What Makes a Super Trainer?
September 11, 2008
· Filed under All, Training Development 
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What attributes do all super trainers share, no matter how different their styles? Rate yourself on the guidelines below. Then read the strategies. These will help transform YOU into a Super Trainer!
The Three Top, Absolutely Essential Attributes
1. Content Knowledge
Of course, this is first, but it can’t “go without saying.” If you don’t know your subject, you shouldn’t be training it. However, you DON’T have to know every last detail before you’re ready to train.
2. Willingness To Have Fun
This one’s a potential danger zone. Some trainers have so much fun themselves that they remain oblivious of the participants’ needs, insights, and potential contributions.
Having fun doesn’t mean you are able to toss out jokes. Willingness to have fun means relaxing WHILE you energize yourself, connecting with the participants WHILE you focus on content and time management, and enjoying the participants WHILE retaining your unique role as trainer. It’s easy to say and sometimes very hard to do!
3. Use of a Well-Structured Training Design
Have you ever wondered about the source of the following issues?
• Bad marks on your training evaluations (excluding comments about cold coffee or overly warm training rooms)
• Participant hostility, side conversations or passive-aggressiveness
• Lack of participation
• People sleeping
The invisible culprit is often how the session is designed, not the presentation skills of the trainer. Design affects everything related to the training.
Training design is architecture. A badly–designed course will sag, fracture, and maybe not even last through the next hurricane (or training session.)
How Did you Rate Yourself?
Strategies to Boost Your…
1. Content Knowledge
Ensure that you have included only the absolute “MUST-KNOW” material into your training session. This means you must have done your homework by interviewing subject matter experts, supervisors, and representatives of your participant pool to ensure you are teaching the right content to the right audience.
It’s OK to say “I don’t know. Let me find out and get back to you on that,” but only if you really will follow up with that person or group.
Meanwhile, acknowledge that a participant in your group may well have the information you lack. Don’t be afraid to ask!
2. Willingness To Have Fun
The more prepared you feel with your content and training structure, (attributes #1 and #3,) the more fun you’ll have.
But you must also examine your beliefs about people. Do you feel they are mainly a drag, or do you find them interesting and quirky? Do you like yourself? Are you accepting or judgmental? Your underlying beliefs about yourself and others either boost or impede your level of relaxation and ability to have fun in the training role.
It’s worth your time to examine your philosophy of teaching. Do you buy into a “boot camp” mentality? Do you feel oversensitive to students’ needs? Heighten your awareness of your philosophy and actions, and then make changes if needed. Fun will follow!
3. Use of a Well-Structured Training Design
Three guidelines:
• Never organize your training session using PowerPoint.
• Develop learning objectives. Organize all your content to achieve them.
• Take a basic class in course design for adult learners.
It’s always good to re-visit the essentials–all Super Trainers do. Integrate these Top Three into your training, and you’ll find yourself among the greats.
Read more articles to boost your Training Skills. Learn about Guila Muir’s Train the Trainer Workshops or Individual Coaching.
Guila Muir is the premiere trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters on the West Coast of the United States. Since 1994, she has helped thousands of professionals improve their training, facilitation, and presentation skills. Find out how she can help transform you from a boring expert to a great presenter: www.guilamuir.com
© 2008 Guila Muir. All rights reserved.
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