We have a wonderful opportunity as a Tribe to change our culture by doing what may be antithetical to what should be expected. Despite the call for Social Distancing and Shelter-In-Place orders because of COVID-19, we can use the moment to improve our communications and grow closer together even with the need for physical distancing.
Socially we have many tools available to be closer than before. By using Facebook, Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting, and Microsoft Teams, we have the time to re-group and reach out to members of the Tribe who have similar goals and infinite mindsets in rider’s education. The use of video teleconferencing to share coaching and facilitation information is creating a new paradigm shift to share better information. The weekly Motorcycle Safety Foundation© vRETS © and RiderChoices© Tribe Talks© are great examples of exploiting a bad situation to create more opportunities for positive rider outcomes. Having a large number of training sites taking a pause to ensure the safety of students allows us to examine at our processes, evaluate our techniques, and, most importantly, share the findings with our intrinsic Tribe.
The change in our known systems delaying our typical work practices has allowed the time to ask questions and research our professional needs through analyzing approaches. If we, as a Tribe, can improve the system, moving it to be better at sharing important information with our students, the efforts are beyond worth it. This type of “action” research must be accomplished methodically and to be productive, requires good documentation of the changes and not deviating from the essential structure that keeps the learning meaningful. Our Tribe has done a great job with challenges in the past, it is now even more important to do well in the current environment.
Systems do not like disruption, but necessary change can bring about surges in improvements. Let us continue to grow as a tribe, share the knowledge that enhances our student outcomes, be present in our own learning, and reflective in taking advantage of so many great opportunities.
