April-May - Volume 1, Issue 3

Good Trainers Must Be Good People

What attribute is more important in a good trainer, technical knowledge or human-relations skills?

You've probably taken classes taught by a trainer who was strong in one of these areas and weak in the other. Either way, you probably weren't pleased.

The instructor who can talk bits and bytes ad nauseam, leaving the trainee in a void, will alienate or intimidate. Similarly, the warm, fuzzy, feel-good instructor who doesn't know the subject will frustrate the trainees. Neither one is entirely successful at promoting learning.

While technical and presentation skills can be learned in a matter of weeks, a professional trainer must also display strong interpersonal skills. But which ones are the most crucial?

Patience
Adult trainees are sensitive to criticism, whether direct or implied. Trainees need to feel comfortable enough to admit what they don't know in order to learn. If the trainer shows impatience, rushes past a question or misses a confused look, the student might just shut down and write off the training as a waste of time. Which it is.

Interest
A trainer needs to be genuinely interested in helping others learn. People who are more interested in showing off what they know, or establishing themselves as the authority, will probably not pay attention to whether or not the students are actually learning.

Sociability
Anyone who truly likes people has the potential to become an effective trainer. Those who don't, cannot create an effective learning environment, encouraging the dialogue that is necessary to discover and learn. Also, look for maturity and the ability to create a rapport with a group of peers. All learners deserve equal respect and a chance to learn.

A willingness to learn
A good trainer is not the sort to view a lack of knowledge as a weakness. Instead, they will be the first to recognise and admit what they do not know. A good trainer must be willing to accept coaching to become a better trainer.

A helpful and positive attitude
A trainer needs to do whatever it takes to facilitate learning, serving the needs of the learners without fanfare.

Experienced
The best trainers understand their trainees' work processes and procedures. Trainers gain credibility by being able to speak the students' language and clearly explain how the new information and skills will meet on-the-job needs.

ICT training is more about communicating and relating than teaching facts, it is about empathy, patience and respect than technical know-how. Its tools and techniques, while important, are the icing on the cake. The human skills come first. They take a special gift.