What's training if there is no goal?

Early in my career as a facilitator and trainer, I had gained confidence in my skills after spending considerable time honing my craft. At that time, I worked for a company that offered professional development and team-building services for businesses and schools. One day, we had a large client group, and we divided them into several smaller groups to conduct a three-hour series of activities.

Before the session, we discussed the group's goals and desired learning outcomes. With this information, I planned three activities with a fourth as a backup, collected my supplies, and eagerly awaited my group. As the session unfolded, the group struggled initially, showing little communication and teamwork. However, over time, they made progress and eventually completed the challenge, exhibiting significant improvement in their group dynamics and communication.

During our post-session debrief, my colleagues reported having completed four or five activities with their respective groups, while I had only managed one. This revelation raised some eyebrows, and I found myself defending my approach to my supervisors.

In this unique situation, I believed that the group's progress and eventual success were more important than the number of activities completed. The goal was to achieve the desired learning outcome, which varied for each group. For some, multiple activities were necessary, while for my group, a single, challenging activity sufficed. This experience taught me the importance of focusing on three key points:

1. Clearly define the goal for each training session.
2. Prioritize quality over quantity when engaging in activities.
3. Recognize and embrace the beauty in the struggle.

Too often, trainers, clients, or supervisors equate an enjoyable experience with a valuable training session. While having a good time is an essential component of successful training, it should not come at the expense of the learners' experience. In my group's case, they struggled but ultimately found opportunities for growth and self-reflection, drawing connections between their challenges and their real-life work environments. As the artist J. Cole aptly put it, "There is beauty in the struggle."