Dissent with action: Training and Makati Stand-off

Butuan- The Philippines is peaceful in this part of the country. Nobody talks about Trillanes, General Lim, and Guingona here. Not that nobody cares. It is simply that life goes on here.  Good thing, Manila is not the Philippines.

Yesterday in Agusan del Sur, Ms Dih got a text message from her son: Trillanes, Lim, and the rest of Magdalo group were staging a coup in Makati. At once, Ms Di encouraged everyone to pray for peaceful, non-bloody resolution of the coup. Fifteen minutes after, we got a text message from her son again: Trillanes and the group were not armed. That was good news. I thought they were just making a political statement. Trillanes’ group took the risk. And they got our attention.

We continued working. We have finished with two modules: (1) Orientation to the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur and (2) Customer Service. Two more modules and we shall fulfill the requirements of AusAID.

In the afternoon, the pool of trainers discussed the content of our presentation to the Governor and the Sanggunian Panglungsod. I shared a simple formula which the group adapted:
 Share the Dream
 Show the Realities
 Provide Possible Solutions
 Our REcommended Solution
 What next (Approval of recommendation)

We mindmapped them. And got excited with the idea that as trainers we are not simply there to deliver the modules we designed. Trainers are catalyst of change. And we make the change that we want to happen.

Going back to the concerns of Trillanes and others. I thought that many of his accusations about this government deserve our attention. There is no doubt that there is rampant corruption in this country. Yes, not only in Malacanang. Corruption is present in all levels of government–from the Presidential Palace down to the Barangay Hall. Corruption is so obvious, so present that we can breathe it.

I though the President does not have to wait for 2010. She can do something better today.

Before we ended our mindmapping on the realities of the province,  some members of the group were already discouraged by the brutal fact that they work in a less ideal situation. Some even said that with those realities, the dreams won’t happen. Few people cannot just do it.

I thought that was a learning time. I took the chance. I stood and shared these thoughts:

” The moment you think that dreams like these cannot be done, you allow you realities dictate the future that your children must have. It is said that it only takes a good man to be silent for evil to triumph. It only takes for a parent to do nothing for the children to suffer.

It is not true that few people cannot do it. The world had witnessed how one person, just like in the case of JESUS CHRIST who encouraged one person after another to create a new paradigm. It won’t be easy. But it does not mean it can’t be done. It may not happen in your time, but it can be done. And whatever seeds you plant today, the future will gift your children and grandchilren its fruits. The decision to do nothing is a decision to keep things as they are. This will be your legacy.

Others think of training as simply speaking in front of people, and  teaching adults the recommended module. But training is more than that.

If you cannot visualize the dream–if you cannot write everthing here in the board– all you need is to think of these realities that you’ve written. Do you like to erase, eliminate, and supplant them with something new. Then make that your dream.(pointing to some writings on the board) Make it a dream to wake up one day with bosses who support and mentor employees. Make it a dream that employees have the reasons to smile and be happy. If you think that it is important to change the attitude of the bosses, then take the risk, prepare yourself, train your bosses. There are other ways. But as trainers, grab the opportunity to train them.

Trainers therefore are salespersons of dreams.If you will think of it this way everytime you train, you will see training people not as tasks but one step ahead to the realization of your dreams. You will create a new reality not only for PGAS, but for every citizen of this province.

Take training as a mission. You will get tired. You will cry. But you will not stop.

Start small today. Roll like a snowball. One day you will grow bigger and bigger, and faster than what you expect. You will create a culture that you dream.”

Before I left Agusan yesterday, I saw Gen. Lim on TV. He said that “dissent without action is consent.” I fully agree. Only that I did not choose their kind of action. I have mine. And you have yours too.

I choose to train teachers, principals, managers, pastors, priest, students, and trainers, . I choose to refuse corruption. I choose to create an impact with the use of force– the force of learning. You can change the government, and make a new one in a day. You cannot do that with culture. You can change culture one day at time. And then, you can change the government.

I will fly to Manila this afternoon.

