Early in my coaching career, I remember my mentor, Bob, saying, “People won’t remember what you say…they will remember what they do.” This past week I observed a powerful example of this motto being played out.
About 3 weeks ago, I read a book to my 3-year-old grandson, Josh. It was entitled, “The Hungry Caterpillar”. As you might suspect, it was the story of a caterpillar gradually turning in to a butterfly. It is quite an incredible process. We wanted Josh not just to know the process, but also experience it.
We purchased a “butterfly garden” kit. Contained in the kit were 10 larvae in specially prepared cups. The larvae ate the food in the cup and started growing. They kept growing. Josh was euphoric as he observed the metamorphosis take place. The cocoons were formed and they started to wiggle, and last Saturday we all experienced the main event: The release of the butterflies. Freedom!
Having been so actively involved in the growth of the butterfly garden, Josh now reads his caterpillar book with a new perspective. He has experienced the process, and therefore understands it at a much more instinctive level.
What Josh learned is what we all need to remember: If we want someone to grow from our teaching or coaching, get them actively involved in the “doing”. We can then create true learning.
