High-performing teams are always looking to get better. That means they are continually trained. Whatever you can do to continue your knowledge, education, and experience is worth the effort. Consistently improving is a sign of a strong team. Each member works to hone their skills to be more beneficial to the group. High-performing teams understand there is always room to grow. Ask experts in a particular field if they don’t need any more training. You will hear a resounding “NO.” There is always more to learn, more to experience, and more to practice. 

Here are some tips for training your team. 

Know what you don’t know

“True wisdom is knowing what you don’t know.” This famous quote is often credited to both Confuscious and Socrates, which is ironic in itself and goes to prove our point. There is a lot we do not know. But knowing there is a void in your insight is the first step. 

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias showing that the less people know, the more they think they know. And that can be dangerous. In their research, Dunning and Kruger found that people who actually knew the least about a skill or subject often overestimated their abilities the most. According to Dunning, “This meta-ignorance (or ignorance of ignorance) arises because lack of expertise and knowledge often hides in the realm of the “unknown unknowns” or is disguised by erroneous beliefs and background knowledge that only appear to be sufficient to conclude a right answer.” We’re in trouble if we let ourselves think we know it all. 

It’s time to up our metacognitive skills (the process of thinking about thinking). To figure out ways to think that explore practices to learn and problem-solve. Namely, realize that you don’t know everything and focus on the gaps in your knowledge so you can eventually grow. 

Be intentional

You have to go out of your way to learn. Occasionally you may accidentally learn something new. But most of your education will come from intentionally seeking out wisdom. Whether reading books, taking a class, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or trying new things to get experience. You have to make an effort. Your team can only learn what you need them to know with thoughtful planning on your part. Learning takes intentionality, which segues into our next point. 

Make it a habit

Learning has to be a routine – something that happens continually and with some regularity. Once something becomes part of our normal routine (practiced intentionally over time), it can become a habit (done on auto-pilot without thinking). Habits can be difficult to start, so make it easy on your team. Make a schedule or create micro-habits to get things started. Go for quality, not quantity, and see what works best for your team. 

Find good resources

People learn new skills in various ways, and many different types of learning styles exist. When training your team, be thoughtful in how you approach their experience. Find the right resources to make the most of their learning experiences. At Volunteer U, we are all about training your volunteers and your leadership team. You can find helpful resources on our website: www.VolunteerU.org.