Utilizing Experience-Based Training
© Printed by permission by Jeff Galley
It's simple. Take a .49-cent cup of coffee and serve it at Starbucks and customers will pay anywhere from $2 to $4 per cup! Why, because the customer is engaged in an experience - a series of memorable events that a that engage him in a very personal way.
In the business world, this reality presents an opportunity to make a lot more money by moving from providing a product or service to staging experiences. But we believe that the implications of the Experience Economy can have a significant impact on ministry and leadership development.
How many times have you re-lived a summer missions trip or a day at Disneyland? As you tell or listen to stories and enjoy the memory, the impact of the experience is re- kindled and brought to life all over again!
Training and leadership development takes on a life of it's own when the elements of the Experience Economy are infused into the mix. The impact is greater and the long-term growth in the participant will be increased.
Long-term impact will result when you can answer yes to the following four questions about the experience you are staging: (1) Will it move their emotions? (2) Will their participation touch their senses? (3) Will they engage in a unique situation or environment? (4) Will they do something that develops skills or knowledge?
Let's just say you need to teach a group of your leaders what it means to work as a team. Option one would be to develop an awesome teaching session and have them sit, take notes, and engage in some great discussion.
Another option would be to take them rock-climbing for a day. Their emotions are challenged - the fear of climbing and the exhilaration of reaching the top! They will enter a new environment and face a unique situation. Their participation will engage all the senses as well as develop their teamwork and climbing skills.
Then, at the end of the day, sit down and re-live the day's experience. While you relive the day, clarify how they have learned to work as a team and specifically connect it with their day-to-day tasks as a leadership team. You can be sure they will re-live the experience and the impact for years to come.
Our challenge to you: Create mini-experiences to help you develop high-impact training. The investment of extra energy and creativity will multiply the effectiveness of the event!
Visit the Leadership Online section of our website to learn Pine and Gilmore's keys to creating a memorable experience.
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