Commitment follow-up
A few weeks after a workshop: whether the commitments people made in the room turned into action.
Worth a look
- The first 20 hours: how to learn anythingJosh Kaufman, TEDxCSUYou don't need 10,000 hours to get decent at something. About 20 focused ones, and he learns the ukulele on stage to prove it. (opens in a new tab)
- The Expert MythVeritasiumThe four things real expertise needs, including fast feedback and practice just past your comfort zone. A good test for any course you just took. (opens in a new tab)
- Brain Hack: 6 secrets to learning faster, backed by neuroscienceLila Landowski, TEDxHobartA neuroscientist's six habits that help new things stick, most of which cost nothing. (opens in a new tab)
- Learning how to learnBarbara Oakley, TEDxOaklandUniversityAn engineering professor who flunked maths as a kid on focused versus wandering thinking, and why stepping away is part of learning. (opens in a new tab)
- Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjectsBarbara Oakley & Terrence Sejnowski, CourseraThe free course behind that talk: short lessons on memory, procrastination and practice. (opens in a new tab)
More (2)
- How to get better at the things you care aboutEduardo Briceño, TEDWhy working hard isn't the same as getting better: the learning zone versus the performance zone. (opens in a new tab)
- Keep your goals to yourselfDerek Sivers, TEDThree minutes on why announcing a plan can feel so good you never do it. Worth knowing before you tell anyone your next step. (opens in a new tab)
The conviction read: on the last day, everyone says they will follow through. The slow, hedged answers on 'made real progress' a few weeks later show how many are fading, while there is still time for a nudge.
What's in the template
- I remember what I committed to doing. puck
- I've made real progress on that commitment. puck
- I've used something from the session in my work. puck
- My usual week has left room to act on it. puck
- Someone has checked in with me about it. puck
- A short refresher would help me follow through. puck
Questions about this template
How long after the workshop should I send it?
Long enough for the usual week to crowd things out, often a few weeks. Too soon and everyone still carries the energy of the room; too late and there is no time left for a nudge to help.
What if 'Someone has checked in with me about it' lands low?
That is the easiest gap to close. Set up a check-in from the facilitator, a manager or a peer partner, then Duplicate your copy and send it later to see whether the answers on progress have moved.