Tag Archives: Trainer Training
What trainers can learn from Standup Comedians
Perhaps I have been watching too much late night television, but recently I have come to the conclusion that there are a lot of things that trainers can learn from stand- up comedians. As a result, I have compiled a list of advice that I think crosses over well: 1. Know your audience. The most …
7 Easy Steps for Success for Session Planning
I continue to be amazed at how little preparation seems to go into presentations. Outside of our training and assessment space, I do get an opportunity to see a range of presentations via conferences and workshops and whilst the presenters tend to have good subject matter knowledge they seem to lack an ability to plan …
How to manage difficult behaviours in training
Even experienced trainers with the latest resources and most interesting training material can be thrown off course by the behaviours of difficult participants. Therefore, it is important to load the kit bag with a variety of tools and techniques to overcome the dilemmas presented by some students. One of the simple things that can be …
5 Reasons why people don’t ask questions in training
Most participants’ brains seem to stop functioning when you invite them to ask questions. It’s like at the mere mention of the phrase “are there any questions” a chain-reaction of nuclear proportions engulfs the participants’ brains and they all become suddenly quiet as the fallout spreads through their bodies and renders them incapable of even …
Training and Learning with The Broccoli Solution!
After attending Training Magazine’s Annual Conference in San Diego in February, I caught up with some new friends to discuss what we learned. It was a veritable United Nations meeting with representatives from Canada, the US and Australia and a truly robust discussion was had. As we debriefed the conference together at Morton’s Steakhouse, we …
Motivating our Teachers in PD and Training
Recently I was approached by Teacher Magazine to write an article around how to motivate teachers during Professional Development and Training. The full article “All Aboard: Reluctant passengers on the training journey” will appear in their March edition. Below are some thoughts on the topic: Motivating teachers is difficult. We don’t always make the best …
Wander with Purpose
Often trainers move around their space without much thought of where to move and why. Rather than this restless wandering, we should wander with purpose. We should be somewhere because we choose it, not because we want to fill the space. We should move somewhere because it adds to the message, not because we don’t …
The Butterfly Effect
I was asked to say a few words at a closing ceremony of a training course recently and in my speech I provided some tips for giving successful presentations. I talked about the “Butterfly Effect”, (not to be confused with that film with Ashton Kutcher), where people get nervous in front of the group. In …