The Importance Of Training The Trainer

We have been under a lockdown for quite some time now and frankly have no idea of how much longer this is going to continue. One thing, however, we know for sure is, that it’s definitely going to take some more time before things get back to normal. And to ensure that learning continues in the meanwhile, we have started offering our clients virtual instructor-led trainings. One of them being virtual train the trainer workshops.

Some of you may be wondering how attending a train the trainer program can be useful at such a time. Especially when many trainers and training managers are on the verge of losing their jobs and assignments due to this pandemic. In fact, most companies have stopped conducting trainings altogether and are now cutting down on their training budgets to survive the recession. How then could train the trainer programs be important in such a time?

Firstly, not all companies have cut down on training and development. They understand the importance of training and developing their employees in times like these, to prepare them for what’s coming ahead. And are making use of various online learning options like e-learning and webinars to serve this purpose.

However, what we have realised is, that though e-learning and other online training options help in learning and upgrading, they are not as effective as classroom trainings. In a classroom you directly interact with the trainer, perform activities, share and discuss with other participants, etc. which helps improve assimilation, retention and overall learning. Hence, we thought of taking our classrooms online. So, you can still interact with the trainer and do almost all those things that you do in a classroom training, virtually. Now, isn’t that great?

And that’s also the reason why train the trainer workshops need to be held currently. To teach trainers how to successfully design and deliver virtual instructor led training. The way to approach such sessions is slightly different from classroom sessions. And can be challenging if you are unaware of the ways to effectively conduct instructor-led online trainings.

Times are changing, and we all need to keep upgrading ourselves to keep up. The same goes for the training community too. And that’s why attending a virtual train the trainer program is extremely important and one that we are all going to need to attend sooner or later!

5 Important features when it comes to Training the Trainer

A few days back I attended a Train the Trainer training. It was an amazing learning experience. It helped me unfold various aspects of being a better trainer. And so I thought, let me share my learning with you all today…

The first most important feature of a train the trainer session is understanding what training and facilitation is. In the current dynamic scenario, if you 'train' people, you will end up doing most of the talking! You will put in all you have to impart the required knowledge and skills, but do you think that’s all adults really need to learn? Is there something else a trainer can do to facilitate learning? Well there is. And it’s precisely that word, facilitate! Facilitation helps in stimulating the learner inside each one of us and creates a safe space where participants can find their answers rather being told them. It allows reflection and introspection through questioning which gives participants a chance to realise what’s happening in and around them.

Next is understanding the importance of preparation. For you to deliver a programme well, it’s important that you start preparing for it well in advance. Spend time in understanding the participants, their expectations, challenges and needs well. Select an appropriate methodology and tools to cover what you need to in a way that will increase learning for the audience. It’s only when your preparation is solid can your session go well. And we all know the importance of having a strong foundation! 

The third important feature of a train the trainer workshop is clearly understanding the context of the programme you are going to conduct. You must know who the audience is, why they need this session and what they need to be able to do so that you can cover the same in the session. This gives a trainer clarity and ensures that s/he is moving in the right direction.

The fourth thing is understanding the difference between objectives and outcomes. While the former focusses on what the session is aimed at, the latter points towards what the participants will be able to do post attending the session. Having both these clear helps us in designing a session that fulfils the needs of the learners.  

Last but not the least, is how to conduct an activity successfully. Every activity has a set of instructions which we call the brief and the reflection which is done at the end called the debrief. Being able to clearly give instructions to participants and then deciphering what has happened during the activity is an art in itself. And one that needs to be taught in every train the trainer session. Its also one that can take a trainer from training to facilitation and from being mediocre to a true mirror for participants. 

Train the trainer workshops have really evolved over time. They now cover a large number of modules which help trainers cater to the adult need for learning. They have come a long way from presentation skills to facilitation. And I’m sure with changing learner needs they will keep evolving.

Reasons to Train the trainer for better productivity

When we say train the trainer training, we assume that it’s meant only for trainers. However, that’s not the case. A train the trainer training is something that every manager should also go through.

When you lead or manage a team, one of your biggest responsibilities is to develop your team and its members. And that, mind you, has a three-fold advantage. One is that it helps the team members go beyond their challenges and grow by utilising their full potential. Another, is that it helps create a good connect between the manager and each team member. And the third is what the team members feel towards their manager; a feeling of being cared for, trust and respect. This in turn makes them reciprocate by giving their very best to their work, thereby increasing their productivity.  

What must be remembered is that not every manager is good at facilitating learning for his or her team. And a train the trainer training gives them a chance to learn that. It gives managers insights into how they can analyse and decipher the training needs of their team members. It also gives them great insights into what kind of activities they can use to help team members with specific issues. And of course, it helps them deliver the sessions effectively also.

And how does it help if a manager knows all of these things? Well it first helps him understand how to identify the corporate training needs of his team. And since he knows them the best, he will be the best person to know the exact cause of the issue at hand. This will also help him in his problem solving skills, the tools being used for both being similar. Also having your manager deliver short bite sized sessions every now and then can be extremely useful for an employee. It can be done on the job itself and done by a person the employee is comfortable with, his manager. This improves the buy-in and retention of the employees and also helps the manager in becoming adept at this skill, helping him improve at presentations skills and public speaking.

