We published these before the pandemic but they are worth reviewing. This is particularly important as we move (no matter how slowly) back to in-person training meetings

10 Tips for Training your Colleagues

 Training Tip 1:
When designing your training keep in mind that adults learn only if they need and want to - if learning’s can be linked to past, present and future experiences, if they can practice what they learned, if they have help and guidance and finally if they have an informal and non-threatening environment. – John Townsend (MTI Founder) Trainer’s Pocketbook
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  
 
 Training Tip 2:
When designing your training look for retention techniques that will allow your participants to retain and recall your key leanings.
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 3:
When designing your training remember we all have two sides of the brain and you need to stimulate participant’s to use both sides.  Do you know how to stimulate the Left and Right side?  Think VHF.
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 4:
When designing and preparing for your next training, think what could be your participant’s mindset and what could you to do overcome a “negative” or “judger mindset”.
What do you normally do when you are preparing yourself to train? What are the questions you ask yourself?
Are you using a model to design your training?
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 5:
Are you aware of the different Training Methods available to your training? When choosing evaluate them based on level of knowledge acquisition, attitude change, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, participant acceptance, knowledge retention. From J. Newstrom “Evaluating Effectiveness of Training Methods”
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 6:
We bet all trainers have their own “hakka”. Before going to a training at MTI we make sure we have our checklist, to make sure we have all our material and equipment on site. We try to arrive at least one hour in advance and when possible we prepare the room the night before, to avoid any last minute “issues”.  We mentally prepare by visualizing the group, we make sure we have a “learner mindset”, and believe all will work to perfection.
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 7:
When delivering training keep in mind that if you are not enthusiastic about your subject how can expect your participants to be!!! What do you do to communicate enthusiasm?
How do you decide which style (i.e. presenting, teaching, facilitating etc.) of training best suits your session? Are you aware there is a criteria and model that can help you decide?
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 8:
Get some feedback from colleagues on your delivery skills. How are you using your Voice, Eyes and Body Language to best engage your audience? If possible make a video of yourself. Write down what is the criteria that you will evaluate yourself against. What does 10 look like for you/your company/ your audience. Watch your video and define the gap. What are the actions you will take to improve and get to 10?
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 9:
If you are training at a different location make sure you try in advance all the equipment, visit the rooms, check the set up. Always plan for any eventualities. Bring your own laptop, back it up with a USB stick, have a DVD of the video you wish to show. Never, ever trust downloading a video during your training – 90% of the times it goes wrong.
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html  

 Training Tip 10:
Prepare, as much as possible. Rehearse your training. Test your exercise instructions. Once you do this before the training. You will be more relax and will definitely have fun.
Watch this space for more tips or you can learn and practice more on our Master Trainer Programme and other workshops: http://www.mastertrainer.ch/public-courses.html

​Question to  the Leadership MA group I was working with on Tuesday:
What examples of poor leadership have you experienced?

The most cited example:
The new leader that made immediate changes for no other reason than to ‘put their mark’ on the place.

I’ve been on the receiving end of this more than once.
It does not feel good because if you make immediate large scale changes as a new leader, you are saying:

“All that you’ve done before is rubbish”.
 
Yes, this is disrespectful and liable to rile your new colleagues who have worked hard under the previous leader. When they’ve bought into a way of doing things their former boss said was game-changing, it’s demoralising if you arrive and tell them it’s not - but your way is.
 
However, you might be right.

There could be employees who are saying:

“Thank goodness for that!”.

Maybe they’ve been waiting for a change to happen.

The best new leaders get a clear idea of the situation and what people think.
Obviously there could be things that need to be seen to quickly.


But don’t be in a rush to ‘make your mark’.

You only get one chance to make a first impression*. Don’t ruin it.
 
*Attributed to Oscar Wilde (and several others)

Bill Lowe 30 Sep 2022