Does our Teaching “Amaze, Delight and Challenge”?
It’s striking how quickly we fall into a rut, especially in our teaching. And how soon in life we begin to fashion a small box within which we want to live life. It’s safer inside and we’re more able to control what we can amidst a changing world. Seth Godin wrote about one aspect of that world, that people today (thanks to technological changes) are more ready to change than ever before. Now, whether changing technology devices is substantive change or not is up for debate (marketers like to overstate), but he concludes his article with this advice: Amaze, Delight and Challenge. And that’s worth considering.
As teachers, leaders, youth workers, supervisors, and even parents, how quickly have we gotten into a box, a ‘rut’ of routine that has not amazed or delighted anyone in recent memory?
I’ve recently been thinking of a few principles related to this advice:
Do the hard work of preparation. Most people fail here first… but they don’t know that they have. They think they’re prepared by giving the work a wave, or they let less important things press in on their time and get busy with work that doesn’t matter. Diligence pays dividends. I think this is the most shocking reality for young leaders and youth workers: How much preparation is necessary for excellence and moving beyond mediocre. High schools and colleges are full of mediocrity and students working to ‘fit in’ to a middle. The middle doesn’t amaze, delight, or challenge. It’s the norm.
I recently spoke at a youth conference and went on stage before the first session to see the hosts of the weekend rehearsing their material over and over. It’s no wonder that they were a hit with the students: The costumes, humor, and poignant moments were all very effective. It’s also no wonder that these two are very effective youth workers. They understand the diligence necessary for excellence.
2. Change people’s perspective. I watch a LOT of presentations each year. Most of the time, we just report back material the audience has either read, are familiar with, or know intuitively. People attend, or want to hear, something new, to see the world differently or be able to act in new ways because of their attendance at these teaching moments. When we get a chance to teach or lead, think uncoverage. What is something the audience hasn’t seen, thought of, or knew that needs uncovering so their lives or thinking will be better? THAT is what to focus on. As we study, how can we help people to see, think, or act in new ways?
3. Touch people’s hearts. Most of us love to watch movies, to read books that elicit an emotional response, and we watch sports to experience the thrills and heartaches of athletic competition. Why is so much of our teaching inert in comparison and absent of such elements? This is more than just showing a YouTube video and then talking for 30 minutes. (Please, can we Touching hearts means we connect with the imagination of our audience. You have to! There is no other way to amaze, delight, or challenge.
I know that a lot of us have been working to improve in these areas. What have you changed? What’s worked well? What did you risk, didn’t go so well, but was still worth doing because you learned so much?
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