My experience as a trainer? If you’re not in the mood, just stay home
Blog by
Joost Hegge
One of the highlights of my week for over fifty years has been playing a game of football on Wednesday evenings. It’s very simple, but for me, it’s a wonderful outlet. No worries, running until you’re exhausted, and letting my frustrations run wild with foam at the mouth, uncensored. “Just stay home if you’re not in the mood” is one of my favorite remarks when one of my teammates passes to the wrong color. Then a beer in the clubhouse and friends for life. In seven days, we get to do it again. It doesn’t get any better than this!
How it all started as a trainer
Once, back in 1997 at Start Loopbaaninterventie, I began as a career advisor and, alongside individual guidance for employees, I also gave various group trainings. Over the years, I’ve developed this further. For the past five years I’ve worked at MEPD, and there I’ve noticed a greater emphasis on training as well. Think of skills trainings such as learning to apply for jobs better, giving enjoyable (and less enjoyable) feedback, or how employees can continue working in a healthy and happy way. But also longer programs, where I work together with a team to improve internal cooperation. Additionally, for years I have provided various experiential trainings to stimulate the connection between body and mind. This learning based on feeling, as a supplement to the cognitive transfer of knowledge and skills, often provided great clarity for participants.
Just between us: sometimes I really have to hold myself back
All very enjoyable to do, but honestly, I also have my reservations sometimes and really have to hold myself back. When employees come in and say they’re required to participate, or sigh deeply and immediately tune out when they hear that their manager or the management team isn’t joining: ‘They’re the ones who really need this training, Joost, that’s how it always goes here!’. At those moments, I’d sometimes love to shout at them, ‘Then just stay home!’. Just like during my weekly football training when one of my mates is messing around.
Dare to really open up
Of course, I don’t actually do that, and I’m actually glad when they throw that out loud and clear into the group. Because that allows me to immediately segue into my three key points for a successful training: 1) If you’re not in the mood for this, feel free to do something else. 2) I do hope you dare to really open up here. 3) And that together we can create an atmosphere to encourage that.
When I’m truly satisfied after a training
The content of most trainings I provide is really not rocket science. It’s mainly about interaction and practicing together. When everyone is truly participating and we use the input of the whole group, wonderful things happen. When we shake hands as we leave the training room, look each other in the eyes, and sincerely thank one another for their contribution, that’s when I’m truly satisfied. It doesn’t get any better than this! My son would say: ‘And you even get paid for it, dad’.
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Joost Hegge
Trainer / Coach
Guiding employees, individually or in groups, towards new suitable work gives me a lot of satisfaction. It’s often an exciting period in their lives.
