The following tips have been well tested on many different groups of trainees: company managers, doctors, educators, marketing and salespeople, soldiers, youth, children, and more. These tips are relevant for the guidance of all of these target audiences because it turns out that certain principles in guidance are relevant for all human beings, whomever they are, wherever they are, and in whatever industry they are operating.
Know your audience
Before scheduling a training session, make sure that the material to be covered and timing of the target session are relevant and optimal for your audience. If not, the training session may turn out to be a disappointment, no matter how good of an instructor you are. For example, fascinating guidance on "innovatively coping with challenging student behavior" will be anything but fascinating if it is delivered at 2pm in the teachers' room when everyone is in a rush to go home, or, if the staff of participating teachers all retire next week.
Adjust your volume and manage your pace
Try every few minutes to gauge the volume of your speech and pace of delivery. As people standing in front of an audience, we have a tendency at times to speak a little louder than necessary. High-volume causes discomfort in the trainees over time. And if we talk too quickly, it will tire them out even further. When a trainer speaks in high volume, the trainees tend to make a bit of noise and disturb the trainer, who in turn will turn up the volume to compensate each time that happens. This process repeats itself until the volume in the room is not only distracting, it’s unbearable. Counterintuitively, the trick to quiet a group of trainees is usually just to lower your volume of speech. The room will respond accordingly in effort to hear what you are saying and attention will be restored.
Always be questioning
The use of questions has a surprisingly magical effect on the quality of training. Anything your trainees can say or explain by themselves, should be encouraged. “Activating” trainees by asking questions generates significantly higher interest than lectured guidance. A correct use of questions also makes the guidance more effective and memorable as the trainees actively think about the material being studied through the use of their logic, emotions, and memory.
Be personal
One strong tactic for quickly getting the attention of the room is to single out a trainee and ask them a question that we know they can answer, followed by their name. By asking a question in this format, the trainees will quickly understand that the next question may be directed to them, and as such they will be sure to remain attentive to the trainer.
Know your sh*t
In order to generate interest and excitement with trainees, the guide must first master 100% of the content transmitted. If as a guide I am preoccupied with remembering what to say, all my mental energy will be channeled into attempts to recall and restore the material covered instead of focusing on reading the room, generating interest, and maintaining attention throughout the session. In short, to be a successful trainer, you need to know your sh*t.
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