During my career in the training business one of the most rewarding development programmes I have ever run has been Train the Trainer. There is something very special about working with those new to the world of development and watching them progress and build their confidence to a point where they move on to develop other people. It’s like a development chain, passing on the baton to someone and trusting they will have the fulfilment from it that I have had.
However, with the fulfilment comes responsibility to ensure that, when we present a train the trainer training programme, that it is the very best that it can be. New trainers are very impressionable and the style and approach experienced trainers use when running these programmes will inform the style and approach of new trainers.
Those new to training, also need plenty of on-going support to ensure they build their confidence. I can recall a new trainer calling me one Saturday afternoon, in tears with the fear of a looming programme scheduled for the Monday morning. It took me back to my own development journey as a new trainer, when half way through a five day train the trainer programme, I announced to the wonderful trainer, Francis Burley, that I was leaving the residential programme. I felt I wasn’t able to do it and thought I would make a terrible trainer.
But for the support of Francis, a hugely competent and empathetic trainer, I would have abandoned the whole thing then and there and missed out on the most wonderful of careers. So I know from personal experience that support is essential and it is our responsibility as experienced trainers to ensure we offer that support to those new in this arena.
By Kasmin Cooney | Righttrack’s Managing Director