Putting this much time and energy into building skills

ringlock scaffolding Step 3 – Repetition requires motivation. Putting this much time and energy into building skills and habits requires both internal and external motivation. You’ll need to plant the seeds for internal motivation within the classroom by talking about the important reasons why the participant is being trained and the personal value they will receive when they’ve mastered their new skills. Hint: Focus on their agenda (their safety 24/7, their families, their personal goals, etc.) and not on the corporate agenda (lower injury rates, increased production, etc.).

External motivation will come outside of the classroom with positive feedback from supervisors for doing new tasks correctly, group performance measurement, and maybe even contests or rewards. Keep in mind the adage that what gets measured gets done. If remembering safety training is important, find a way to track learning goals.

Step 4 – Motivation requires support. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to deviate from a plan. Think about how many New Year’s resolutions have been broken due to a lack of support. Maintaining motivation throughout the habit-building cycle will require external support from supervisors, peers and sometimes even family members. If a group is building a new skill together, supervisors should encourage them to look out for each other. If only one or two people are building a specific skill, make sure they have a support person designated to discuss their progress and offer positive reinforcement until they’ve solidified success.