Serendipity and Learning

One of the things we often tell newbies in HR is to know the business. Know the customers. Look beyond HR. (Ditto for those in L&D or TA) And I heard this being repeated in the Design conference. As a designer, you need to be  aware. You need to know the business. Know the customers. Go beyond the stated problem. Dont fix what has been told to you. Investigate further. And so on. The common factor here apart from the fact that as much as you gain expertise, you cannot be a one trick pony or that you require T shaped skills. But what resonated with me more was the fact that you cannot afford to be insular and inward looking regardless in your field.

What fun it is to see an expert have fun is it not? When you see someone improvising on a piece of music or dance or facilitation or sports - is it not fun? The amazing thing about this is that unless you are an expert you cannot have fun. (Hat tip to better half for articulating this.) Let me qualify. If you see an expert musician improvise on a piece - and it sounds so good - almost as if she is playing around with the music - it is fun, but it is also good. The expert can have fun in a way that it is still rhythmic, musical, enjoyable - you name it. It is not the same as clowning around - singing off key or missing all shots that are thrown at you. This is the magic - where the expert juggler can juggle with more fun than anyone else. See this violin maestro having fun with the violin - a classical musician playing a film song and having fun with it. See his expressions as he does it... Or watch Roger Federrer try out a new second serve return - that only an expert can...

I found this really cool video From Cathy Moores website that talks more about Training Design Ideas. Lots of things there resonated with me. The latest post there which is about Tips for webinars or Virtual Training is just what everybody would want these days.