We’ve all seen it…or worse, been part of it. You, or someone you know is REALLY good at doing their job, or knowing a product or process, and they get asked to train the “new hire.” They’re handed a slide deck, and maybe use of the conference room, and “voila”, they are the mentors for the future success of the company. That’s NOT a good strategy, and we all know it!
The truth is, being a SME doesn’t mean we are prepared to be “effective” trainers. Knowing how to deliver training that helps to create change in a learner is a skill, and just like anything else, it needs to be learned, practiced and developed. Knowing how to engage an audience of learners (or just one), when to use different learning tools, and frankly, when to stop talking and let the learners engage, is something that takes time to master. This is not impossible and should be part of EVERY trainer’s development plan.
So, if you’re a trainer -in the field or in the classroom, if you manage trainers, or for that matter, simply CARE about your company’s success…ask yourself, “What are we doing to engage and develop the people who are guiding our future?”. Once you’ve done that, you’ve passed “A” …now let’s start planning on how to get to “B”!
Mike Repsher
Senior Partner, TrainInc. Medical Device Training Consulting
TrainInc. Consulting 