Running Fast Into the Dark

This morning was a very good run. The morning run after trick or treat is always dicey because

a. I've probably consumed too much sugar that I swiped from my kids' bags, and
b. I've had to unwind from herding hyper kids throughout the neighborhood with a couple of cold adult beverages.

This morning started pretty smoothly though and as I started to loosen up and get into my stride, I started to notice how dark it was. It seemed like there was very little moonlight this morning and as my dogs dragged me along our course I started thinking about how badly injured I could become running in the dark. The dogs have only two speeds: stop and fast and I started getting nervous about my potential to lose my footing. I also started contemplating how often training and development feels like wandering through the dark.

We often get approached with an "opportunity" or an "issue" or (my favorite) a "mission critical" need for training. There is usually an expectation that we take off at full speed into that space and start developing immediately. I'm all about responding to the needs of the business and will often (guilty as charged) start thinking about a brilliant training solution before I've researched the problem.

But, just like my morning run, I have some infrastructure that keeps me on course and makes for a quality outing.

1. I always stop to stretch. Stretching after a half mile or so allows me to loosen up the muscles once they've gotten warm and keeps me injury free. Likewise, when provided an opportunity to bring a training solution to my client, I usually let my creativity run a bit and then rein it in to consider the situation and look at other solutions that that would be more effective.
2. I usually run in the same general area. I prefer running on the street or on sidewalk. I have a history of ankle injuries so protect them at all costs. Because I run on the same streets and go pretty much the same way every time, my dogs are used to the course and are able to lead pretty effectively. By having a consistent process by which we analyze a situation, design solutions, develop using templates and evaluate coursework, our training team can navigate the muddy waters of operations training and keep on course with sound designs and solutions.
3. I pay attention to the signs my body is sending me. Is that a knee twinge? Is my calf tightening up? Why is the bottom of my foot hurting? Being in tune with those signals allows me to make adjustments along the way and complete a workout. Maybe not as fast or as far as I had planned, but mostly injury free. Training projects also have signs for how things are progressing. Your analysis uncovers mitigating factors, your clients give you feedback on the design, and your target population informs the implementation plan. Pay attention to those signs and respond accordingly and you'll keep the project on track.

Running is a microcosm of life; I find metaphor in running for the things I do everyday. If work is supposed to be like play then why shouldn't it have comparison in the things we do for fun? Yet even in the things we do for fun we have routines and processes that keep it fun and rewarding. What are things you do in your role that keep your training programs on track and make them rewarding for your organization?