Subject Matter Experts versus Trainers

There is a big difference.  A Trainer might also be a Subject Matter Expert.  But a Subject Matter Expert is not necessarily a Trainer.

Don't make the mistake of putting the person who knows the most at the front of the room.  If they're too technical or too detailed, you'll lose the knowledge transfer.  A Trainer's expertise is in taking a complex subject and making it simple and digestible.  Subject Matter Experts have to be complex.  They deal with nuance and details and fix the things that only someone with intimate knowledge can.

Put it this way... Hank Haney is not the greatest golfer in the world.  But he trains the best golfers in the world.  And the best golfers in the world couldn't do what Hank Haney does.  Teaching and doing are separate skill sets.

So when you're trying to figure out who is best to deliver your content, don't assume it's the person with the most knowledge.  Don't worry about who can do it best; find the one who can explain it best.

He Who Cares the Most, Wins

Just about everyone knows you have to pick your battles.  You're not likely to win them all and even if you could, doing so just makes you a tyrant.  Anyone who's got a good EQ understands that there is a time and a place for compromise.

So how do you decide?  Here's my little rule- The person with the most passion wins.

After all, we both know that passion beats smarts.  So it really won't matter if it's the best idea that wins.  As long as the idea is sound, the results should be the same or better.

So when you reach an impasse with your team on what to do next, rather than try to figure out who's idea is "best" simply ask yourself, "who cares the most that will see this ship?  Who will be bolstered most by the win to take the momentum over the finish line?"  Pick that idea and watch the results happen.

Passion Beats Smarts

Every time.  If you can have them both, so much the better.  But when you have to choose, choose passion.

Smarts may know HOW to cross the finish line, but only passion won't stop until it's crossed.

Who's Driving?

There's a reason only one seat in the car has a steering wheel.  Can you imagine if they all did?  If everyone in the car knew the destination, but had a different opinion of which route was "best" AND had the power to change directions?  That ends one of two ways- A) in the ditch or, B) at a total stand still.  Either way, people are getting hurt and yelling at each other.  That's why a car only has one steering wheel.  Because to get anywhere safely, you ultimately need one person making the decisions on how to operate the vehicle.

It's the same when you have a project team trying to accomplish a goal.  If someone doesn't have a steering wheel, or worse, if everyone does, you're going to end up in a ditch.  There are simply too many good, feasible ideas in a group.  Sure, you could do it lots of ways- but you can't do it every way.  Someone must have the power to decide and that person must have the leadership to be willing to consider the options but still take a stance. Otherwise you get nowhere or worse, you crash.

And by the by, never agree to ride in a car with multiple steering wheels either.  That's just signing up for a bad trip.

Put That On a Rock On Your Desk...

(Editor's Note- This is a repost from earlier this year of my personal favorite piece.  New content will be back this Friday, but enjoy this lost treasure as I enjoy my holiday weekend :)

Years ago (which always sounds weird to me when I say it given my age- but it’s the truth) in my Disney days I stumbled across a really cool piece in an Art of Disney store. It was a collection of quotations by Walt Disney that were etched onto glass which was shaped like a cut rock. There were like 3 or 4 different quotes, but one of them immediately struck me.

“You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world…but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”

Since I’ve always been passionate about training and development, this quote has continually and perfectly captured a piece of my soul- that without great people, nothing else matters. It was a beautiful desk piece with an even more beautiful and profound message.

I should have bought it.

I don’t know why I didn’t right there on the spot- but I didn’t. To this day I cannot remember what ridiculous reasoning would have led me to that dumb decision. But even without the piece, the quote and its spirit have remained with me forever.

And that’s profound- because rarely in life can you find the perfect combination of words that says so much with so little. That ideal phrase that simply and elegantly explains great depths of thought and principle. Like a true work of art- the words are beautiful at a glance and masterful as they are studied. No wonder you would want that sitting on your desk everyday- keeping your mind focused on what’s right.

Which is why for years in my training and coaching when someone says something truly profound I have often responded “put that on a rock on your desk.”

Because when you can find a simple statement that can capture so much and keep you so centered, you want it to feel permanent. And you want it there every time you look up, reminding you of what really matters.

This year my tireless efforts and relentless pursuit of Walt’s words have paid-off as I am now in a job where every day through training and development I am impacting the people I work with to make our company better. That rock on the desk of my mind has kept me focused in my pursuit of my dream and the rewards are really starting to materialize.

And then, last weekend at a charity yard sale, sitting half-covered in bin full of knick-knacks,

I found that rock.

When chasing a dream it’s important to have a constant focus. So ask yourself this question-

What would you put on a rock on your desk?

Back to the Books

I have to admit, I've been slacking.

I've been so busy with so many projects, tasks, and such that I haven't been hitting the books the way I should be.  And the funny thing is, I can feel it.  I notice the dip in my creative energy- really my energy overall.  As someone that Gallup has described as high in "Strategic, Input, and Ideation" I know how much my energy can depend on a constant stream of new ideas.

And yet, because I've been so busy, I've let the flow dry up.  And I notice it.

You probably notice it too when you let your fuel run dry.  The question is, do you know what fuels you?  Personality profiles- like Gallup Strengthsfinder- can help if you need a start.  But no matter what you should know what keeps you fresh, inspired, and motivated and then make sure you are making time to indulge it.  A small investment in your drive will pay huge dividends in your endurance.

So for me, it's back to the books.  If you have any good suggestions, please feel free to send them my way (@JeffreyBWeaver on Twitter, or in the comments).  And for you- figure out what motivates you and make time to indulge it.  You'll be glad you did.

Updates

Just about every morning when I open my iPhone I see a little red badge over the App Store letting me know I have an app with an update.

Sometimes it's a small fix for a bug I never even noticed.  Other times it's an exciting new user interface to dazzle me.  Maybe it's that feature I've always wanted and wrote so much feedback about.  You never know until you open it.  It's like App Christmas.

But it's also a reminder that no matter how much I love my favorite Apps- they're never quite done.  There are always improvements.  They're always getting better.

Walt Disney once said that what he loved about his theme parks more than his movies was that the parks were alive and always changing.  Once a movie was done, it was done.  (George Lucas proved him wrong, but let's not digress...)

The point is this- don't be afraid to update.  And, because of that, don't be afraid to ship.  Quit waiting for it to be right and simply make it "be." 

You can always update later.