Create a Positive Environment in your training room

Creating a healthy learning climate in your training room is not something that can be done by following a simple list of do’s and don’ts. There’s no short answer to this it is rather the outcome of several measures, techniques and approaches a trainer can follow throughout the training program.

The following are the key steps you should adopt to enhance learning and create a positive environment in your classroom. 

 Link the training to their work

You must clarify the purpose and outcomes of the training program to the participants and indicate how the learning accruing from various training activities fit into a larger picture of their work and life. In other words, you must establish the context of learning. Discuss with them the relevance and value of learning. Encourage the participants to set out their personal learning objectives, realistic and consistent with the training program objectives.

Awaken their sense of responsibility

It is important that you engage them in a process of discussion that enhances their commitment to the training program, and makes them aware of their responsibilities and obligations towards themselves, the organizations they represent, the training group and the training team.

  Make it personal, honest and sincere

Establish yourself with the participants professionally and on a personal level. You must build trust and goodwill. Your credibility will be assessed by the participants in two ways—your professional competence and ability to deal with the topics under the training program; and sincerity of purpose, honesty and openness.

   Flex your training style

Your own training style is a key factor in promoting a healthy, learning environment. As the training program progresses, its requirements and those of the group change. You should be willing to examine the relevance and appropriateness of your style in accordance with the demands of the training program and bring in the desired changes.

 Use a variety of training methods

An important ingredient in promoting the learning process is the use of a variety of learner-friendly training methods that stimulate active participation and reduce learning fatigue. Make sure that while deciding on the training methods to be used, you take into consideration the learning styles of the participants. While you may focus on group learning, you must also offer opportunities for learning through individual projects and exercises. Be creative and introduce innovation, where appropriate. You should not, however, lose sight of the training program objectives.

Create a risk-free environment

Assure them that you are willing to help them learn; and committing mistakes or slip-ups will not invite censure or ridicule from you or the participants. Recognize initiative and enterprise but remind them that lack of efforts will not be in the spirit of the training program.

Infect them with your excitement

You have to lead by example upfront. Demonstrate that you are enjoying your work, relaxed, fully committed to the success of the training program and willing to take risks. If you are excited about the training, it’s contagious – they will catch it too.

 Link activities to their day-to-day work

If learning is not put together and communicated to the group at regular intervals, it can be lost in the plethora of training activities and intense involvement of the participants. You must, therefore, aim to periodically bring out the key learning points from the training activities and indicate how this learning affects the job and personal behavior of the participants, consistent with the nature of the training program. Putting together bits and pieces of learning into recognizable and useful learning packages gives more meaning to training, keeping the participants' motivation at a high level. You should also encourage them to engage in a process of reflection and assessment to identify areas of learning that might not be so apparent. Remember that some learning also takes place at the subconscious level.

  Keep it timely

Besides the use of basic tools, you can also enhance the learning process by attending to the nuts and bolts of the training program. Make sure that no time is wasted. Start and finish the session on time. Breaks between the sessions should be regulated, enabling the next activity to start on time. Give clear and precise instructions for group or individual assignments and let it be known to the participants that you want these assignments to be completed and submitted on time. However, you need to be careful and not overburden them.

  Be courteous

Treat the participants with respect and courtesy. You will find that they will reciprocate this gesture. Respond to the participants in the way you expect them to respond to you and others in the group.

 Highlight their strengths

Establish support system in the group as key to risk-free participation bringing forward their strengths. Open their eyes to their own worth. Make them aware of what they already know; about their strengths. Harness positive energy by making a conscious effort to harness positive energy (and minimize the influence of negative energy) and stimulate them to get into a learning mode.

Thank You!

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