Trainer Tip Tuesday - Never Underestimate the Value of a Cup of Coffee

In the past, our Trainer Tip Tuesdays (T3) have centered around training and instructional design - going forward we are going to focus more on personal development and personal growth. To start this new T3 off, let's talk about something that happens to all of us at one point or another - Having a cup of coffee with someone.

So much of our interactions are taken for granted and we miss opportunities not taken because we fail to realize the value of a cup of coffee. During the interaction and discussion that occurs while we are sipping on our hot beverage, our guards are down, as are those of our coffee companion. Having a cup of coffee creates a relatively intimate setting, where a conversation can take place. As we said earlier, during our imbibing of that slow-roasted libation advice can be given, stories shared, or even relationships built. All of this, over an unassuming cup of coffee. Of course, there are several practices when it comes to having a cup of coffee with someone, how do you invite someone, do you pay for it, do they pay for it, do you pay for yourselves? AAH! What do we do?! In our experience, when it comes to wanting to have a cup of Joe with someone, the most approachable avenue is to ask them to get a cup of coffee with you. Not offer to buy them a cup of coffee right out.

By inviting them to have coffee with you, there is no stress to your companion, and you can enter into conversation as equals. Everyone is relaxed and free to engage in conversation at their leisure.

Offering to buy someone a cup of coffee can create a social contract that people may not be okay with entering into, wherein you are paying for their services or time with a cup of coffee, and it can be rather off-putting. This can create awkward conversations and may impact any potential for information sharing in the future.

There is a caveat to all of this though; we have only talked about the invitation to have coffee. But as you are standing in line, ordering your "Skinny Mocha Latte Half-Caff with no foam and adding Whip" (or whatever coffee we're drinking these days), and your coffee companion is ordering coffee too, PICK UP THE TAB AND PAY FOR THEIR COFFEE. Here you can thank them for joining you since you are the one to have invited them. This will give you an opening because it demonstrates your desire to build a relationship with them, and allows them to remain casual with you instead of adhering to some purchased social construct. It sounds wild, I know. But after many years of using this approach, it has proven to be quite effective. Look at it this way; think of the insight or information you will gain from your interaction with them over a cup of coffee. For a few dollars, you may learn something revolutionary, groundbreaking, or so impacting it forces you to revisit your passions. Everything has value. The cost of a cup of coffee, whether it costs eighty-five cents or fifty dollars, the value of what you can gain from a conversation with someone over a cup of coffee is priceless. It doesn't have to be coffee, it can be a beer, glass of wine, or a meal. But it all starts with something as simple as a cup of coffee.

Keep learning, observe everything, ask questions relentlessly, and make learning matter. Thank you, GC.

Crossroad Learning is here when you need us. Next time on Trainer Tip Tuesday, we will talk about the differences between teaching and training. Stay tuned... #crossroadlearning #trainertiptuesday #makelearningmatter #cupofcoffee #conversation #itstarts #learningispassion #passionislearning #everythinghasvalue #costofacupofcoffee #coffee #trainerlife