The LTE model’s simplicity and practicality have empowered our frontline managers to elevate their communication skills meaningfully
Jack Barresi - Learning & Development Lead, McColl’s Transport
Nearly 20 years of research has revealed an abundant, holistic truth about work conversations. They all possess the same 3-part structure that I now call Learn Teach Explore.
Learn, Teach and Explore are the names of each essential phase in a work-related conversation - regardless of the subject.
Learn LTE and you will be a better conversationalist with any person on any work-related subject.
These three words have been carefully tested and chosen to act as ‘framing words’ to instantly allow you to access the communications skills you already possess - e.g. active listening, effective questioning, suggesting, explaining.
In other words, LTE is predicated on the truthful idea that you already have the capacity to be a great conversationalist.
The workshop/coaching experience is therefore a wholly positive and nurturing one. There is none of the normal ‘breaking you down and building you back up again’. You’re already built!
Learn
The LEARN phase, being interested in another, builds a genuine connection. Then - and only then - is it a smart, safe and effective move to TEACH the other person by expressing your point of view or what you would like them to know. We call this phase teach because that’s what good statement-making is - teaching.
Teach
The LEARN phase, being interested in another person, builds a genuine connection. Then - and only then - is it a smart, safe and effective move to TEACH the other person by expressing your point of view or what you would like them to know. We call this phase teach because that’s what good statement-making is - teaching.
Explore
If Learn and Teach are handled well, both parties are more likely to feel considered and valued. Enter EXPLORE: working together to create, resolve, agree or negotiate something. The mistake we can make is to believe we can start conversations that way - and then we wonder why it doesn’t have a satisfactory ending. In other words, what we know about this final conversation phase is that it must be earned.
More about Learn Teach Explore as framing words
Telling yourself to be and do a framing word is a very helpful technique. For example, if you work in a customer-facing role, telling yourself to be and do ‘Help’, has been shown to really assist in accessing the style of behaviour and communication customers love. With the 3 generic phases of any work conversation…
Putting the word Learn in your head allows you to asking better questions and listen with genuine curiosity.
Putting the word Teach in your head before you speak allows you to uses statements to explain or suggest with empathy and clarity.
Putting the word Explore in your head assists you to truly connect and ‘riff’ with the other person connectedly and strategically.