Why Do Pilots Use Simulators? Consequence Free Mistakes

Simulators save lives and money.  That’s why.

Simulating problems and situations before you have to deal with them in real life allows you to learn something in a risk-free environment – risk-free to you personally and to those that may need to rely on your judgment and abilities. 

You might think that since you’re not tasked with the lives of 100+ people every day that simulation learning isn’t something you’d need to do. 

I’d suggest differently.

Choosing the Red Pill

When I was a lad of just 18 years I graduated from high school (my Dad lost that bet between him and my Mother) and left to go to THE Ohio State University.

My goal was to become a teacher. 

A 7^th grade teacher no less.  I wasn’t motivated by money.  I was motivated by the thought that in 7^th grade kids are at a tipping point between becoming contributors or becoming detractors in our world.  I thought if I was a good enough teacher I could help increase the number of contributors and decrease the number of detractors in our society.

I was not a good enough teacher.

Before I Had To Fail… I Failed

One of the interesting things about the education program at THE Ohio State University was a required program for all Freshmen in the education college.  It was called FEEP – Freshman Early Experiencing Program.  The way it worked was you took one quarter of classroom instruction and then in your second quarter you were assigned to a school and a teacher.  You then went to work as a teacher for three months.

I got to find out, pretty much before I had to find out – whether I was cut out for the job.

The fact that I write here and run a couple of businesses tied to driving behavior and am not standing in front of thirty 14 year-olds tells you that the FEEP program was a good idea. 

Trust me.  It was good for me and more importantly, it was good for your kids.

Simulation

I was lucky that I was able to see how my life would be as a teacher early on in my education. I didn’t have to waste time getting a degree, being a student teacher and then being a teacher.  I found out in 6 months it wasn’t for me.  I also was able to do that without causing irreparable harm to an entire generation of children (we have video games, Facebook and Twitter for that now.)

I was in the Matrix.  I failed before failing had consequences. 

And I have vivid memories of what happened during that quarter in front of the kids.  I had disciple problems to deal with.  Evaluations to give.  Kids to counsel.  I learned more in that quarter about myself and about behavior than in all the years since.

And it was because I was in the Matrix.

That is a long lead in to this…

This Thursday’s HRHappyHour – hosted by the always vivacious and entertaining @SteveBoese – one of my tribe members over at Fistful Of Talent and a spiffy internet radio host – will focus on simulation learning.  Steve will be talking with a friend of mine – Kaye Mahon who runs simulation learning events for customer service and employee engagement. 

Full disclosure – Kaye has allowed me to have the privilege of being part of a few customer service simulations as one of the “actors” (you’ll have to tune in to hear more about that) and I’m a raving fan of the technique.  Participants in the simulation are challenged like never before, learn more deeply, fail repeatedly (and get back up) and absolutely love the experience. 

Don’t take our word for it… we ask participants after the sessions what they would tell their boss… they said…

• Wonderful and should be a once a year event
• It was not what I expected but I learned a lot of new information.  How to collect thoughts when things get busy or out of hand.  How to diffuse certain situations.
• I will tell him that it was intense and the best training I have ever had.
• That I learned to be more confident in myself
• We need more of these reality customer service seminars to train other associates to do a better job.
• I’ll tell them that if they want anyone to greatly improve in customer service then send them to this program.  I feel like this has helped me perfect my skills.
• That hands-on interaction that is not passive is a more effective way to learn and experience ideas

Let me ask you this… when was the last time a “training” session got these types of responses from the people who had to be there?  I’m guessing not often.

Tune in Thursday 8 PM ET – hear how Kaye can help you create a simulation – a Matrix if you will – around your training needs and get your people better prepared for the real world and real problems – before they become YOUR problems.

Related articles

• What Stops You From Succeeding? Maybe it’s History. (i2i-align.com)
• YOU Are the Reason Your Recognition Program Failed (i2i-align.com)
• Advice Worth Taking – 8 Non-Reward Things That Are Reward Things (i2i-align.com)