The 10  commandments  for training

I have been doing many in-person training engagements. But there is a little twist to this kind of arrangement. The in-person engagements would require a reduced number of attendees yet would simultaneously be supported by a real-time live streaming activity so that more people could participate in the engagement. After two years of webinar training, I also need to brush up on in-person training and presentation because both platforms require different skills. And this would require a lot of adjustments and innovation on my part. But the team and I are prepared for this. We have invested in additional state-of-the-art equipment to help me better train and present. And yet, as I prepare for this, I realize that some things do not change no matter what platform is used.

Here is an old material entitled: “The 10 Commandments for Trainers.” If you happen to be a leader and need to communicate with your people, or if your work is responding to the divine calling of doing presentations, educating, and training, perhaps these ideas are helpful for you.

1. Thou shall be prepared for each class.

Prior to class, make sure you know the course material, technology, stumbling blocks, and the sequence of the exercises and topics. Review past evaluations of that course and see how you can enhance the learning.

2. Thou shall check logistics prior to class.

Prevent training nightmares by checking that the training room has the right supplies, course materials, equipment, room setup, etc. Confirm policies for late arrivals, emergencies, arrangements for breaks/lunches, access to the room before/after hours, etc.

3. Thou shall take responsibility for making the class succeed.

Take responsibility for reporting and solving, if possible, problems as they arise. Keep the class informed of your progress. Be responsive to the learners’ issues and concerns. Be patient and supportive of learners’ needs.

4. Thou shalt involve the learners and help develop independent learners.

Encourage all learners to be active and take responsibility for learning. Encourage learners to learn topics and answer questions using physical resources such as reference cards, manuals, or online help as part of the exercises. Use partner and team activities for review and concept application.

5. Thou shall emphasize comprehension over the content.

Do not sacrifice practice exercises for more content. Covering all the topics in the training manual is not as critical as making sure the learners can use the essential commands and functions. We learn best by doing, not by listening, and we know more through repetition and concept integration than through isolated topics.

6. Thou shall ask and show how the training can be applied to the learners’ job needs.

Take each skill you teach and ask managers and your learners. How can you adapt this skill/technique to the job demands? Anything taught outside of a job context is meaningless to most learners.

7. Thou shall honor the schedule and start class on time after breaks.

Time is money in a training class. If you start the class late, you waste the learners’ time and set a precedent for others that schedules are unimportant. Stick to any schedule you announce. Take short mini breaks to increase retention.

8. Thou shall have fun and enjoy the training.

Learning should be fun for you and the learners. Look for ways to energize your teaching style by adopting new analogies, ice-breakers, explanations, and team activities. Treat each class as the opening night of a Broadway show. Personalize the class by getting to know the learners, job needs, and challenges.

9. Thou shall solicit feedback throughout the class, not wait until the end evaluation.

Ask learners at the start of class to set a learning goal and ask periodically if this was met. Mingle with the learners during breaks to get informal feedback on the pace and comfort level of the material. Ask for the top three skills learned and the top three areas they need more practice.

10. Thou shall view training as a process, not an event.

Don’t let the training process end after class. Do some follow-up through email, surveys, and phone calls to see the effectiveness of the training and how to enhance it. Track help desk calls and keeps in touch with your learners. Use their ideas, talents, and accomplishments in future classes. Be a continual learner and experimenter.

Platforms change, and so do methods, but the mission remains the same. We train people because we want them to be successful. And in doing so, we are always the first to learn; not a bad arrangement after all.

(Francis Kong runs his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership 2.0 Master Class Online this Aug. 17-19. For inquiries and reservations, contact April at +63928-559-1798 or and for more information, visit www.levelupleadership.ph)