Our new contributing editor Christiana Tollast asked members of TrainingZone.co.uk if they were to give just one piece of advice to a new trainer, what would it be? Here are just some of the responses.
"Trust your judgment. Training and learning is not about silver bullets, it's about applying your practical knowledge in a different context. Concentrate on the learner and the context in which they learn."
Martyn Sloman, former adviser, learning, training and development research and policy, CIPD
"When facilitating, ask don't tell. The mind thinks best in the presence of a question. Trainers must also have the ability to understand what the trainees want, i.e. what their different needs and motivations are. They must be able to facilitate training in a way that covers all of those different requirements."
Wayne Mullen, head of learning and development, Corporate and Investment Banking - International, Standard Bank
"Choosing just one is hard, but mine would be: get recommendations as to who are great trainers and then spend as much time with as many of them as you can. Not just sitting in watching them train, but talking with them, visiting clients together and co-designing. And if you work on your own or in a small team, remember that you can visit other organisations, go to open events or work with freelance associates."
Graham O'Connell, head of Organisational Learning & Standards, National School of Government
"Be prepared and hold yourself as an expert – there is nothing worse as a trainee than being taught by someone who doesn't know their stuff. New trainers need to have confidence in their abilities, do their research, read as much as they can, and deliver training that they would want to participate in. The key to great training is knowing as a trainer what you want the trainees to get out of the session – have a clear goal, don't try to teach too many skills at once, and enjoy it – candidates get the most out of sessions that are as interesting and interactive as they are informative."
Liz Jones, People and Practice manager, LaunchGroup
"Follow the ball! A learner will lead you to what's most important for them at any given moment. Trust that they have the answers, and by following the ball with them, or by being flexible enough to facilitate their thinking in the present moment, you will provide an even greater platform for learning...
"That's not to say that structure or process isn't important, but equally, when you learn to follow the ball it takes the responsibility off you as the trainer or coach and onto the learner."
Katherine Tulpa, chair, Association for Coaching
"Despite pressures of slashed budgets and mounds of paperwork, don't give up on training yourself. About 30% of The London Business Forum’s membership is made up of training and HR professionals and when you talk to truly successful individuals in the learning and development arena, you soon appreciate that the real success stories are those who make time to get out of the office to capture the latest thinking on everything from motivation and inspiration, to simply having fun at work. These guys are the ambassadors of talent management in the workplace and need to be one step ahead of the brightest stars in the organisations they work with, if they are going to be taken seriously."
Brendan Barns, founder, The London Business Forum
