Stop. Read the previous “Do You Honor Learners?” Don’t want to? OK, proceed, but I’m not going to explain Maslow all over again.
As facilitators, our body language either communicates that we honor or discount the learner. What is your body doing as the learner is talking?
We all know about eye contact, head nodding and verbal responses to indicate that we are listening. There are more subtle ways that we honor the learner’s communication.
Jane is expressing her very important point of view and the instructor turns his back to her and walks back to cue up the next PowerPoint slide while she is talking.
Rohit is answering a question and is a little unsure of himself. The teacher looks away as he is talking, her attention distracted by a person texting in the back of the room.
Chris is presenting information, after a group activity. The facilitator, who has taught the same course 30 times, takes this opportunity to flip through the lesson plan to the next learning module.
Jorge raises his hand to ask a question and, simultaneously the instructor thinks about how behind schedule the class is. Jorge hesitates when he sees the grimace on her face.
What impression do these learners have of how they are being honored?
Facilitators are human. They get distracted, weary, and occasionally have to repress a burp from the Italian food they ate for lunch.
Powerful human facilitators are aware of subtle body language and the effect on learners. They consciously control themselves and practice improving continuously.
How do you honor learners with your body language? What do you need to improve?
© Linda M. Farley www.LMFarley.com LMF@onr.com
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