind in complete sync - into the realms of learning and emerge strongly influenced and motivated to ‘change’.
We get credible evidence of this in sports and military training. In both, the trainer and the coach highlight the importance of winning the mind game to outwit the opponent or the enemy. The presumption is that winning thoughts clearly precede and determine the action on the ground. At the thinking and willingness level, enough lessons and time is invested so that the learner focuses on the action (to be performed and perfected) with an uncluttered mind. An adversary who hasn't prepared at commensurate levels of priming and preparing the 'thoughts' is clearly at a disadvantage!
Be a willing and ‘thinking’ learner yourself and create tribes of learners who are harnessed on the power of clear thoughts!!
Source - Rajneesh Mathur
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