Getting Started
One of the first things you have to do as a mentor or coach is to train and teach. This is initially done through observation by the person learning a new skill. The trainer will have to demonstrate methodically by going through each of the steps of the task at hand by interjecting current understandings, facts, possible deviations, motives, and other material that will help it to ingrain into the new leader. Rote, dry, and boring does not excite a learner and they will be a lot less apt to absorb your material at your expected level. You need to interject sight, sound, color, humor, presentation, pictures, and visual stimulation to make it exciting.

Another thing that far to often happens is trainers will assume that a person already knows something and doesn’t start with the basic concepts and background information. They need to start from the very beginning by explaining and demonstrating every last step. The goal will be not only to make sure they are thoroughly grounded in the understanding of the concept, but will understand it so well, that it won’t take long for him to then be able to train others as well. When a task get demonstrated correctly and completely a person is more apt to be able to duplicate the process and teach others in a consistent manner.

Creating a Model for Training/Learning
I remember back in college chemistry I was asked to tutor in one of my classes because I was doing quite well. I did work with a few students but I didn’t teach them chemistry, I taught them a model for learning. I taught them to work from general concepts and to know what they were. I then taught them to break down those concepts into small granularity and to constantly quiz them selves and create some mnemonics to help them remember some of those specifics. I then taught them to visualize and create examples and stories that could demonstrate they knew the concepts inside and out. It wasn’t rocket science but worked well for me and happily those students as well.

Reproducing and Duplication
So when your working with potential leaders make sure you start at the very basic beginning and understanding then progress to the more abstract concepts in a way that they will eventually be able to teach to others in the same reproducible way. This will lead to a consistent organization or team that can be much more readily be reproduced. Which would you rather do, teach 10 people how to do something, or teach 5 people to teach 10 who will then teach 10 each?

Take Aways
Have your training presented in a consistent manner for everyone.
Train others so well that they would then have the ability to train someone else.
No detail is to small. Explain the reasons for everything.
Provide the lessons or tasks in as many mediums as possible. It can be later used to study from and act as a training guide.

I’d love to hear how some of the organizations you’ve been involved with practiced some of these leadership principals.

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