Laziness, fear, and learning

Sue Pelletier October 6th, 2010

David Patt gave me my aha moment of the day with this post: Is it safe? He says:

“People want to learn in a safe environment. If they’re worrying about having attention called to them, or being tricked or embarrassed in front of others, they won’t feel safe and they won’t be able to learn. If they think they’ll be called on to speak, forced to participate in exercises, or even asked their opinions, they won’t feel safe and they may not show up at all.”

People who are really into experiential, interactive learning (and I’m one of them) tend to think that people who don’t want to dive in and participate in their learning are being just a wee bit, hmm, lazy, maybe? They just want to sit back and passively absorb, even though this usually isn’t the best way to learn and get that learning to stick. But it’s not laziness, is it? Lazy people don’t show up. I think David’s onto something, that it’s got a lot to do with fear.

It rang true for me because boy do I share that fear. I’ve been tricked, forced to participate when I didn’t have anything worth sharing, and embarrassed in those participatory sessions. When that happens, or even if you’re worried about that happening, your brain can’t help but go on defense. I do learn, but it’s only because I want to make sure I have something in the hole in case I get called on. It’s desperation learning, and I don’t think it should be anyone’s goal.

But I wouldn’t say we shouldn’t ask people to participate in their learning. I think we need to find a way to make it feel safe.

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Related Topics: Adult learning

9 Comments to “Laziness, fear, and learning”

1. Adrian Segar Says:
   

   October 7th, 2010 at 5:08 am

   Sue, I agree with you completely; many folks don’t want to participate in interactive learning opportunities not because they’re lazy but because they’re scared.

   So, when we know (all other things being equal) that better learning happens when people are actively participating in a learning opportunity, how do we encourage them to take part?

   What I’ve done in my event designs for many years is to start with six ground rules for everyone attending, ground rules that everyone commits to. Four of these rules are “the Four Freedoms” which include the freedom to ask any questions, the freedom to talk about what you want to talk about, and the freedom to express what is coming up for you (i.e. feelings). I’ve written about these ground rules here: http://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/event-design/2010/08/how-to-improve-your-conference-with-explicit-ground-rules/, and how you successfully introduce them into an event is covered in my book.

   With explicit ground rules established and accepted, you can create a safe environment where cautious attendees become willing to risk participation. I’ve been using this technique in my conference designs for about ten years now, and have seen remarkable things happen, including the rapid building of community at the conference. I hope more conference designers become willing to explore this kind of approach.

2. Dave Lutz Says:
   

   October 7th, 2010 at 7:08 am

   Sue, this makes sense to me, but I really think the problem gets easily solved by having better facilitators/presenters that help make it safe. If you’re always sitting on the sidelines, you’ll never improve your game.

3. Madeline Heck Says:
   

   October 7th, 2010 at 1:27 pm

   Sue,
   I agree with you. It’s definitely not laziness; it’s fear. I can contest to that. Being a student, I’m constantly worrying if a teacher is going to call on me when I don’t know an answer. I come prepared to class, but the thought of having to explain myself in a room full of my peers installs immediate fear and anxiety. In the long run I know no one will remember my answer, but I still can’t shake the sweats and vomit feeling I receive when called upon to answer in front of everyone. If I’m this nervous in a classroom full of my equals, how am I going to survive in the business world?

4. Jeffrey Cufaude Says:
   

   October 8th, 2010 at 10:04 am

   But what might be fearful for one is a motivating challenge for another. That’s why design and facilitation are so key. We know people won’t grow and learn without enough challenge and support.

   Dave vociferously objected to a learning format used in one diversity and inclusion session at an ASAE event that other commenters found challenging, but hugely rewarding.

   We can’t discard difficult formats and content segments because some won’t like them, nor should we mandate participation or make it uncomfortable for individuals who find an approach too risky or unappealing. It’s a delicate art.

5. Jeffrey Cufaude Says:
   

   October 11th, 2010 at 7:49 am

   Meant David Patt, not Dave, in my initial comments reference. Sorry for not being more clear.

6. David Patt Says:
   

   October 11th, 2010 at 5:16 pm

   The problem is assuming that “we know that better learning happens when people are actively participating in the learning opportunity.”

