It's a common practice, but it's also a way to disengage our learners from the start.
"Hello, my name is Linda and I am a licensed .... I have a degree in .... I'm also involved in....."
Giving our credentials up front sets an undesirable tone
It's supposed to establish our credibility; to help people see that we know what we are talking about. But for most learners, it sets a different tone.
What they really hear is "Hello, my name is Linda and I am smarter than you. I have more credentials than you, and I am recognized by professional organizations that have not recognized you."
The Academic Model will shut down any potential for interaction or involvement
It immediately places our learners back into the Academic Model they experienced in college. You know, the one where the Smart Professor is at the front of the class and will now impart to you his wisdom. So just listen and take notes.
Setting ourselves up as the "Smart Expert" is a sure fire way to get people to disengage. Why? Because it is dishonoring. By listing all of our accomplishments and credentials at the beginning of our interaction, we are subconsciously belittling every other colleague in the room.
But our credentials really are amazing
Perhaps we do have good credentials; better than most. That's great. The problem with listing them in an introduction is that it makes our learners feel inferior. They are certain not to interject their ideas and opinions because we've just told them that our education and career tops theirs. They understand that the possibility of not knowing a term or understanding the content is pretty high, and they don't want to be embarrassed. So they will steer shy of answering any questions or entering into any discussions.
Maybe our credentials are not as great as we think
On the other hand, what if our credentials are less hefty than some in the room? Well, those professionals soon decide that they know more than us and, therefore, they couldn't possibly learn a thing. So they check their phone or write their "to do" list and redeem the time. Now we've lost them all; those with better credentials and those with less.
Leave them wanting
So what is the solution? Next time you start your training, course, or presentation, just simply state your name and then get to work. Involve your participants immediately. Let the merit of your work be your credentials. Let participants evaluate you not on the degrees you carry but on the effectiveness of the activities and discussions you design and deliver.
If you do it well, your participants will start wondering, "Who is this guy"? They'll naturally be inquisitive about you because you've won their trust. You can then finish by stating your credentials, if you like, and where they can find you.
Honor the professionals you serve
Honoring the professionals we serve comes in many forms. It starts by honoring their experience and credentials and showing them that we have just as much to learn from them as they do from us. Making sure that we start off on an equal playing field is a good strategy when it comes to first impressions. It also sets an atmosphere for learning and productive training.
Flight Level Training Solutions is dedicated to honoring the professionals we serve. We believe that the best learning and training happens when we all pool our knowledge and wisdom and share work experiences to find solutions. We can help you create activities and discussions for your training or teach you how to design your own using Solomon's Facilitative Model™.