Jef Menguin

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

Quick tips in speaking

1. Do not make haste to begin—haste shows lack of control.

2. Do not apologize. It ought not to be necessary; and if it is, it will not help. Go straight ahead.

3. Cast out fear, for fear is cowardly—when it is not mastered. The bravest know fear, but they do not yield to it.

The Beautiful Face of Mindanao

This is my second time here in Davao City. And I say I like it more than Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, or Makati. Well, I know that it is too early to say that. I won’t be staying here for long. Tomorrow night I will travelling again back to Agusan del Sur. I wish I had decided earlier to travel to every part in Mindanao during my weekends. There are just too many good things here in Mindanao–Agusan and Davao.

Davao City has plenty of places to go. I am delighted to see that there are so many universities, churches, and restaurants here. The center of Davao City is actually alive at night. Tomorrow, I will visit their cathedral. Got to see to house of God in this place. You know, among us Manilans, the most that we know about Mindanao is that it is the place where the Muslims and  Christians are in protractive and unending wars. No thanks to our history teachers and textbooks–we missed a lot of things because of miseducation.

I actually feel safe here. For some reason I don’t worry that bombs will just explode anytime. Maybe because for the last three weeks that I have stayed here in Mindanao, I was not reading newspapers and I happen to see only the positive people around me. And yes, the positive enviroment–fresh air and the tranquil night. Two nights ago in Patin-ay, Agusan del Sur, at about 9pm I went out of my room to go to the nearest Internet Cafe. I was in the highway when it went blackout–and all I could see was darkness–there was no moon, only a few twinkling stars. I guess even the crickets were surprised! But for some reason, I did not worry. The past days taught me that I could trust the people, and with electricity or no electricity, I could return to my place. I reached the the lodge through the light of my celfone. I actually reached this Internet cafe where I am writing now because I enjoyed walking here.

I love the food here. And they are not expensive. Earlier I had my dinner at Banoks. I had chicken barbeccue, one big and one small, plus “unlimited” rice for only 65 pesos. The last time I had the same meal in Quezon City I paid more than 200 pesos. While eating, I even remembered that in one 3-star hotel in Quezon City I paid 120 pesos for an instant coffee. In Agusan, I paid for the same instant coffee for 5 pesos. It seems that everything here is less expensive.

And the people are more honest. The taxi driver for example used his meter. He did not ask for more. Last October, I remembered that when I rode a taxi from the domestic airport, the taxi driver told showed me a list of which indicate that from the airport to Quezon City is 600 pesos. Using the meter, you will pay less than 200 pesos. But because I came from the domestic airport, the taxi driver must have thought that I am a “probinsyano” (someone from the countryside) whom we could easily fool. From the taxi driver to the tricycle drivers, you will find many who will make you pay three or more times than what is necessary. Of course the congressmen and senators, and the president are not aware of this. They don’t ride in taxicabs or tricycle. But in Metro Manila, and even in Antipolo City where I grew up, you have to pay more for discipline. When one rides from the terminal, he must pay for all the four people. Here, you pay for what you must pay. No more, no less. And one thing more–in metro manila, you award those who return lost money. Maybe because it seldom happens. Here, it is a common thing. I got my books returned to me. I got my money returned to me. Visitors seemed to have common experiences. Unfortunately, you will not learn this in the classrooms, read in the newspapers, or watch in tv. Good things like this simply don’t sell.

I hope to see your comments here. See you again.

Jef

Coaching is Learning 2.0

You want to learn faster? Coach people.

Once again, I have proven that teaching makes us learn twice as fast. This is why I am very much thankful for the opportunity of coaching the pool of trainers of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur (PGAS). I have been coaching individuals before, from top executives to high school students. Each is different from each other. That is a given. But to train fifteen people who are just starting in their journey as trainers is really a special thing. It is fun. It is challenging. It is inspiring.

It is fun seeing people giving their precious time and efforts in developing training manuals. I have seen trainers who crafted their manual without much thinking. But these guys are different. They think through each learning session,and each learning activity as if the future of the government depends on these training manuals. Hey, I am not exaggerating. When it comes to diligence, they sure got 100 percent. They exceeded my expectations.

It is fun knowing that they thirst for knowledge. Here, they call me Master Jef. I am not flattered by titles. But here, and with them, it is a good feel to be called by that title. Maybe you are aware that here many of them speak English with Visayan accent something that entertains us from Manila. I am not here to teach them accent neutralization, but I think they like me correcting some of their accent every now and then. Sometimes one said something in English, then I looked, and at once she corrected her accent. Actually, many are now becoming more conscious of correcting their accents. And yes, we are having fun when we do this.

