Last week I wrote about not feeling vulnerable if you shared too much of yourself in your teaching. Learners want to feel that they are learning from a person not a computer, even though the delivery device is electronic.
So don’t write like a lecture.
Wholehearted writers don’t write to lecture. Instead they’re compassionate and connect from one human being to one other human being … as equals.
Brene Brown, the author, stresses how much she has learned from the participants in her research.
For instance: “One of the questions I’m most often asked is “Don’t you get really depressed talking to people about vulnerability and hearing about people’s darkest struggles?” My answer is no, never. That’s because I’ve learned more about worthiness, resilience, and joy from those people who courageously shared their struggles with me than any other part of the work.”
As trainers, we’re often told to build our authority so people become eager to listen to and learn from us. But being an authority doesn’t mean we have to stand on a pedestal to lecture or preach.
When I write I imagine having a cosy conversation … just you and me. And I know I don’t need to have all the answers; you can fill in the gaps, or we can leave the gaps there.
Authority without humanness seems so boring to me.
So, don’t write to impress, write to help your learners. Write to express new ideas to start conversations, to make friends.
Foster your self-worth
Want to improve your writing for learning? I hear you.
We can always improve our writing, and that can feel painful.
Here’s the thing …
Acknowledging room for improvement doesn’t mean we’re not good enough now.
It’s like any skill. Even the All Blacks need to improve their rugby game. Even world class violinists strive to get better.
Struggle to write is human. So let’s be kind to ourselves.
Let’s acknowledge we want to improve but also; let’s remind ourselves we’re already good enough.
You are not your work.
If your inner critic tells you that you’ve messed up and that you’re a bad writer, be sure to correct them. No one is a bad writer. All of us are learning to write better. And all of us mess up at times. It’s okay to feel disappointed by a lack of response or hurt by criticism but it doesn’t make you less worthy.
You belong in this business … like all of us, your voice deserves to be heard. You are already good enough.
Sometimes I get tired of watching perfect productions
You too?
Fortunately, you and I can be different. We can lecture less. We can design with more heart. We can have real conversations and build friendships. Keep at your calling, my friend.
Human content wins.
A reader asked me how I write. This has caused a great deal of introspection so next week I’ll attempt to answer the question.