TRAINING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Unique, accessible, practical and useful are words commonly used to describe Cal Crow’s training. Rather than using a prepared, off-the-shelf curriculum, he customizes each event to meet the specific needs of the organization requesting it.

The uniqueness of Cal’s work is reflected in at least three ways.

1. He creates “heart and soul” learning experiences, which are much more likely to result in desired behavior change than content oriented training.
   He consistently addresses the emotional impact of his work and the meaning it brings. In addition to making sure that people understand a concept, he also wants to know what feelings are being generated and the meaning it conveys.
   
   
2. He draws from many disciplines and theoretical frameworks when designing training. Participants are likely to encounter elements from learning, motivation, and communication theories; chaos and complexity theories; counseling and career development theories; positive psychology; and self-efficacy. For example, if a customer requests a workshop that links conflict resolution to learning styles and higher order thinking skills, he can provide it.
   
   
3. He helps people reframe issues, increasing the number of options they have for addressing them. For example, workshops on No Child Left Behind and state learning standards almost invariably center on raising test scores. However, reframing the issue to one of improving learning for all students creates a different and more productive experience for everyone. Similar things happen when welfare reform training is framed as helping people develop a work identity, rather than on ways to get them into the workplace.

Cal’s work is accessible because he relates it to the lives of individuals he is working with, making even complex issues more understandable. A typical comment:

“I’ve attended many workshops on this topic, but this is the first time I’ve really understood it. Why aren’t all workshops like this?”

Practicality and usefulness come from his experiences in schools, colleges and universities, jails and prisons, psychiatric hospitals, welfare systems, workforce development agencies; non-profit organizations; and the private sector.

“I’ve been going to staff development workshops for twenty-six years. This is by far the most useful I’ve ever attended! I can apply this tomorrow!”

“I can’t tell you how many luncheon speeches I have heard over the years. Your presentation today was one of the most interesting and practical that I have heard in a long time.”

Cal’s philosophy is simple (hence the accessibility). He believes that everyone wants to be successful and that focusing on success will generate more of it. The process he has developed is also simple, although he finds few people using it:

• Help people identify their strengths, skills, and talents (SSTs),
• Help people describe their interests (and how they developed),
• Help people articulate their dreams/visions for a successful future,
• Continually use this information during interactions with them, whether teaching, counseling, training, consulting, or through rehabilitation.

Cal believes that effective education, training and consultation

• Focuses more on growth, change and advancement, than on ‘what we did today.’
• Helps others identify and maximize their strengths, skills and talents.
• Helps individuals acquire learner, worker and success identities.
• Spends more time on communication and reflection than on dispensing information.
• Consistently creates situations requiring the use of higher order thinking skills.
• Includes positive psychology principles and practices.
• Reflects current research about learning, motivation, systems thinking and preparing for success in a changing world.
• Emphasizes learning and application as much as content and delivery.

Dr. Crow has taught, consulted, conducted training, made presentations, and facilitated group activities in forty-three states and territories, the District of Columbia, and Canada on a variety of topics: