Training Vs. Facilitation – What’s the Difference?

Training wheels.

We’ve all had them at one point in our lives. They keep us upright while we learn to pedal on and move forward.

But what happens when we take them off?

We lose our balance. We fall, and we end up with a couple of nicks and bruises to show for it.

Don’t get me wrong, training wheels are great. They serve the purpose of maintaining some sort of balance and making sure we don’t hurt ourselves, and sometimes that’s necessary. But in the long run, you eventually take the wheels off and let it ride.

In much of the same way, training can feel like stepping back in time and jumping on that bike for the first time. You might feel wobbly and out of control. But you know what? That’s ok. To learn something new one has to be willing to step back, be open to new ideas, and yes, even fall on occasion. Having a trusted partner to guide you on this journey is critical though. That’s where facilitation comes in.

The Norton Norris Approach

At Nn we strive to facilitate learning vs. teaching AT people. We want each and every individual in our class to learn and embrace the content through their own lens. Because — and let’s be real here — if we crammed it down your throat, you wouldn’t follow it anyway.

This methodology allows us to connect with people on a much deeper level. Instead of scratching the surface with the terms, concepts, and best practices on a bunch of PowerPoint slides — we engage you, and we actually want to know YOUR opinion too.

In our mind, this is what separates a Trainer from a Facilitator. Anyone can spew facts & information at you, but it takes a special person to form relationships, bonds, and connections with others, especially adult learners.

Learning something new can be scary, but a facilitator can guide you with training wheels and then pull them off in a matter of days so you can reach new heights you never imagined possible. Yes, we’ve had people get emotional. Some have cried. Others have said the experience was “Life Changing.”

Are you ready to take a step back to go forward?