Words Matter
Words are powerful. Words communicate meaning and relay our feelings and needs to others. The words we choose can greatly change the nuance of our message. While some words have synonyms, there can be a meaningful difference. For example, is your commute home from work busy? Frantic? Chaotic? Demanding? Tiring? Or Hectic? You may choose to describe it more calmly but there are another multitude of words to paint that picture.
I’m a big fan of Robin Williams’ description of using poetic language in the Dead Poets Society. If you’ve never seen the movie, I highly recommend it. Here is the clip.
This post isn’t about poetry though. It’s about word choice. Specifically, verbs. Verbs within our behavioral objectives. Not quite poetry but for some, it can be music to the ears to have the clarity and specificity needed to target in on a well defined action. For me, using the right word to describe the action someone performs sets the stage for the entire behavior. Consider these behavioral objectives.
Recommend locations for new facilities.
Analyze locations for new facilities.
Review locations for new facilities.
Plan locations for new facilities.
Survey locations for new facilities.
You’ll see they are obviously very similar with an exception of the first word. The verb. That single word drastically changes what the person is attempting to accomplish. Even though they may seem similar, there is a tremendous difference between Analyze and Review. Analyze defines as, “To examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, esp. information), typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation.” Review defines as, “Examine or assess (something) formally with the possibility or intention of instituting change if necessary.”
To create a training program with an objective of, “Analyze locations for new facilities”, you’d want to look at the various objective measurements the locations offer and then determining how to compare and contrast them using more objective and possibly mathematical models. For example, you may be considering traffic patterns around the location sites. You can measure the number of cars during different hours of the day and days of the week. You may consider different weather patterns or even tax structures of the different county or states.
To create a training program with an objective of, “Review locations for new facilities” paints more of a picture of physically visiting each site. It may include more subjective measurements such as customer sentiments in each area. For a worksite, we may consider how we feel at each location and how employees may feel working there.
Blooms Taxonomy
If you haven’t had the pleasure of reviewing the work of Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues in writing, “Taxonomy of Educational Objectives”, I highly recommend it. For those of you who haven’t, he created a structure (taxonomy) of the levels of cognitive challenge we have when performing various tasks. For example, it’s easier to memorize a list of ingredients and recite it than it is to create an entirely new recipe. There are other volumes focusing on the psychomotor and the affective domains but here I’ll focus on the cognitive.
Level 1-Remembering
Level 2-Understanding
Level 3-Applying
Level 4-Analyzing
Level 5-Evaluating
Level 6-Creating
I’ve accumulated a list of verbs complete with definitions which align with these various levels. When reviewing a task with an expert, I take some time to consider what verb best describes what the person is actually doing. I’ll share the list with the expert and it helps to filter the list to the appropriate Bloom’s Level. This way an expert only looks through a portion of the list rather than the whole thing. You can see this list in my book, “Training on Bedrock”.
Take the time. It may take a few extra minutes or maybe a few reviews but it’s worth it. It can save you from diving down the wrong path.