Tony Robbins produced a series of reality TV shows that were broadcast during the summer of 2010.  There were six episodes but only two were broadcast on TV with the remaining four episodes available online. Search YouTube and you’ll find clips of some of the episodes.

The series was called “Breakthrough with Tony Robbins” and the reviews were not so great and the viewer numbers were not high enough for NBC so the show went to the web.

In each episode, Tony integrated experiential learning.  Each episode actually revolved around the experiential learning opportunities.

In an interview, Robbins explains why experiential learning is so powerful…

“But if I can get you to experience something you think is impossible that destroys the old belief system, because the belief system is a weak substitute for life experience. I can believe what it’s like to be in China but if I can go to China I have an experience.”

“And so what I try to do here with all these people is give them some experiences that cause them to see what they thought was impossible is possible, create that opening and to get them to act on that moment to do something to kind of lock it in place.”

I’m a big believer in experiential learning and I teach experientially every chance I get – – with the groups I serve, with my one-on-one coaching clients, and with my children.

By teaching experientially we help the student experience the learning at a deep level.  Experiential learning engages the mind and the HEART.  People move beyond “beliefs” to a deep “knowing”.

The job of the Teamwork Facilitator (coach, manager, supervisor, executive, parent) is to create opportunities for growth and expansion.  Our job is to help people remember who they are and what they are truly capable of:  GREATNESS.  Teaching experientially helps people get their faster and in a way that sticks.

My good friend Brian Biro is known as “America’s Breakthrough Coach” and many of his presentations involve a board breaking experience. I’ve participated in a couple of Brian’s presentations and I’ve assisted him. The breaking of a board isn’t just about the act of breaking a board. Instead, there is work that Brian leads the audience through which results in the board representing barriers that keep someone from moving forward in life. Not only that, the participant identifies what is on the other side of the breakthrough – – what is it that is pulling them to a new and better reality?

Here is a brief example of what one of Brian’s breakthrough experiences looks like. Notice the energy and engagement in the audience. There is no way to get this level engagement if people are sitting in their seats watching a PowerPoint presentation on “breakthroughs”. You get to this level with an experience.