It is also a challenge coaching them as they develop their communication and customer service manuals. Coaching them 4As is a challenge. I have no problem conducting the Kolbian model of experiential learning. I apply the method in almost every workshop I have conducted. But I  believe that learning is not necessarily step 1 to step 4 process. Learning happens in connections.Learning happens in conversation. Learning happens when it must happen like a Eureka. In other words, as a trainer I am not bounded by a training method. My objective is always to find a way that learning becomes easy for others. There are times when I like to suggest another method, something which I think would be shorter, direct, and will have greater impact. Something which is not 4As. But I can’t as of the moment.

So, what do I do? Help them come up with 4As with greater impact. I imagine my brain working double time looking for better ways of presenting the material in 4As. And I confess, I am now mastering the rapid 4As–faster, better, and direct. What else, I think I am able to the trainers creative thinking. I usually keep my ideas to myself at first. I ask them questions until they come up which are sometimes much better than what I have in mind.

The second challenge is the fact that I have already designed training programs both for business writing and customer service. It could have been easier if I just handed to them my own modules which are all experiential, and coaching would be done. But that would not be coaching. That would not be helping them learn to design their own training programs. It is a challenge to control oneself to think for them. But I must as a coach.

So, what did I do? I taught them mind-mapping. I helped them come up with a training program based on objectives. I allowed them to think of their own activities, craft their own questions, and developed their own evaluation. The result: training manuals which are their own. And I am proud of them.

The third challenge is that I am not the chief facilitator here. Let me explain. I have no problem working with other people. I don’t even have a problem playing second ball to somebody. I remember doing workshop with Vic, my mentor. Vic is such a trainer that he could easily eclipse everyone else. You will forget the speakers before him, and pity are those who will come after. But I have no problem with that. I simply want to learn from the masters.

Our chief facilitator is also a master in her field. My only challenge is that I am bound to follow her design. As a trainer, I see some important things which are not given emphasis. I know that this is just a matter of differences in style, or maybe on what we think as more important. And maybe, the challenge is because of the fact that I am used to designing my own programs. And you may ask, what did I learn from this? See the program the way she sees it. This help. And I think I following programs design by others won’t be as challenging the next time around.

Coaching is inspiring. Yes, especially when you know that the people you are coaching have high hopes for the improvement of the provincial government. Our conversation revealed so much about our dreams and aspirations.

Yesterday, I shared with them how dream journals changed the life of many people. We tried listing what they wanted to have, do, and become. When I requested some of them to share their dreams, I have realized that I am with persons for others. We are not alone my friend. This world is really a beautiful place. We simply have to recognize that there are people like them.

I hope to share with you next time our pictures. God bless.

Jef Menguin

Jef Menguin facilitates people skills seminars and teambuilding and leadership workshops in Metro Manila, Philippines. Visit his website at http://jefmenguin.com to learn more about his seminars.

You, your audience, and truth

Assuming a virtue or a vice vitalizes it. Summon all your power of self-direction, and remember that though your audience is infinitely more important than you, the TRUTH is more important than you AND your audience, because TRUTH is eternal.

Your audience is your friend

In public speech, as in electricity, there is a positive and a negative force. Either you or your audience are going to possess the positive factor. If you assume it, you can make it yours. If you assume the negative, you are sure to be negative.

Discipline your mind; focus your mind to positive leadership of your audience. Since you are taking the opportunity to instruct or lead or inspire a multitude or even a small group of people, you must be courageous. Yes, even though it poses like an Everest of a challenge. BE courageous—it lies within you to be what you will. MAKE yourself be calm and confident.

Believe that your audience will not hurt you. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that they will look down on you. You are not under persecution. You did not kill anybody. You did not make their life miserable. You are there because you have something to say, that only you may offer right now, right here.

In facing an audience, I pause a moment, pray to my God and thank him for giving me the opportunity to enrich the the lives of my audience and for that opportunity to enrich my life as well. Experience taught me that in facing my audience–there is a thousand chances to one they want me to succeed, for what man is so foolish as to spend his precious time, perhaps his hard-earned money, in the hope that I will waste his investment by talking nonsense?

Your audience is your friend. They want you to succeed!