Part 1 (of 3)

In this three-part series, we will to get back to the basics, and perhaps look at them in a new way.  Helping adults learn is a unique skill that you or the trainers you work with have, no doubt, refined over time.  We are going to take a look back at the skills make the most difference when engaging a group audience in learning new skills, products or processes.

You already know that your audiences have about 500 hours of previous education under their belts for every hour you spend with them in a training program. And that presents an interesting challenge for the trainer. This means that when trainers introduce new information to audiences, they have a unique challenge ahead of them

We will begin by reviewing the importance of the physical environment and tone of the training setting and offer some solutions to less than ideal situations.

In the second article we will look at many of the tactics that trainers use to establish, generate and maintain engagement in the training setting.  It will offer you a smorgasbord of methods for keeping eyes and intellect open as you do your job of conveying information from your notes to the minds of your trainees.

In the third and last installment, we will talk about how you can improve your training processes, hire and train effect training staff and insert evaluation and support systems into your training programs. 

Physical Environment and Tone

You can have the best curriculum, be the best presenter and have a unique combination of students, but if the surroundings are not appropriate, your message will fall on distracted ears. 

The classic example here is training courses that take place in the “ad hoc” environment of a field office.  Since they are still accessible, trainees are constantly called out of class to put out fires that come up in their regular jobs.  Trainees often leave early for lunch and return late, as they have gotten involved in pressing matters back at their desk. 

The bottom line is that it is critical to create an environment that is somehow “untouchable” by typical challenges.  When creating or assisting in the creation of the training budget, make sure the training environment itself is a consideration.  If it is possible to make it “interruption-proof”, then do so.

The relaxed yet businesslike environment is ideal, but can be difficult to achieve.  Trainers walk a tightrope of conveying a relaxed tone while emphasizing the importance of keeping interruptions to a minimum. 

Help your trainees take the session and its content just as seriously as you do by using the first few minutes to state (in a friendly way) the expectations you have for PDAs and cell phone use as well as the general session schedule and its breaks.

You will also find that it is helpful to set goals and expectations at the beginning of the session.  For example, will there be any involvement expected of them?  Do you want them to take notes?  How will this training be different from what they may have attended in the past?  Letting your audience know these points at the outset gives them the chance to make a conscious decision regarding sustained engagement. 

The next article in this series will delve deeper into audience connection, and how to maintain engagement throughout the training.