Sometimes a Bad Example Is a Very Good Teacher

One of the best things I learned in training was the negative skill model.

Sometimes watching someone do something badly teaches you more than watching an expert do it brilliantly. For example how about watching a salesperson go on and on (and on and on and on) about features without ever understanding what the client actually needs. Or a manager telling their team about what exactly needs to be done without first asking whether they have the capability, context or even understanding to do it.

Both are useful lessons. Because the negative skill model teaches twice.

First: It's a powerful reminder, Don’t ever do that.

And second it invites an interesting question: What would I do instead?

Ask before telling. Understand before explaining. Listen before solving.

And from the thousands of hours I have spent in training rooms and coaching conversations I have realized that we naturally notice things that irritate us in other people. AND that the trick is turning that irritation into learning.

So next time you find yourself thinking, “Why on earth are they doing that?”, don’t stop there.

Ask yourself: What exactly isn’t working? What effect is it having? and what will I deliberately do differently?

Sometimes a bad example is a very good teacher.