If you are a trainer and feel that you have limited influence as to what goes on after the training event, think about the problem a doctor faces.
They have a short time in the consulting room and then they send the patient on their way with some advice and perhaps a prescription. It is then down to the patient to follow the advice and take the tablets, read the supporting material, do the exercises, eat the right foods and so on.
Having said that, there are some things the doctor can do that will ‘stick’ better; for example, if the doctor puts some stitches in a wound, it is unlikely the patient will rip them out.
Whether the patient follows the advice or not will largely depend on their state of mind and trust in the doctor, and whether what is being asked is easy enough to do.
A good doctor will set the patient up with the tools and support that will enable healing after leaving the surgery.
A good doctor also knows that healing happens after the consultation, not during it. He has that brief period to do the best he can to set things up so that healing is optimal.
He seeks to extend his reach beyond the consultation to influence the patient during the whole healing process.
How can you use this doctor’s mindset when you are designing your learning programme?
