THE CRITERIA OF JOYFUL TRAINING

What actually makes the difference between trainers who are good, and those who are either mediocre or poor? It is easy to differentiate between the abilities of different trainers when you are a participant on a training course, but how do you make sure that you are in the good to excellent category when you are the trainer, being judged by the participants?   

   a. Enthusiasm

   The most important ingredient that separates good trainers from others is enthusiasm. Being enthusiastic is the key element to being an effective trainer and to running successful training courses. All the other things that are going to be covered in this chapter are necessary, but without enthusiasm, you will never be viewed as a good trainer.

    b. Confidence

  Being enthusiastic will help you to appear confident. If you are confident, the participants will be confident to learn. Participants want to feel that they are in a safe and relaxed environment. The trainer can create this by appearing to be confident.

c. Control

If you are enthusiastic and confident (or at least appear to be) you will be able to keep the group on track much more easily. Any group of participants need to feel that the trainer is in control of both the group processes, and the material that is being taught, to be able to learn comfortably.

d. Being relaxed

So you are enthusiastic, confident, and in control. The next area to think about is appearing relaxed. Who said this was easy? The last thing participants want is a nervous, edgy, trainer, or one who over compensates, and who appears to be arrogant and full of their own self-importance. Part of being confident is appearing to be relaxed.

e.  Sense of humor

You appear to be confident, to be in control, but also to be relaxed and enthusiastic – What about having a sense of humor? Using your sense of humor, and making things fun, helps participants to learn.

f. Knowing the subject

A good trainer knows the subject, and knows it well. It is not advisable to stand up in front of a group if you don't know much about the subject area that you are supposed to be covering. If you have “winged it” on occasion, maybe at a meeting or somewhere else, you will know that it doesn't make you feel relaxed and confident.

g. Good communication skill

You need to be able to get the subject across and to portray yourself well. Communicating divides into two broad areas, transmitting (talking) and receiving (listening).

REFERENCE:

      Leong, S. 2010. How to Develop A Talent For Training. Massachusetts: Global Management Enterprise.