While conducting many courses at different locations across the US, with thousands of people in classes ranging in size from 3 to over 100, my internal focus when facilitating training has distilled into two objectives. I call them the Pillars of Training Success. I often share these at the beginning of a training class, both to set expectations for the students, and (perhaps more so) to remind myself of what is truly important.
First: Don’t Be Boring
Starting with the first Pillar: it is of utmost importance that the student is not bored. This means that I must work to the best of my ability to employ all the principles of Dynamic Speaking. Therefore, I bring my experiences, stories, and anecdotes to the material to add texture and make it more interesting. This is how I appeal to different learning styles with a variety of techniques. I tell, explain, and demonstrate; all to inspire students and help them have a positive interaction with the material. I never tell them that I am “excited to be here,” instead, I show them my passion, desire, and excitement in my delivery of the message. It is contagious. And it is also very intentional, as it leads to the other Pillar of Training Success.
Second: Do Add Value
Second, the training time that the audience has graciously given me to lead is not about me, or about whether I “get through” all the material that was prepared ahead of time. Instead, it is all about adding value to the students. John Maxwell summarized this in his book, 3 Things Successful People Do. Success is based on (1) knowing my purpose and (2) growing in that purpose, but it all comes together in (3) sowing seeds of value in others.
As a subject matter expert in front of a room of students, my success is dependent entirely upon the value that I have been granted the privilege and opportunity to bring to the students. Simply put, more important than what I bring is what they receive. That is why I focus on the student and the value that they will walk out with at the end of our time together, whether it is 20 minutes, 2 hours, 2 days, or 2 weeks.
Make the Pillars of Training Success yours. Then, remember them before and during the training you deliver. Attend the Executive Communication Master Class to learn how to implement the Dynamic Speaking principles into your public speaking. Measure your success as a workforce training facilitator by these two ideas:
1) Don’t be Boring
2) Do add Value
Pillars of Training Success – today’s CommLink. Be sure to look for more dynamic speaking principles, best practices, and tips from P H Tyson & Associates.