random floundering and purposeful activity. I was an entertainer
before I was a trainer. It was only natural for me to experiment with
entertainment principles in the classroom. Those early efforts were
not however focused. It wasn’t until I started purposefully determining
what those principles were and how they applied to training that I
progressed from random trial to purposeful application. In this article,
I’d like to restate those principles and their corresponding action steps.
Here is an overview of the Learnertainment® Eight.
Principle One: Emotion Creates Memory
Emotion is at the root of all humor behavior. Our brains are designed to respond to stimuli in nanoseconds. That way, the brain helps us avoid life-threatening situations. Such quick action is almost impossible on a rational, thinking level. It occurs at a quicker, deeper, emotive level. The brain, when confronted with a potential threat, overrides intellect and focuses all of its power on the emotion of the situation. It is only after the initial emotive response to the threat has created a buffer of safety that the brain begins applying rational thought. Consequently, I believe that if you reach a trainee intellectually you gain consensus; if you reach a trainee emotionally you change behavior. To that end, training events should Evoke Emotion.
Principle Two: Perspectives Deepen Meaning
Most training programs are well construct. Point B follows Point A logically as Point Z follows Point Y. Unfortunately, Point Z doesn’t always connect with Point A. It is possible for a sequentially designed training program to be completely logical, methodically organized and structurally sound while leaving the trainees mind-numbingly bored. What most training programs lack is depth. In contrast, entertainments focus on several levels simultaneously. While the story is progressing logically it also progresses holistically; threads linking all the story elements together are developed, surprises reveal themselves over time and an underlying message becomes apparent. The result is a whole that is greater than the sequence of its parts. Trainers should strive to build a message that is both sequential and deep. They should Layer Learning.
Principle Three: The Environment Talks
A magician cannot be perceived as a miracle worker if he cannot control the world around him. Magicians know this and go to great lengths to control every element in their environment. They are meticulous about the look of the props, the stage and the audience seating. They insure that every detail within the performance venue supports their magical message. Trainers should also focus on their surroundings. Dirty tables, smelly odors, piles of junk and poor quality materials all suggest a lack of caring, professionalism and ability on the part of the trainer. Trainers should insure that every aspect of the event has been considered. They should Stage the Surroundings.
Principle Four: Visuals Aid Retention
An old saying states that a picture is worth a thousand words. In this era, the point is especially true. We have become a society that looks rather than listens. We don’t just listen to a song: we watch the video. We don’t just read the news: we view flashy news channels. We don’t just flip through paper encyclopedias: we look at flashy, Hollywood style multi-media CD-ROMs. In the training arena, the overuse of PowerPoint is one response to the need for visuals. Fortunately, there is a way around death by PowerPoint. It is in the usage of visual materials that enhance your message. Trainers should Present in Pictures.
Principle Five: Suggestions Guide Outcomes
Magicians and trainers seem like opposites. In reality they have commonalities. Both must exert control over their environment to achieve their ends. Principle Seven (listed below) discusses this point. Both must also suggest the outcomes they want their attendees to experience. The magician, in order to appear magical, does everything in his power to direct attention away from items that, if exposed, would undercut the illusion. Where the magician must direct attention away, the trainer should direct attention towards. This is a core accelerated learning principle. Every element of the training should suggest confidence in the trainee’s ability to learn the material. In the trainer’s eyes, the steps of training are mechanical. To the trainee, the learning should occur as if by magic. Trainers should Make it Magical.
Principle Six: Sound Trumps Sight
As reliant as our modern world is on visual stimuli, auditory stimuli has not vanished. The average Hollywood movie features music in over 40% of its length. TV cable news channels assign a musical theme to each major story they cover. TV commercials rely heavily on music to attract attention. This focus on the audio signal is entirely logical when you consider that music is a very primitive, maybe even the first, human language. Before primitive peoples could form consonants and vowel sounds, they varied their tones. Tones receded into the background as language developed. They did not however disappear. They exist in the subconscious as a sub-language: a deep, emotional connection to the auditory signal that should not be ignored. Trainers should Mix in Music.
Principle Seven: Laughter Produces Positivity
Laughter is the natural healing tonic. Many studies have validated the effectiveness of humor, ranging from helping cancer patients cope with their difficulties to politicians seeking to defang difficult personal problems. In the training arena, trainees often laugh seemly not-very-funny jokes. They do so to help relieve the tension found in the cold classroom. It is difficult if not impossible to be hostile and share a laugh with another person. Laughter is social; it allows people to relax their fears as they connect with others in a uniquely human fashion. As a result, training events should Harness Humor.
Principle Eight: Professionalism Produces Results
The seven principles featured above will not save a performer with low presentation skills. During the performance, the trainer must be completely focused on the attendees. They are, after all, the sole reason for the performance. The best performers manage to look completely spontaneous while delivering difficult craft. They do this through mind numbing rehearsal. In the process, they learn the mechanics of the performance so well that the details get delivered without conscious thought. Athletes call it being in the flow. All of us have experienced flow. Often it’s while our car finds it’s own way to work. Trainers should know their material so well that they can focus on the message, not the mechanics. They should Perfect the Performance.
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This article is based on material found in Lenn Millbower's books, Show Biz Training, Training With A Beat, and Cartoons for Trainers. All rights are reserved. Permission is granted to reprint this article with proper attribution to Lenn Millbower and Offbeat Training®.
