After 26 years as a full-time trainer, I have come to realise something: I may be the trainer standing in front of the room, but I am often the one who learns the most.
Since 2001, I have had the privilege of meeting people from different organisations, industries, cultures and walks of life.
Some came willingly. Some were sent by their bosses. Some arrived looking tired, stressed or wondering whether the course would be worth their time.
Yet, by the end of many sessions, we had laughed together, shared experiences and discovered something meaningful about ourselves.
Looking back, I am deeply grateful.
Not just for the opportunity to teach, but for the people who have made these 26 years so memorable.
## 1. Having Fun Is My First Priority
At the beginning of my training, I often tell participants:
"The most important thing today is to have fun!"
Some look surprised. After all, aren't we supposed to be serious about learning?
But I believe people learn better when they feel relaxed, comfortable and happy.
When we laugh together, barriers begin to disappear. Strangers become friends. People become more willing to speak, ask questions and share their experiences.
And I must confess something: I probably enjoy the training as much as, if not more than, my participants!
Thank you for laughing at my jokes, including those that perhaps weren't very funny!
2. I Don't Want You to Remember Everything I Teach
Over the years, I have become less interested in how much information I can deliver. Instead, I ask myself:
"What are the few things that can genuinely make a difference in their lives?"
I would rather participants remember three useful ideas and apply one of them than remember 30 concepts and apply none.
Some of the most rewarding moments come when former participants tell me that something they learned helped them handle a difficult customer, manage a colleague or make a better decision.
Those moments mean more to me than applause.
Thank you for turning my teaching into something useful.
3. Every Audience Has Taught Me Something
No two training groups are exactly alike.
A manager in a government agency faces different challenges from a salesperson, an entrepreneur or a frontline service employee.
That is why I try to understand participants' situations and adapt my training accordingly.
But something wonderful happens in the process.
While I am trying to understand their world, they are also expanding mine.
Their questions challenge my assumptions. Their experiences give me new examples.
Their different perspectives help me become a better trainer.
Many of the insights I share today came not from textbooks, but from conversations with participants over the years.
Thank you for being my teachers, too.
4. Why I Bring Songs and Funny Videos Into My Training
Anyone who has attended my training knows that I love using songs, funny videos and stories.
Some people may wonder what music has to do with leadership, service excellence or business strategy.
To me, quite a lot!
A song can express an emotion that ten PowerPoint slides cannot.
A funny video can reveal a management problem without making anyone feel criticised.
A familiar story can help us understand a difficult concept in a surprisingly simple way.
And sometimes, years later, participants may forget my slides but still remember the song or story.
Learning should not only enter our minds. It should touch our hearts.
Thank you for singing, laughing and occasionally putting up with my unusual training methods!
5. The Most Important Learning Happens When We Reflect
During my training, I often invite participants to reflect on their own experiences.
- What have you been doing well?
- What could you do differently?
- What is one thing you can change tomorrow?
I don't expect everyone to agree with me. In fact, I welcome different opinions.
Because training should not be about making everyone think like the trainer.
It should help people discover how to think better for themselves.
Sometimes, a quiet moment of reflection can be more powerful than an hour of explanation.
Thank you for your openness, honesty and courage to look within yourselves.
What 26 Years Have Taught Me About Love Intelligence
Today, I can see how my training philosophy reflects the three principles of Love Intelligence (LQ), which I now advocate.
**Care:** Respect participants' time, needs, experiences and feelings.
**Courage:** Encourage people to question assumptions, speak honestly and do what is right.
**Connection:** Bring people together through humour, music, stories and meaningful conversations.
I did not begin my training career with this framework fully developed.
It grew through years of working with people, making mistakes, learning and reflecting.
And many of you helped shape it, perhaps without even knowing.
My Heartfelt Thank You
To everyone who has attended my training over these 26 years:
Thank you for giving me your time.
Thank you for your laughter, questions and participation.
Thank you for challenging me when you disagreed.
Thank you for sharing your stories, including some deeply personal ones.
Thank you for the encouragement, feedback and friendships that have stayed with me long after the courses ended.
And to those who came reluctantly but eventually enjoyed themselves, thank you for giving me a chance!
As I grow older, I have become even more convinced that training is not merely about transferring knowledge.
**It is about one human being connecting with another.**
AI can generate slides, explain theories and answer questions faster than I can.
But the joy of laughing together, the warmth of a shared experience and the courage to make a personal change remind me why I still love standing in front of an audience.
After 26 years, I have no intention of stopping.
I still want to learn, laugh, sing, share and grow alongside you.
Because my greatest reward as a trainer is not how much I have taught, but how much we have grown together.
And if you have ever attended one of my sessions, I hope you will remember not just what I taught, but how we felt learning together.
You were never just my audience. You have been part of my life's journey.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
**Andy Ng 吴林朔**
Trainer, Consultant & Coach since 2001
Author ofLove Intelligence (LQ)
Financial Governance & Strategy Advisor
*Learning should be enjoyable. Knowledge should be useful. And every human connection should leave us a little richer.*
Comments
Post a Comment