I'm assisting a Coaches Training Institute class. This means that I spend a little time doing set up and check ins, and then for the most part, just hang out and watch the class, and be on call in case the instructors need anything. Easy enough job :)

The coolest thing was observing the class. I was worried before I got here that I might be nodding off, given that I'd be watching without actually being involved in the class. But as instructed, I paid a lot of attention to the Level 3* of the room, and it was fascinating!

It was easy to pick out what levels of listening of a lot of people in the group. Whether someone was leaning in, relaxing, furrowing their brow, etc. And it was also easy to observe the Level 3 of the group as a whole. Sometimes someone would crack a joke and the whole lot of them would light up laughing, relaxed and smiling. Then one of the "trying to figure everything out in my head" people would speak up, and everyone else in the class would change to "thinker" posture.

I realized that this is a very unique experience, to get to directly observe a group of people, without having to be self conscious about doing so: they just assumed I should be there watching them, and were totally focused on their own experiences.

And they even thought I was an authority figure, several people asked me coaching related questions! Even more exciting, I was able to give them useful answers! I actually have the experience and knowledge to understand and explain what they were asking!

On the whole, this has been very good for my self esteem. I know this material. I can explain the questions that the newbies are asking, in detail. I feel good about my measuring to see how much of what I say is sinking in, knowing when to keep my mouth shut, and when to engage them by asking questions.

I think I was communicating in a way that conveyed about as much information as they could take, given how much other new information that they were already being overwhelmed by.

I was also intrigued by how my behavior changed given my position. I Gave inviting smiles to people as they shyly arrived at the door. I spoke and clapped much more loudly than I normally would. Thinking about this more, my behavior was heavily influenced by a sentence or two from the leaders. I can't recall now exactly what they said, but it was essentially, "help everyone feel warm and comfortable." That set the tone for the other assistant and I, and we held it.


* _{The atmosphere. How the crowd feels at a library v.s. a football stadium, as extreme examples.}