Tried-n-True Tips for Terrific Training!

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May 2023 IN THIS ISSUE:

Tried-n-True Tips for More Terrific Training!

From my desk as a seasoned educator, instructor and trainer, I have gathered important tips for effective training to ensure that those in the workplace whom you train will take action to your training by applying their new knowledge and skills. Not only will each person benefit at the micro level but the company at large will do do as well at the macro level!

Mindset precedes acquisition of skill set

Mindsets of effective trainers:

Do you, as a trainer have these necessary mindsets?

believe that “the answer is in the room.” Respect and honour your attendees' diverse academic/workplace backgrounds and appreciate the experiential knowledge they bring to the training sessions. Your task is then to guide and facilitate discussions based on the abundance of knowledge and skills they bring to the session.

know that nothing is left to chance; all is prepared and planned.

understand attendees have a variety of learning styles, so vary your methodology to tap into the assortment of styles in the room.

"TRAIN-the-TRAINER" Champ Camp I attended 12 years ago in Cincinnati.

Quotations of the month:

"If you can't write your message in a sentence, you can't say it in an hour." - Dianna Booher

"Confidence comes from discipline and training." - Robert Kiyosaki

"Sameness is the enemy of the speaker." - Patricia Fripp CSP

Tips that will make You a More Awesome Trainer!

1. Set up a Solid Structure

Be CLEAR re your intended outcome:

Focus on your core, concise, clear message:

What do you want your attendees to THINK, FEEL, SAY or DO DIFFERENTLY after you are done?

As S. Covey stated: "Start with the end in mind!" Build your session on that main end premise. Can you state that message in only 1 sentence? (See D. Booher's quote above)

Opening: ( 3 parts to a meaningful Opening: Big Bang, Promise, Roadmap)

have a BIG BANG opening: a quotation, a statistic, a question or a short story that TAPS into their minds, relates to your topic and gets the audience mentally engaged and enthused to hear more. (Law of Primacy: People remember what they hear First!)

make them a PROMISE with results/benefits they will receive if they take heed to what you say…will they be more confident, happier, have less frustration or stress, gain a promotion, have more workplace or personal opportunities, profit more, enjoy life more? Make it all about and for them, not YOU.

rather than say: Today I’m going to share with you (No one cares what YOU want to share with them!!!) Instead say: Today, you will pick, you will receive, you will discover, you will hear….you…you…you: most important word in speaking! (Remember it's all about THEM the audience, not YOU, the presenter!)

give them a ROADMAP, so they’ll know where you are taking them i.. Are they going to discover training related to:
- the ABC Guide to Greatness, or
- 3 keys to unlock the door to your speaking Potential, or
- 4 Pointers for Powerful Presentations or
- the 5 major components of Top Notch T.E.A.M.S.(maybe using TEAMS as an acronym standing for 5 descriptors for team success?
- etc etc

Body:

no excess content...rule of thumb approx 10mins/point C. Valentine: "When you squeeze too much information in, you squeeze your audience out!"

avoid Sameness ( P. Fripp: "Sameness is the enemy of the speaker!" Sameness in:

1. Methodology- use a balance of lecture format, group work, partner work, open discussion, Q&A, writing activities, etc

2. Voice... pace (fast/slow. projection loud/soft, pitch high/low, pauses when you question them so they can reflect

3 Visual aids: white board, power-point, flips charts, audios, videos...

provide practical techniques. i.e. not just "why" they need to do something but also "how" by discussing your observations and recommendations based on your and their knowledge and experiences.

avoid speaking using abstractions but use flesh and blood examples (stories) Incorporate activities if possible (they are more likely to believe and act on the message if they are actively involved than if they simply hear about it!)

Closing:

discuss and debrief...they will remember the tips if they themselves articulate them. Maybe towards the close you may opt to have attendees shout out 1 word answers to questions you may call out, or have them share new AHA items they learned (they will answer more readily if they are given an opportunity to discuss such items with a partner then share in the larger group)

tie content together and discuss next steps

NEVER EVER EVER close with Q&A (recipe for disaster!)…if you have Q&A, tell them you'll take a few mins of Q's then add: "Then I'll Close!") Close on your own positive, encouraging, hopeful note. (Law of Recency...people remember what they hear last...Last words Linger!

To wrap up: With the privilege of training comes a responsibility to present your content that is focused on and structured around the bottom line while at the same time, sparking and maintaining their interest, emotionally and intellectually plus promising rewards or results for them at both the individual and company level.

WHICH PROMISES/RESULTS/REWARDS did you state they will receive if they pick up and apply these training tips?

Until next month when you'll receive more training tips! Wishing you terrific training!

____________________________________________________________________

Kathryn MacKenzie, BA M.Ed DTM
Presentation Skills Instructor/Author

Keynote Speaker/Coach

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