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Hey there!

Several years ago, I sat in a beautifully designed training room.

New workbook. A fresh pen with a cool logo. A facilitator who clearly knew their stuff.

I left energized. Motivated. Certain I would do things differently on Monday.

And then Monday came.

My calendar filled up. Old habits showed up early and often. The training binder landed on a shelf, right where good intentions go to rest.

Nothing about my behavior had actually changed.

That moment stuck with me, not because the training was bad, but because it revealed something uncomfortable and important.

Training Teaches. Practice Transforms.

Training is essential.

It introduces new language.

It builds awareness.

It teaches skills.

But training alone rarely changes behavior.

Behavior changes through repetition. Through friction. Through trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again.

James Clear says it simply, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Training is the goal. Practice is the system.

Without practice, even the best training stays theoretical.

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What I See Inside Organizations

I see this pattern constantly.

Leaders attend communication training, then default back to email when a hard conversation is needed.

Managers learn coaching models, then jump straight to solving instead of asking questions.

Teams train on feedback, then avoid it when things get uncomfortable.

It is not a motivation problem.

It is not a capability problem.

It is a practice problem.

Dr. Wendy Wood’s research on habits reinforces this. Nearly half of our daily behavior is automatic. That means behavior change does not come from knowing better. It comes from practicing differently until the new behavior becomes the default.

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What Actually Moves the Needle

The organizations that see real change do a few things consistently.

They treat training as the starting line, not the finish line.

They build in:

• Space to practice new skills in real scenarios
• Feedback loops, not just evaluations
• Time between sessions to apply, reflect, and adjust
• Leaders modeling the behavior out loud, imperfectly

Practice is where confidence grows.

Practice is where resistance shows up.

Practice is where learning sticks.

Small, intentional practice beats one more slide every time.

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One Thing to Try This Week

• Pick one skill from a recent training.
• Name one moment this week where you will practice it on purpose.
• Reflect for five minutes afterward on what worked and what didn’t.

That is how behavior starts to shift.

Training opens the door.

Practice is what gets you through it.

If you are ready to move from learning to lasting change, I would love to explore what practice could look like inside your team.

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A Little Bit About Regina I'm Regina Taute (say Howdy Taute and you've pronounced it right) a seasoned talent leader with experience in leadership and organizational development. I started Collective Growth Coaching and Consulting to partner with organizations to develop wildly practical and effective talent strategies. As a credentialed coach and certified in MBTI and Hogan assessments, my passion lies in unlocking potential and driving sustainable growth by helping individuals and teams thrive in today’s evolving business world. It would be my honor to join you for a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to help solve a current challenge with wildly practical solutions or to meet with you one-on-one to chat and get to know you.