In an age of e-mail, texting, and social media communication, the power of a face-to-face meeting can go a long way.
One-on-one consultations are particularly valuable in situations where conflict or uncertainty exists or when you have had reports of or have observed areas of ineffectiveness in specific teachers.
Even telephone conversations lose a degree of effectiveness in these kinds of situations. Though a person’s tone of voice or inflections provide hints into what a person is feeling about your talk, you only hear the person’s voice and do not see the non-verbal communication.
About Training Through One-On-One Consultation
The consultation can be formal, in an office, or more informal, perhaps over a cup of coffee. Consultations are usually accomplished in one setting. On-going meetings would move it into more of a coaching or mentoring relationship.
During the consultation, you both share your observations and then you provide some tips or advice on what to do about it. Teachers can be encouraged to pick your brain. In a consultation, you are in the position of the one with more expertise. You will do well to come prepared with referrals or recommendations for further training (i.e., a book, course, article, etc.).
In addition to this information about using consultations for teacher training, you’ll also find an acrostic with the kinds of TIPS you can give your teachers in this setting in the Teacher Training Module included in the Christian Education Files resource. It also looks at 22 additional means of training Bible teachers. (The Teacher Training Module can be purchased separately.)