Have you ever trained a puppy? You got this squirmy, silly, sweet ball of fluff and suddenly you either had to teach the puppy rules and manners, or else you had to live with the random chewing and smelly little mistakes that happen without training.
For most of the last century, dog training was best described as “jerk and yell.” You put a training collar on your dog and as soon as he did something wrong, you issued a verbal correction (often “NO!!”) and jerked on the collar. Thankfully, dog training has come a looooooong way since then. Dolphin trainer Karen Pryor wrote a breakthrough book in 1984 entitled “Don’t Shoot the Dog! – The New Art of Teaching and Training.” Through her work with dolphins, she saw that positive reinforcement was the fastest, most reliable way of teaching any species. The book is considered foundational to those who train their dogs in this century and is also a very useful look at how to train people.
Yes, people. In her book, Karen describes specific positive methods for “changing the behavior of husbands, children and pets.” While her writing around this topic is quite light-hearted, it’s also true: a light, positive teaching method that encourages exploration and learning works better on dolphins, dogs, people, and maybe even parakeets and goldfish.
What do you teach? And how do you teach it?
You don’t have to have a teaching certificate and education degree to be a teacher. Every one of us is teaching those we interact with every day. Sometimes they’re learning about us, sometimes they’re learning how to behave in certain situations, and sometimes they’re learning something specific that we’re teaching them. If you’re breathing and interacting with just one other person, you’re teaching.
What are they learning? Are they learning to avoid you before your morning cup of coffee? Are they learning that you have no sense of humor if they diss your favorite sports team? Are they learning that it’s scary to be in a car that you’re driving because you’re quick to get angry at other drivers? Or are they learning that you are a safe person to go to for help with something they don’t understand? Are they learning that you are fun to joke around with? Are they learning that you have their back even when they’re in the wrong?
For help getting started on being a better teacher all day, every day, here are three episodes of the world’s second-shortest podcast for inspiration:
Do you have the heart of a teacher and don’t know where to point it? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
You’re always teaching – are you good or bad at it? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Want to learn to be a great teacher? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
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Whether you’re teaching a puppy where (and where not) to eliminate or teaching a co-worker to clean up their mess in the break room, before you start, take a breath. Find your humanity and your humor and make sure you lead with those.
Think of how you would want to be treated – that’s always a great way to start!
Wags,
Sandy Weaver
The Voice of Wagaliciousness
PS...want more? Subscribe to the Mind, Body, Soul Sessions podcast, a weekly mental spa treatment for your total self! #podcast #success #leader #lawofattraction #personaldevelopment #mentalwellbeing