In the case of Instructor led Training (ILT), delivering the training is where the rubber hits the road.
Delivering training is in my view a science and an art. The same way that painting is a science and an art. To excel in painting you need to learn the science of painting: colors, mediums, light and shadow, composition and many other’s. It is then that you can reach the art of painting where you now use all the elements you have learnt to express moods, feelings, concepts etc.
So we here focus on the science of delivering training.
I am a big fan of the way City and Guilds has structured their syllabus so please go over a unit of their syllabus which covers delivering training. The way they have structured it is that on the left hand side it covers what a learner should be able to do after the unit and on the right side it gives the knowledge requirements to be able to do so.
Syllabus : Delivering training
Source: http://www.cityandguilds.com/45807.html?s=1
Each of us have learnt the hard way some do’s and don’ts in the training room.
I am especially keen to know:
- How do you handle the “here and now” when you have arrived and realised that the needs of this audience are different than what you have prepared for? Do you change and cater to this audience and run the risk of HR being upset that the content wasn’t covered or do you go on as planned?
- How do you handle learners who are causing delays, being argumentative etc?
- How do you handle client’s requests to have the learner’s manager sit in the training? In my experience these are mostly sales managers who want to oversee their team members and their very presence defeats the training as now none of their team members want to stick their neck out. Who would in front of a HIGH DI (according to DISC profile) person?
Please share you favourite do’s and don’ts. They are the nuggets of wisdom that you have collected over the years of being in training rooms.
I personally would like to emphasise one particular area that I feel has a tremendous effect on learning and that is creating a learning environment.
A learning environment is critical as without it your efforts may be going to naught. Please go over http://www.careercollegecentral.com/blogs/learning_environment as this encapsulates the importance of a learning environment.
It starts way before the delivery..the communication that is given to the learners…their bosses attitude towards training….whether the training is mandatory or voluntary….is it sponsored by self or company….All of these impact what happen’s in the training room.
Then comes how you set up the physical space where training has to occur.I myself have walked into many training rooms and am aghast at what I see and hear.
A few particular incidents are vivid in my mind.
A regular client called for a training and in the passing mentioned there will be a few more participants this time. When I reach in the morning I see:
- We have 40 participants. A few more!
- We are in an auditorium which will really impact the methodology. The chairs at the back are fixed with no ability to take notes. There are plush sofa’s in the front. Some plants are right up front .Oh I forgot to add the auditorium is decorated with white and blue balloons.
- There is a major difference in the level of understanding among the participants.
- Mike is working intermittently.
Also on day 1 there was a shortage of thali’s (food platters) which irked the participants.
Guess how well did the training go? How much effort would it take the trainer to try and overcome these huge barriers to learning.
Another incident that I can never forget is where a colleague of mine was training at a PSU and I was handling the project. I got a frantic call that somebody from the client’s office had rushed into the training room and grabbed the LCD projector and run out. I then called the training coordinator and came to know the Chairman was to present in the boardroom and all projectors were busy.
Guess, how did the training go? How much effort would it take a trainer to adapt to the new circumstance.
I am sure everyone has some stories to share. Please do share with the rest of us.
To know more about how to deliver a great training workshop please enroll in the Larks Training Clinic in Gurgaon,India.
Facilitators:
- Lovely Kumar – Chief Projects
- Anila Rattan – Chief Strategy
Larks Learning
Contact:lovely@larkslearning.com