Joe Hays raises an interesting point about the first stage of development
that I described in my earlier note when I said that the supervisor's job
is to give precise directions, observe the execution, then give
constructive and helpful feedback.
The reality is more complex than that, and can take many different forms.
The form I decribed is the immersion method which is a credible method for
learning a new language. I learned to speak very proficient French by
living in an environment where no one spoke any language but French. The
disadvantage is that it is frustrating, exhausting, ambiguous, and for
some people, simply does not work. The advantage is that for most people
the pain is high, but the gain is extraordinary.
As in all aspects of situational leadership, it is important to tailor the
leadership to the needs of the developing person. Some people will not be
able to use the above method effectively, and then other approaches need
to be found. One other approach, highly favored by more academically
oriented people, is to have formal classes in which the theory and the
execution are described or actively learned by the students. This can be
accompanied by extensive readings, cases, and so forth. The advantage of
this approach is that students understand the context and the theory, but
at the end of the course they will know absolutely nothing about the
execution.
The reality is that we use both methods, sometimes beginning with the
practice, and some times beginning with the theory.
Needless to say, there are other approaches. We are working on some new
approaches that we think will bear fruit, but they are experimental.(!!)
This whole subject reminds me of a Geology book I once read on wave
theory. I believe the author was Bascom. In the introduction he
described his own wave theory course in which the class generated waves in
a wave tank, measured all the measurable things about waves, examined the
impact on bottom structure, developed elaborate theories linking cause and
effect, and so forth.
Since the class was feeling pretty good at the end of the course, the
professor wanted them to learn some humility so he took them to the beach.
There with a stiff on-shore wind, they watched row upon row of waves
coming in from several directions, break on the shore, bounce off the
headland, and crash on the rocks. After watching this organized chaos in
silence for quite some time, he said, "ok, you know all I can teach you
about the theory of waves. Tell me what is happening here." Of course,
everyone understood that he was showing them very dramatically the
unmeasurable gap between theory and reality, and yet at the same time
confirming that there was a connection.
-- Rol Fessenden LL Bean 76234.3636@compuserve.com