How do you show your credibility as an employee trainer?

Knowing your audience is important to establishing yourself as an authority and creating trust. Why? Yes, you can go rehearse, learn, and talk about the materials of the course. But can you connect with the audience? Connecting with them makes the course better and helps them apply it afterward. - don't just talk about the concepts; understand the differences and experiences in their roles and tailor your talking points to their situations - people learn in different ways. KInesthtic, Audibly, Visually, OTJ learning, etc... This will also help mitgate the 'check the box' of course completion rather than recommending the course to others.

Know your subject, for sure. But also understand the context behind what you are teaching and demonstrate it. It is also important to show empathy with your learners. Walk in their shoes, understand why they may be a little resistant and show them the benefits.

If you're not invested in the training or committed to sharing the subject, your team won't be interested either. I don't sell what I don't buy!

You have to know your subject and rehearse your session as practice. If you speak to generically to the topic/theme, they will instantly know that you are not a credible source. Continuous learning and studying of the recent data, stories, and current events is one way to keep it fresh. It also shows that you are engaged in the community of practice. When they ask for guidance and recommendations, it is important to have some resources (i.e. podcast, book, articles, etc.) that you can share with them. Being a trusted authority does not occur in a singular event, but a journey over time.

Demonstrate your in-depth knowledge and expertise in your training area. Highlight your relevant qualifications, certifications, and years of experience in the field. Showcase your track record of successful training initiatives and outcomes.

Objectives should be simple and clear. They are what is expected and what they will take away at the end of the course completion. You should also marry up your objectives with the methods so that you can best achieve them. For example, training in a live classroom is very different from on virtual meetings. How does this influence how you will achieve results? The course objectives will also keep you on track so that scope creep doesn't occur.

In my experience, it's also imperative to share your objectives at the outset. Give the participants a WIIFM. -What is in it for them? -Why are they participating in the first place? -How does this apply to their work? By giving a bit more than usual away up front-like the endgame, you'll grasp your learners attention and turn your lesson into a story.

To be confident and comfortable, you have to know your strengths and opportunities. This may require self-reflection, feedback, or assessments to support your presence. Leveraging your strengths is where you should be able to deliver as expected. However, if you have an opportunity area, perhaps that is a chance to: - find a delivery method that enables the class to go forward without notice. - ask a colleague to partner with you in those areas that you feel less familiar with teaching. - are you comfortable teaching in front of a large class room? Do you know how to use technology so that the course is effective? Knowing this will make an impression on their student experience.

While it may seem counterintuitive, I value and respect trainers who can admit when they don't know something. It's a learning moment - "Great question, I'm not sure about that. Let's look at X document and see if we can find the answer!" That helps with credibility for me, as I trust them more. I've seen trainers who feel that it's a sign of weakness not to know every answer, and they can end up giving wrong information. If protecting your ego is really important to you, you may not want to pursue training.

Nothing speaks credibility more than experience and expertise in the subject area that you are teaching. Any amount of teaching skills, listening skills, proficiency with technology cannot compensate for lack of experience and expertise!

Emphasise your commitment to ongoing professional development. Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, research, and best practices. Share your participation in relevant workshops, conferences, and training programs to showcase your dedication to staying current and enhancing your skills. Highlight your ability to customise training programs to meet specific organisational needs. Emphasize your expertise in assessing training gaps, designing targeted solutions, and delivering effective learning experiences that address the unique requirements of your clients or learners.