Are all Trainers Equal?
In every profession you have the good and the bad, the givers and the takers. the most common comment on my delegate evaluation is that I sure know the topic, whatever topic I am training. It makes me wonder about who they had training them before because all the trainers I voluntarily work with all know their subject.
- Image by Presidency Maldives via Flickr
I know these unknowledgeable trainers exist because that is how I became a trainer in the first place. The secretaries in my office went to training for a day. When they came back they asked me all the questions the trainer could not answer, which I either answered off the top of my head or found the answer in seconds.
I think I have been lucky to have worked with trainers who genuinely want to learn more and consider it a challenge to find answers to questions they don’t know. A friend and colleague called Friday asking about a features that neither one of us has used but someone asked her about, funny that we both found the answer at the same time, she called me just as I was texting her the instructions.
I have had to work with trainers on projects where it is not about sharing ideas and working as a team but trying to get as much from everyone else as they can without giving anything themselves. Those are the trainers that go on my never work with list.
Too bad I can’t always choose who I work with, but maybe soon.
Katherine
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3 Responses to Are all Trainers Equal?
All that jazz – All in A Day
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No, all trainers aren't equal and knowing their subject is just part, all be an important one, of the equation. Think of school: We all know the difference between good teachers – who were passionate about and made their subject come alive – and those whose classes we just couldn't wait to be over..
So the majority of the other part is being able to impart that knowledge in a way it can be best remembered and easily used by the trainees (/pupils) – primarily in the environment they're working in right now and that will stand them in good stead for the future.
And that means starting by assessing where the trainees are currently at, where they need to reach, the size of the gap and the time and energy needed to bridge it!
What 'gets my goat' most is employers who want long term sustainable results yet are only prepared to fork out for the equivalent of a sticking plaster
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Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
I'm very lucky – I do get to choose who trains on our behalf! Knowing their subject inside out is a very basic requirement. Being able to engage and enthuse delegates, relating the subject matter to their world, equipping delegates with skills and knowledge they can immediately put to use, keeping up to date with leading edge thinking, relating to a wide range of learning preferences, respecting the differences of the people in the room, ensuring the learning outcomes are achieved in the most effective way possible – those are the attributes I look for.
We hold Development Days for our trainers, and I am always amazed at not only the level of expertise and knowledge in the room, but the opoen willingness to share and learn from each other. The subject knowledge is phenomenal, but so also is the range of creativity in helping people learn.
Twitter: evenbreak
I think if you don't know the subject you have no business offering yourself up as a trainer in that subject.
I also think knowing the subject isn't enough you have to be passionate about sharing /teaching what you know with other/your “class” and this involves delivering it at a level where everyone can follow and learn