What makes a 'Great trainer'?

Training is something which I have been passionate about for many years and which I chose to leave a successful career for in order to expand what was a part of my role, to become my profession.

Whilst studying for a diploma in Learning and Development recently, I found a number of subjects and sources of information that would have been extremely beneficial at the start of my journey into the world of training. I therefore decided to compile some of them, along with my own thoughts and opinions, to create a guide titled 'A blueprint for the perfect trainer'.

No doubt there will be those who disagree with some of the content in this guide and the ideas and opinions that I put forward. That's fine. Disagreement is fuel for debate, which leads to greater understanding and clarification. 

Perhaps the most contentious theory in the guide is my summary of the elements and their weighting in combining to create 'Great training'. Knowledge may be power, but I don't believe that power is a particularly useful aspect of training. Nor do I believe that more knowledge always equates to better training. Far from it in fact. There are much more important elements that contribute to an improved learning experience.

People enter the world of training for different reasons. Not everyone has the opportunity to acquire a great amount of knowledge before attempting to train others and not every knowledgeable person has the skills to effectively transfer that information to others.

Most trainers come from one of three backgrounds and progress as a trainer (or not) from that point.

Perhaps the classic training origin is the expert in the subject being thrust, not always voluntarily, in front of an audience under the false assumption that knowledge will simply flow from their body and into the minds of those around them. What many 'Experts' lack though are the skills to present that information in an interesting and practical manner that enables learners to understand and apply it.

Others are 'Entertainers', already possessing the ability to teach, have experience in doing so for other subjects and decide to expand their services, taking on a new topic or qualification. They know far less than many others in the field, but are confident, capable trainers and so manage to entertain their audience and deliver what is perceived to be great training, even if it does lack depth and detail.

Then there are the 'Novices', those taking their first steps on the training ladder. Their learning curve is steep in terms of both knowledge and presentation skills, but with determination, commitment and enthusiasm, may be capable of surprising both the 'Expert' and the 'Entertainer' in a relatively short time.

All trainers have to start somewhere. The unfortunate snobbery that often surrounds the industry is neither logical nor helpful. Knowledge takes time to acquire and skills take time to perfect. No matter what your starting point, without energy and enthusiasm you will never reach that pinnacle of 'Perfect trainer'.

For more information, click on any of the images in this article and you can download the full guide from my website. I hope that you find it useful and insightful and that training brings you as much enjoyment and satisfaction is it does me.

Link to the full guide; https://www.mietraining.com/blueprint-for-the-perfect-trainer