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After a week of delivering on a graduate development programme, I really understand that some people get more from certain things than others.

It’s obvious when we are dealing with young children, some enjoy things that others don’t, and therefore take away a different experience.

When it comes to adult life we may not like to take part in activities, can’t see the link in the lesson but we do make a choice to benefit or not!

It’s easy to stand there, arms crossed, saying “This is rubbish, I’m not going to do it” and therefore participate at 20% and get 20% back from the learning. 

A closed mind will block out learning, in most opportunities presented, and an open mind will learn from every opportunity presented. I saw this in action, with my group last week and from Monday to Friday certain people stepped up to the challenge, lead others to solutions and energised the group. Others stood in the background, moaned about everything and sapped the energy of the group. They were hard work!

I remember my days in the R.A.F when I was told to do tasks that I didn’t like doing. Putting up barbed wire and building bunkers with sandbags all week in all weather. It didn’t matter what trade you were, everyone did their stint. 20 people coming together at the beginning of the week, not knowing each other, going through the stages of forming, storming, norming, performing and finishing up with a team that communicated, motivated, performance managed, and achieved targets.

Leaders within the group emerged and suddenly a group of people became an efficient team. We then returned to our places of work but now had a network of people we now felt comfortable in using, some more than others.

The mentality to just get on with it, I think has stood me in good stead, especially when it was with things I couldn’t see the benefit in doing, or just didn’t want to do, but had to do.

I have another group this week and my challenge to them is to open their minds, participate 100% in everything asked of them, and to learn from the week.

The skills to motivate others, collaborate, communicate and achieve together are the things I will be looking for. All of them vital skills for managing teams back in the work place, all of the skills are transferable.

When the pressure is turned up, can they still perform together and successfully achieve tasks, or do they fall apart and start arguing?

I’m going to have a great week, I trust they do too.

How about you?

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