5 Things That Ensure UNSUCCESSFUL Training Experiences

We've all been there...that mandatory training on government policy, industry compliance, or some software you've now got to figure out how to use. Below, I'm going to list the top five things that I've found which contribute to the mundane mediocrity of mandatory training and of course I'll mention some simple ways to combat the typical training blues.

One thing I will say before I get started is that training is essentially communication, and the most effective way to get through to any audience, regardless of size, is to "communicate with others in such a way that increases your influence with them" (John Maxwell - Everyone Communicates, Few Connect). I'll share a few good connecting principles as we progress.

Number 5: Provide Every Detail On God's Green Earth About the Topic

It really doesn't matter how you position it, what category you put it in, or how many bullets you use, if you're trying to convey "all the facts", you'll never be able to connect with your audience or give them any sense of why any of these facts are important.

One of the habits Franklin Covey's well known book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is "Beginning with the end in mind". I've found that this totally applies to crafting effective and engaging training solutions. Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the central point? What is the most important message. When you know this, then you can narrow down the information you share to only things that support that message.
• Who will my audience be? One of the principles of connecting with others in Maxwell's aforementioned book is that "connecting is all about others". Put yourself in their shoes. Are they very busy, what time will they be most attentive, what stories will they identify with the most.
• Why is it important to them? If you're just checking a box, then don't do the training. You need to figure out why it matters, otherwise what you say won't matter at all. Another great Maxwell principle is that "Connection is all about others". Don't get stuck in the mindset of conveying what you want them to know, but think of it as what you can share on this subject that will add value to them.

Number 2: Strictly Stick to the Script

Yes, it's important you know what you're going to say and its also important for you to practice, but be careful about being too rigid with your presentation. Scripted presentations come off as just that...scripted. Most people haven't gone through public speaking courses or used a teleprompter before and when you try to stick to the script during training, it really shows. More often than not, it comes across as robotic, impersonal, and inauthentic. Chances are, if your standing in front of a group of people or leading a training on a zoom, you don't mind speaking in front of people...but even if you do mind, just "BE YOURSELF". That's one of the most effective ways to engage with people, be yourself. Even if you're a jerk, be yourself. It's likely the people you're training already know you're a jerk, so why try to hide it now?

Number 3: Don't Tell Stories or Make Jokes

So you're not a funny person. Maybe you don't have any great stories about harassment, discrimination, or merchant processing but somebody does. Take the time find applicable stories and if possible, relate the content to stories from your own life. I get that this can be hard, but its not impossible. Stories don't have to be funny either. A dramatic personal story is just as effective as any joke you might tell. Maybe you don't want to be that vulnerable, but I can personally attest to the fact that vulnerability is the best way to connect with individuals and audiences alike.

Jokes don't have to be good. If you know a joke is bad, or if no one gets it, don't be afraid to make a comment about it and move on. No one expects you to be Jim Gaffigan, but you'd be surprised how well received a dumb dad joke, or silly pun can be. People have experienced poor, disinteresting training their whole lives...the bar is pretty low I assure you.

Number 2: Use Lots of Powerpoint Slides

It is so easy to use powerpoint as a crutch...resist this urge. People are over it...it's been 30 years, its not cool anymore. There's only so much you can do with transitions and animations and its almost never as cool as you think it is. Slides should reinforce or illustrate your key points or convey information that the audience might want to write down..thats it. I have a couple of rules for Slide Decks that will hopefully help you.

• Maintain brand consistency! If your company has a branded deck, use it. If you are going to deliver different trainings create a master slide deck that you can use. If you want, you can check out this quick tutorial on creating a theme in Google Slides.
• Say what you're going to say, don't show it! For the love of all things holy, don't put your script word for word on the slide you show people. Keep it to quotes, images, single words, concepts, or reference material. Here's a link to a deck I put together for a mental health awareness webinar I did back in May of last year. In this instance I did create my theme, but I made sure it matched the branding guidelines of the company I did it for. This is a pretty complex slide deck that I made in a program called Canva. It's worth checking out, but keep in mind, less really is more.
• If you're not a graphic designer, don't try to become one! If you're new to powerpoint or slides or anything else, just use black text on a white background (or vice versa) or don't use it at all. You're training should be able to stand alone with just a handout or simple slides.

NUMBER ONE: DON'T OVERTHINK IT, JUST WING IT.

I commonly hear the phrase, "don't overthink it" and that's great advice for a person who is typically good with details and lists. But if you're like me, that just means "wing it, you'll be fine". If you're the "overthinking type" then by all means, take it down a notch...but fair warning, you, like everyone else, still needs to practice.

I had a High School band teacher named Mr. Sims and I remember him always saying two things. One was the "We are what we repeatedly do..." quote from Aristotle and the other was "Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent".

It's awkward to practice a training presentation or a workshop, but it's also so very vital. Not only does it ensure your familiarity with the content of the training at hand, but it also makes the connections in your brain that help you to develop your natural presentation style. The more you practice, the more your overall presentation style with be solidified in your brain. Notice I didn't say, the more you practice, the more comfortable you'll be or the better you'll get. That's because the act of practicing doesn't ensure proficiency. If you've never heard Aristotle's quote above before, its important you know the rest. "We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act but a habit".

You need to make sure you practice correctly if you want to be an effective and engaging trainer and/or presenter. Here are a few things to be mindful of:

• Make eye contact. Not all the time, but certainly not never (grammar police, I'm sorry). When I was little, I used to make speeches in my room. I'd get all dressed up in my suit and clip on tie and then I'd arrange all my stuffed animals like an audience before delivering my masterful speech. I didn't know then that I was actually training my brain to make eye contact with an audience. I get that most people didn't practice speeches in their bedrooms, but if you're not good at making eye contact, grab a few of your kids stuffed animals (or your own, I'm not gonna judge) and practice with them.
• Use your hands, don't overuse them. It's so easy to get nervous and move your hands in some weird way. The last thing you want is to look like Dr. Emmet Brown yelling "Great Scott" like a crazy person or like a two-year-old doing the potty dance. Use your hands for effect only. If you can't manage that, grab a couple paperclips and keep them between your thumb and fore finger on each hand so you can lightly fidget. You could also hold onto a mic or lectern, or move around. If you move around though, don't move right to left, also move forward and backward (otherwise it looks like your pacing).
• Practice with a script, Deliver with an outline. It's okay to write everything out...that's what I do most of the time, just don't deliver your training that way. If you have your script in front of you, YOU WILL READ IT...bullet points are fine, but reading the script is for rehearsal.

BONUS - DO ALL THE TALKING.

If you do all the talking, your audience will stop listening around minute seven, maybe 15 if you're lucky. If at all possible, let your audience do some of the talking. That makes it a lot easier to be engaging and at the very least people will listen because their afraid of looking like the stoner kid we all new in high school who never had the answer when the teacher called on them.

Event the most mundane training topics don't have to be tragically boring. I always let people know when the boring part is coming and whether or not it will be on the test. But you can spice it up, make if fun, and keep people engaged by doing the opposite of the items above.

If you would like some individual coaching or if you just know you need someone to do the training for you there's no shame in asking for help or bringing in the big guns. If you'd like my help, please send me a message. I'd love to be able to add value to you and/or your organization.