2. Make Your Input Positive, Encouraging And Engaging

2. Make your input positive, encouraging and engaging.

Traditionally instructor input has been fault focused, and while we must address repeated failures to aid with our client’s development, we must also encourage them to understand their strengths and find solutions to their problems. Problems are not necessarily a negative factor for human beings, where they can find the solution. As this gives purpose to an individual and creates responsibility.

Positive reinforcement is essential to growth for anyone in a learning process, so consider the bigger picture when faults occur. Certainly, we must address the fault comprehensively and accurately, but is it appropriate to repeatedly pull the learner up to the side of the road and tell them that they are doing it wrong?

Consider the effect that this will have on their belief system when their teacher in the learning process is repeatedly pointing toward their failings. Coupled with their own previous life experiences, or perhaps being told by parents, educators and peers, that they “can’t do it” it is likely to lead them into inhibiting beliefs. The belief that “I can’t do this” will not necessarily be helpful to them as a driver post-test, in a complex and potentially dangerous situation. Rather individual needs to understand their strengths as well as their weaknesses to find solutions to complex problems on the road. It is therefore far more appropriate to begin the line of questioning with “what went well?” When dealing with faults, it is far more comprehensive for the learner to consider the situation more holistically, where your input encourages and helps them to consider their strengths, and weaknesses and seek solutions. It is likely to be most accurate if the learner is encouraged to consider any emotions, beliefs, attitudes or thoughts that might be motivating their behaviour also.