   People learn in all different ways and trying to induce them to learn your way is not what you should be doing.

   Crafting different types of learning opportunities for different types of people would be best.

   Jeffrey’s comment that “what might be fearful for one is a motivating challenge for another” is correct.

   So, pitch to each audience and don’t try to make them all find satisfaction from the same technique.

7. Sue Pelletier Says:
   

   October 12th, 2010 at 10:06 am

   Adrian, thanks for your insights. I think you, Dave, and Jeffrey are in agreement that the session needs to be designed and facilitated in a way that makes it safe for all to participate. I’d be very interested in participating in an event that incorporates those four freedoms–just trying to live those sounds a little intimidating to me, and I would love to see how it works in real life. I should probably buy the book.

   Jeffrey, I’m one of those people who find it both terrifying and powerfully motivating, so I see both sides of this coin. Part of it is letting people know what to expect ahead of time so they can opt out if it’s not for them. The worst surprise I ever got was at a general session where, by virtue of having read all the keynoters’ books, I ended up being dragged on stage to offer my key learnings from the books. That was one of my all-time worst moments at a conference. That was more of an ambush than a participatory learning experience.

   David, you’re right of course that we all have different learning styles and should be able to partake in ways that work best for us. While it’s not really feasible to craft a session that would be inclusive of every learning style there is (or if there is, please invite me! That would be so interesting to see in action).

   Again, I think a lot of it goes to permission — it’s not about forcing anyone to do anything they’re not comfortable with; it’s about offering the opportunity to stretch outside their personal comfort zone in a safe environment.

8. Joyce Paschall Says:
   

   October 12th, 2010 at 10:56 am

   Thanks, David Patt, for illuminating these issues as they are near and dear to the attendee me, admittedly more than to the planner me.

   I’m particularly fond of “If they’re worrying about having attention called to them…” and “The problem is assuming that we know that ‘better learning happens when people are actively participating in the learning opportunity’.” To the latter we should insert, before the word learning: “sometimes, always, never – circle one, depending on who you are, what your personal energy is right now, the topic, your interest level, the physical environment, the day, date, time, what moon is rising in which house , ….”

   From my own personal perspective it’s not actual fear, or even feeling threatened, but simply discomfort…with attention, the “spotlight,” having to interact and “share” with strangers whose interests may not connect with mine, or whose vibe at that moment just may not click with mine (maybe they’re introverts too?!). Nothing is worse than an educational activity meant to be interactive and sharing when you have a dud table – we’ve all been there. And perhaps I’ve at times been the main dud!

   As a high introvert (not in the shy sense but in the “energy from within” sense), I never volunteer to speak up unless I just outright force myself to for some particular reason (like I think those around me expect me to have something to say, or my position dictates that I do so). But if my experience and/or position don’t dictate that I be highly participatory, such as in purely personal situations, I am the happiest sideline sitter in the room! I absorb the information and translate it into application, on my own, inside my head. Quietly.

   I went from K through 12th grade quite successfully, never once raising my hand or volunteering an answer…although I always knew the answer. Some perceptive teachers picked up on this and tried to MAKE me speak up. But I give highest praise to the few who actually understood that this is not necessarily a doomed-to-failure trait. Those teachers sometimes gave me a knowing glance, or even opportunities to show what I knew without being in a position to be the center of attention, but did not try to force me out of myself.

   I think that’s too much to ask of most business education situations, particularly multi-session conferences, where there are maybe 90 minutes of mass learning being served to an audience made of up, well, whoever walks into the room.

   Wow, I think I’ve just talked myself out of ever agreeing to deliver an educational session. Who needs that kind of pressure?!

9. Adrian Segar Says:
   

   October 13th, 2010 at 7:06 am

   Joyce - a quick note in response to your long, thoughtful comment.

   I’m fully aware that introverts do not like to participate, rather preferring to process internally. (This is one of the main criticisms I have with the Open Space event design, which is biased towards extroverts.) So, when I’m introducing the possibility of participating at the start of Conferences That Work, I give attendees time to _write_ their responses to the questions I pose. This helps introverts prepare for sharing their answers.

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