“Transitions” – Use them religiously and bore your participants to death!

As far as I can remember, way back in the past, my “Master Trainers” told me -
"After one module is completed, the trainer recaps/ summarizes key points made and then makes a few statements that smoothly connect to the next module and moves the discussion as smoothly as possible from one module to the next module. This is called 'transition'. As an aspiring trainer, you must religiously follow this rule. This is sacrosanct."


Do you remember your trips to Essel World or any other amusement park? What did you find more interesting – the big roller coaster ride or the lazy river? Roller Coaster with its sharp turns, bends and speed is exciting!. Try making your transition lines a roller coaster ride for your participants! Experiment different transitions with different audiences. You can even try humor in transition lines. Sometimes, you can even try the conventional “lazy river” way.

All I say is, experiment new approaches in training………….. Its exciting!. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT and be Good at it!

.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Poor Facilitation – Commit them at your own risk!

1. Failing to establish rapport with the participants, early on in the workshop

First impressions do count. The way you introduce yourself and the tone that you set as you begin the workshop, will either engage participants or have them tuned out.

2. Improper pacing

It gives a great feeling to participants and to the trainer when information is presented in a variety of ways with a smooth pacing, so that everything flows and the workshop begins and ends on time, as promised.

3. Poorly designed handouts

A well designed handout allows facilitator to share just the right amount of information – and also can lend itself to an opportunity for follow up.

4. Get caught up in tangents, get off track and lose focus of the workshop

When a facilitator gets caught up in questions and concerns of the participants and doesn’t bring the workshop back to focus, the facilitator loses credibility.

5. Making the topic too broad or too narrow and not meeting needs of the participants

With a foolproof system of ‘just the right’ amount of material, you can deliver a clear message and have participants wanting more by following up.

6. Poor organization and not being prepared for last minute, unexpected problems

With a properly designed workshop outline, extra supplies on hand, a proven system for keeping track of time and a complete checklist, you can present a professional workshop that just cannot go off track.

7. Not including individualized attention when an opportunity presents itself

Individualized attention is an excellent way to connect with your audience and the facilitator should make maximum of this opportunity to connect with individual participants and address their concerns, while ensuring remaining participants do not lose interest.

.

A Bit of Platform Skills – don’t listen to so called “experts”, develop your very own style and be good at it!

Should you, as a trainer, laugh or not laugh at your jokes and stories

Many so called experts, especially Master Trainers in Train-the-Trainer programmes, tell you to strictly follow their style. This, they say, is the ultimate approach. The problem is that these “experts” went to just one Train-the-Trainer programme in their life. They picked up every detail that their “Master” dished out of his/her magic bag. For the rest of their life as trainers they have used only that method.

For example, some of these so called "experts" say that you should not laugh at your own jokes and stories during a training programme. What I suggest is that you should develop your style. Some of you may like the idea of not laughing at your own jokes and stories. Well that’s your style – great for you!

My style is different. I like to enjoy humor with my participants. I believe that laughter is a universal language that helps me to connect with my audience. Sometimes I may also use laughter to inform participants its time to laugh and lighten the climate (its almost like holding an “Applause” sign board). I believe, laughter is contagious, you laugh and your participants laugh with you. Well, that's my style!

You may want to develop a different style – entirely your own. Great, go ahead!

If you are a Master Trainer, you should encourage new trainers to develop their style. You should use your experience and knowledge to help them achieve their best performance. “CELEBRATE DIFFERENCES” is the key.