Thus attending a train the trainer training can be extremely useful for the manager, his team and the organisation on the whole. So if you are a manager and really want to take your team to the next level, we recommend attending a train the trainer program. It will help you be a manager that people look upto and also sharpen some of your other skills. And that’s definitely a reason to consider opting for a train the trainer training. Don’t you think?

Train The Trainer Programs – A Necessity For Creating The Best Modern Day Trainers

With the growing need for skilled and professionally trained workforce, there has been a consequent rise in the demand for efficient trainers. Unlike the earlier times, when the trainers just needed to posses in depth knowledge about a specific subject to qualify as a good instructor, today they need to have the knowledge plus the right attitude and the skills to pass it on to the apprentices. The absence of either of these two key aspects leads to trainers being unable to attain success in their professional lives. The simplest way to avoid this situation is for the teachers to choose a good train the trainer program.

What Is The Train The Trainer Program?

Train the trainer programs are specially designed courses developed by training companies to help instructors in enhancing their teaching skills in a manner that proves most beneficial to their students. The programs educate the teachers about the importance of using multi-layered, interactive and energizing methods of training to enhance the learning experience of their students and also to improve the level of long-term retention of concepts. This helps in enhancing the productivity and effectiveness of the training programs besides helping in building and maintaining the rapport between the students and the coaches during a training session.

Benefits For The Trainer

A well trained trainer becomes a valuable asset, which most organizations are willing hire for meeting their in house training needs. It also enhances the market value of freelance trainers, who are preferred for their ability to adapt to the varying learning needs and behavior styles of the students. Most importantly the trainers learn the skills necessary for creating an engaging and simulating learning environment that helps in maintaining the interest of the students even through long and dull training sessions. It enables the teachers to impart education to the learners in a way and language that is simple and easy to understand for the apprentices.

Choosing The Right Train The Trainer Programs

Given the diverse niches in which trainers need to operate, it is not surprising that a wide range of train the training programs are being offered by the business training companies. However, choosing the right program is essential for the instructors to ensure that they get the desired benefits of opting for such a program. As such it is important to consider the following factors while choosing the appropriate train the trainer program.

·        The program should be help in enhancing the existing skills of the trainers as per current industry needs and the learning objectives of the trainers.

·        They should offer a futuristic approach to imparting education and without compromising on the quality and effectiveness of teaching.

·        The programs should offer a comprehensive approach to different methods of training while taking into consideration the varying learning abilities of the trainers.

·        They should provide a detailed content list to enable the users to access the ability of individual learning programs to add value to the learning process.

 

They should offer a cost effective solution to help the trainers cope up with their changing roles and responsibility in a highly competitive and skill oriented market. 

Train the Trainer in You

Ever attended a Train theTrainer session before? They really teach you some great things as far as Training Delivery, Content Development and Evaluation go. Some of the things that they cover are:

 

1. They typically start off with the Training Need Analysis, the part that can make or break your session. They show you some tools that you can use to ensure that your TNA is done properly so that you do not land up in a situation where you are delivering something and your participants actually want or need something else!

2. How to design content based on instructional design methodologies. So they teach you what activities you can start your session with, what needs to be kept in mind while designing an ice-breaker, how to structure the flow of your session, how to create a design document, how to use various methods of instruction to cater to various learner types and keep them involved and participating, how to write learning goals, etc.

3. Delivery is also based on instructional design methodologies to ensure that you get across to the participants in an easier and more effective manner. So they start off with the things you need to keep in mind while opening and conducting the session which includes how you should walk and how you should talk! Body language and voice are looked into at length to add to your presentation skills. You are also taught ways of increasing participation and motivation as well as how to deal with difficult participants.

4. Evaluation forms a very important part of the entire training cycle. Based on desired level of the Kirkpatrick’s model, the effect of the training is measured to see whether it was really able to fulfill what it was intended to. Evaluation can be at various levels and various tools are used to measure the same depending on the requirement of the client. The primary level of evaluation which is typically done at the end of a session is for measuring the reaction of the participants to the session. It may include points on which the trainer, facility, topics and session on the whole are rated. Other levels of evaluation may include the change in the participants after the session on the basis of knowledge, skills, attitude or behavior; the impact that the session has had on business outcomes and the return on investment of the session.

So when are you attending your next session, the Train the Trainer session?

You can train the participants but who will train the trainer? The Yellow Spot offers Train the Trainer Open Workshop

The Train the Trainer workshop at The Yellow Spot is a 5-day intense workshop that also equips you with the tools and techniques required to face your audience, alongside exposing you to various challenges like handling dull audience, disagreements, non participation, arguments etc.

 

Key highlights of the Train the Trainer program at ‘The Yellow Spot’ are –

• Understanding the Learning Cycle
• Experiencing the practicalities of being a Facilitator over a Trainer
• Know How of when to use Role Play, Case Studies, Games, Discussions and other Techniques to make training fun, exciting and  comprehensive
• Classroom and Participant Management 
• Objection-Handling and Conflict Management
• Get an opportunity to facilitate a program Live
• Participation Certificates at the end of the workshop
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