Are you a Gavin or a Gordon? The Secret of Growth
How often have you left a Professional Development Day, Masterclass, or completed a topic feeling inspired, only to find that, days later, nothing has really changed? This is quite common.
Insights alone are not enough to create change. People absorb insights, take notes, and agree with new ideas, but when it comes to applying them in real life, the moment passes.
Putting those insights into practice in a safe environment is just as valuable as the insights themselves.
Learning doesn’t stick without practice. We need to experiment with insights. To try and fail, fast. To reflect, understand and build on our progress. To try again. Whether it’s having a difficult conversation, or building leadership habits, lasting change comes through doing, not just knowing.
— Marcus Tullius Cicero
The tale of two village managers
Meet Gavin and Gordon.
Both have joined the DCM Institute Professional Development program and are enthusiastic about it. They attend all the Professional Development days, participate in quarterly Masterclasses, and work through the monthly topics. They both really enjoy the events and take notes. That said, only Gavin notices a difference in his community and in the way he works.
Let’s explore what Gavin did differently.
Learning is not just about noting content in your Learning Journals. It is about the discipline of consciously applying that content to your workplace situation.
We all know that athletes practice skills and drills every week, sometimes daily. This creates muscle memory so that, during important games, they can perform at their best, under pressure, in front of fans. As Lisa McInnes-Smith pointed out at last year’s Village Summit event in her keynote on being a high performer: “No train, no pain, no gain.”
The same applies to professional skills. Professionals like Gavin learn by doing—in a safe environment—before using those skills in real-world situations with his residents.
Learning by doing helps build confidence, capability, and forms (good) habits.
Now, back to Gavin and Gordon’s Story
Gavin and Gordon both register to attend a Masterclass. They both show up on time, listen attentively to the presentation, and take notes. The presenter mentions a breakout room, where they’ll practice one aspect discussed in the session.
Gavin feels nervous but knows these skills could have a huge impact on the residents in his community. Summoning his courage, he decides to participate in the breakout room activity. He learns not only from the breakout session but also from the debrief conversation that follows.
Gordon, on the other hand, also feels nervous but believes he can practice on his own later that afternoon, so he decides to skip the breakout room and leave the Masterclass early.
A few weeks later, Gordon hasn’t had a chance to practice on his own and has fallen back into his old habits.
Meanwhile, Gavin has been using the skills and ideas he practiced in the breakout room, and he’s starting to notice a positive change in his interactions with residents.
So, What Happened?
Gavin and Gordon are still the same people. The main difference? Gavin actively practiced the skills in a safe environment before the moment passed.
Learning from Professional Development days, Masterclasses, and monthly topics sticks when you actively use the skills and knowledge being taught.
When you practice in a safe environment — whether during a Professional Development Day, Masterclass, or a similar setting — it doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to happen, and continue happening, to help embed new skills and knowledge into your day-to-day work.
So, Which Are You? Are you a Gavin or a Gordon?
Our next professional development event with a practice session—is our July/August Professional Development Days. So don’t just collect insights. Use them right there in the room. Say yes to practicing, especially if you feel nervous or uncomfortable. That’s exactly what practice is for.
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