Are you up for the challenge of learning?

"The shoe is on the other foot" is a good expression as I go from:

• being in the business of "facilitating learning" as I did for over 20 years, overseeing and creating dozens of educational or training programs across many industries -  telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, pharmaceutical, human rights and higher education; to
• being a "student" of ballroom dancing, and a beginner at that.
  

Teachers and students alike struggle to teach and learn
Learning  something new is a serious challenge that is greatly enjoyed when there is a high degree of rapport, confidence and/or connection between the teacher and the student (or between therapist/patient; coach/client).  And when there is a stylistic approach that clicks. These relationships take a bit of time, a bit of give and take and a sense of general goodwill on both sides.

My teacher and I both expressed impatience with one another at this week's cha cha lesson. I kept bending the wrong leg as I shifted my weight, and I couldn't master the sexy hip/pelvis swing in the rock step. Fortunately, I got the hip action in the cha cha cha steps. 

• I learn by doing and by fixing my mistakes over and over again; but my teacher teaches by explaining over and over again.
  
  

If I look at my best learning experiences - those where I really enjoyed learning and progressed - I would say both the teacher and I recognized our respective strengths and weaknesses. In other words, the obligation was not solely on the teacher to teach how the student best learns -- but for the student to learn from how the teacher best teaches.

So it is with all this in mind I will strive to become my teacher's best student while I believe he will strive to teach me the best way he knows how.

Keep teaching and learning,
Coach Minda