Giving a lunch time brown bag talk has always been a challenge for me. You are fighting for the attention between hunger and the need to create some forms of impact in the minds of the learners in a very short time.
When my coaching programme classmate and friend, Dr Victor Goh (CEO, SCALA and CLO, YCH) asked me to give a brown bag on “Fostering a Growth Mindset” last year to staff of YCH, I was initially pausing to think about the possible risks and consequences of not doing well in the session.
However, within less than 1 second and like every challenge that presents itself in my life, I embrace it with all my heart and mind. I said yes to him.
I can’t really explain why I often behave this way. When people would run away from challenges, I feel a great sense of excitement towards the unknown and would be attracted towards challenges instead. This mysterious feel about challenges always intrigue me and a great deal.
When I was still in a job, this character of being attracted to challenges and having a larger dose of willingness to take risk to explore and experiment was often being seen as “not being focused” or “reckless” by peers and bosses. In rare occasion, my boss would ask me to be more adventurous. In most cases, I would be told to just be less courageous in challenging the status quo or just be “like the rest”. As once a NS key appointment holder with the Singapore Police Force, I am still like most policeman, action biased.
After more than 24 years, I reckon I have to believe in my “way” and just try. Lucky for me, I also have many friends like Dr Victor who supported me in my so-called “reckless” adventure over 2022.
Combining the science of teaching and learning through play and having perfected my art of teaching for more than a decade, I pulled off a fun and engaging session on linking LEGO(R) Six Bricks play activities to the importance of a growth mindset to the learners.
The result?
A group of fully engaged lunch time learners.
You never try, you never know.
You can only fail when you decide to stop experimenting and learning.
The coddiwompling experience continues …
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