As a trainer, you have to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines, such as designing courses, delivering sessions, evaluating outcomes, and providing feedback. How do you prioritize your workload as a trainer and ensure that you meet your goals and expectations? In this article, we will share some tips and strategies that can help you manage your time and energy effectively as a trainer.
The first step to prioritize your workload as a trainer is to identify your priorities. What are the most important and urgent tasks that you need to complete? What are the consequences of not doing them? You can use a simple matrix to categorize your tasks into four quadrants: important and urgent, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and not important and not urgent. This can help you focus on the tasks that have the most impact and value for your learners and stakeholders.
As a trainer, a business plan allows you to prioritize daily tasks, this also brings about delegation, quality, quantity, importance and necessity. Prioritizing task will improve focus and makes your workload easier to identify and solve. You can also delegate various task according to their necessity and urgency. This allow you to measure the level of impact generated from such priority and provides great milestones achieved. Prioritizing daily activities makes you accountable for your success, failures and progress.
The next step to prioritize your workload as a trainer is to plan your schedule. How much time do you have to complete each task? How do you allocate your time and resources efficiently? You can use a calendar or a planner to map out your daily, weekly, and monthly activities and deadlines. You can also use a to-do list or a checklist to track your progress and remind yourself of your priorities. Make sure to include some buffer time for unexpected changes and emergencies.
As trainer, tasks often need to be done in a certain order as well as requiring peer to peer review or stakeholder sign off. It is important to plan out all dependencies, schedule when people need to be able for support, so that all can be delivered within the required timeframe. Add reminder notifications to your schedule to ensure people have planned sufficient time for their input. It is also to bear in mind that especially if you do recordings, you need quiet space, which can sometimes dictate when you can do these activities (bin days are to be avoided at all costs!).
The third step to prioritize your workload as a trainer is to delegate and collaborate. How can you leverage the skills and expertise of others to help you with your tasks? How can you communicate and coordinate with your team and stakeholders effectively? You can use tools and platforms to share your work and feedback, such as Google Docs, Slack, or Zoom. You can also ask for help and support from your colleagues, managers, or mentors when you need it.
The fourth step to prioritize your workload as a trainer is to balance quality and quantity. How can you deliver high-quality training that meets the needs and expectations of your learners and stakeholders? How can you avoid overloading yourself and compromising your standards? You can use tools and methods to evaluate and improve your training, such as surveys, quizzes, or feedback forms. You can also set realistic and achievable goals and expectations for yourself and others.
In my experience, the best trainings encourage participation. I find that quizzes, case studies, illustrations, polls, and most especially group work improves the training quality and interaction.
The fifth step to prioritize your workload as a trainer is to review and reflect. How can you measure and celebrate your achievements and successes? How can you learn from your challenges and failures? You can use tools and techniques to review and reflect on your performance, such as journals, portfolios, or self-assessments. You can also seek feedback and guidance from your learners, stakeholders, or peers.
The sixth and final step to prioritize your workload as a trainer is to take care of yourself. How can you maintain your physical, mental, and emotional well-being as a trainer? How can you prevent and cope with stress and burnout? You can use strategies and practices to take care of yourself, such as exercising, meditating, sleeping, or relaxing. You can also find ways to enjoy and reward yourself for your work, such as hobbies, interests, or socializing.
When you're a trainer, you need to be good at handling your work. First, figure out what's most important and what needs to be done right away. Focus on things that make a big difference, like making fun lessons and helping your students. Put similar tasks together and ask others for help if you can. Plan when you'll do different things and don't try to do too many things at once. Remember to take breaks and don't be afraid to say no if you have too much to do. Ask for feedback and change things if needed. This helps you do your job well and stay happy.