Richard Denny contributes the Learning Centre opinion piece in the current issue of People Management from IPD:

"What are the qualities that set effective training and development professionals apart from the also-rans? Richard Denny reveals some of the secrets of his own success
Teaching is the art of motivating and inspiring others. But in our formal education, we have all been exposed to teachers, lecturers or tutors who, far from providing us with inspiration, have not even managed to hold our attention. Sitting through their tutorials or lectures was often a painful experience that most of us would prefer to forget.

In business there is no place for such lacklustre performers. It is vital that those who are given the opportunity and responsibility to train and teach others should do so with a high degree of skill, as well as some passion for the subject. I also believe it is essential that trainers or coaches should have practised what they preach. In some cases it is helpful if they are still practising what they expect others to do, because this will help them to win the respect, trust and confidence of those they are seeking to develop.

Personal experience is useful in another way, providing the trainer with a wealth of anecdotes that can be used to illustrate their messages. We all know that the brain is more receptive to visual communication than to the written or spoken word alone. And, with the technology now available, it has become much easier for trainers to create a visual impact. Yet I personally like to draw on my experiences to tell a story, and find that, in most cases, it is these stories that remind individuals of the training message long after the high-tech visuals have been forgotten."

To continue to feature, check the Opinion area, Learning Centre in the current issue