In the last few weeks my team and I've been working on a clearer explanation of all we're doing with "In the Fall Line."
We're getting ready to take our program global and also expand to a year long journey. The goal: take learning even deeper; create an roi that's irrefutable. Of interest to me, and great learning in its own right is I'd better get a lot clearer about what we mean by experiential learning!
Talking with some smart folks in various countries of South America, one devil's advocate shared with me that in most latin countries, experiential learning is focused on two primary areas: learning and applying a physical skill set in real time; or some sort of real time team building, building a boat on a deadline and sailing it as one example. But I was asked, "How could either of these results occur with a leader who is likely participating on their own?" "Rudy, don't you see, this team building or physical ability development was what experiential learning is about." Hmmm?
I guess this means a case could be made that there's very little physical effort expended by leaders in companies? Perhaps... that said, I'm very clear that the more fit I/we are the more adept, agile, sharp of mind, we are leading. I could slide into the concept of "wellness" here. I won't for the moment.
This discussion allowed a light bulb to go off!
We're using skiing as a metaphor, supported by world class alpine coaches. Is this physical? Oh ya! Are we building physical skill sets? Oh ya! And what we've seen time and again, is folks at all levels of ability working with a coach in real time get excited when they feel progress, effectiveness, trust, confidence and the rest. Ironically this physicalness sets up metaphor with life/leadership coaches emotional, intellectual, heartfelt illumination of...
- Ideas long held, vision of possibilities not surfaced
- Fears denied
- Wishes and dreams held back
- Old habits that provide glue. Good news: holds things together, not so good news: also keeps things stuck
- Intrinsic skills, talents, undeveloped but available
Outcomes?
- New possibilities show up big time!
- Fears acknowledged, fearlessness shows up and new movement happens that's more effective
- Visions get real clear
- New habits begin to emerge and become ingrained.
- More so, folks who show up alone, end up learning from each other, their peers and the coaches themselves...
- Last the retention of the learning is visceral because the emotional and interior motivations are impacted and tied to the physical act of skiing, or climbing or sailing itself.
Emotional growth, yep, illumination of stronger, focused inner self! Supported by some of the best coaches in the world and your own peers. And in the outdoors? What are you waiting for?
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In the fall line works, its real, and oh ya, it's fun...
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