What determines the quality of a seminar that truly transforms management and employee teams and propels companies forward in the long term? The content? The teaching? The inspiration to act? The implementation coefficient? The enthusiasm? The feel-good factor? The popularity of the speaker? Please only continue reading if you answered "yes" to the first four questions. Otherwise, this blog post is not for you!
The quality of a seminar essentially depends on the quality of the distinctions taught. Effective seminars first explain these high-quality, precise distinctions intellectually before making them emotionally understandable and finally putting them into practice through successful applications. This three-step process involving intellect, emotion, and practical application sounds easy. However, actually implementing it is very difficult. If it is not constantly taken into account, the energy for implementation fades away, and with it the much-vaunted sustainability of the effect.
Knowing and applying distinctions
Only when I have learned to differentiate precisely between processes and structures can I perceive and name them correctly. An example: when you hear the word "red," you associate it with your perception of a certain color. Distinctions such as red and yellow, man and woman, young and old seem simple. Others, however, are much more difficult, such as detail-oriented and overview-oriented, or thinking in terms of possibilities and thinking in terms of obstacles. It is crucial not only to be aware of such profound distinctions, but also to be able to apply them to yourself and others.
What do you think: How many distinctions does a Sherpa in the Himalayas know about weather, wind, and snow? Certainly many more than you and I. And why? Correct! Because his life and the lives of the mountaineers entrusted to him depend on it. His ability to differentiate in this very area makes him an expert. A Sherpa will not learn thousands of distinctions out of a pure thirst for knowledge and then bombard others with them. He will carefully select and examine each one, then put the really important distinctions at the top of his list.
Choose intensively, think deeply
What can we learn from Sherpas? If you want to survive as a trainer in the Himalayas of continuing education, you have to carefully select, thoroughly consider, and apply effective distinctions. Only then can you methodically prepare them. This work is very time-consuming for continuing education providers. And it is necessary before they can enter the market. The short-term disadvantage is that they will only establish themselves in the market later on. However, in the long term, they will be all the more successful in the market.
A distinguishing feature of most training providers—I call them seminar junkies—is the fact that they point the finger at others for things they themselves are unable to achieve. These trainers teach their content either because they still need to learn it themselves or because they enjoy dealing with these topics. However, customers usually wait in vain for a profound impact and change.
Smart decision-makers and buyers choose a trainer or training institute that has developed the most effective differentiators for the desired topics. When customers then achieve success they didn't expect, they automatically become the best advocates. Selecting, recognizing, and applying high-quality differentiators is therefore the most important step toward achieving a tremendous impact. So take a look at your most powerful differentiators and differentiate wisely!
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