People Learn Best When They Get to Do the Work

This past weekend, I earned my United States Parachute Association Coach rating. It allows me to teach newer jumpers the skills they need to continue progressing safely in the sport.

The course was a great learning experience, both from a train-the-trainer perspective as well as a good reminder that coaching isn't a platform to show off what you know.

In skydiving and in leadership, adults don’t learn by being lectured at. They learn by doing.

People don't build confidence because you gave them a longer explanation or a better slide deck. They build it by stepping into a real experience and realizing they can actually handle the pressure of the challenge.

As a leader, your goal shouldn’t be to be the smartest person in the room.

Your job is to create an environment where your people can practice, maybe stumble a bit, and eventually trust themselves to get the job done. When you do that, you’re not only helping them get to the next level, you’re also creating an environment for more ownership, more confidence, and stronger performance.