Anyone Can Train, Right?
From time to time, my blogs will come straight off one of my answers to a LInkedIn question. In this case, one poster queried the ASTD group as to how readers would respond to the belief that confronts many an educator, trainer, or training manager in the business environment. What is this belief, and who holds it?
The "who," in this case, is any decision-maker not in the company's performance improvement or training organization, but who has input or sign-off on the training that will happen in his or her department.
The belief is none other than (drum roll): "Training is easy, and anyone can train".
This usually means that our decision-maker has a subject matter expert (SME) on the staff, who they feel they can put in a training or conference room, or put on a conference call, and this SME will present to everyone, and everyone who hears the presentation will go away and do what they just learned.
Good luck with that, right?
There are a number of arguments against this scenario, but I prefer not to argue with it at all.
For one thing, it is not always untrue that a simple presentation from an expert is all that is needed. Sometimes, it's just the thing. Those of us who have trained and taught, and/or who manage training actually increase our credibility when we acknowledge this to our client and/or customers.
For another, on a tactical level, trying to make a client or customer wrong is never a great strategy for winning them over.
Last but not least, an overall communication strategy that includes raising an awareness of the value training professionals bring to their customers and clients will go a long way to dispelling this belief. Training professionals would succeed most (in their war on misinformation) by spending the bulk of their energy on this last bit.
I promise greater happiness and success to training professionals who (rather than trying battle this mindset in their heads or "on the field") practice thinking and communicating more like businesspeople.
Whether it's the overall message or a tactical discussion, training professionals gain credibility when they don't arbitrarily hold fast to training principles, but instead begin all interactions by both seeking the business value their client is trying to achieve, and acknowledging the good points of whatever approach their client is suggesting. After that, looking for common ground, and looking for ways of expanding the discussion. During all interactions, it is important not to get stuck on what is "right" or "wrong" in training, but instead bring focus to how we might cooperate with our client to meet the organizational, process or job level goals indicated.
In the past, I've used a variety of tools and techniques to help me overcome skepticism or undervaluing regarding training professionals. I've used everything from affinity diagrams, to performance consulting matrices to friendly interview with leading questions. Still, the one thing I believe makes the largest difference, regardless of tools and knowledge, is meeting the client with an attitude of curiosity, business understanding, empathy, appreciation, and interest. With a bit of skill, a few favorite tools, and a great attitude, the mindset of "anyone can train" need not hold anyone back.
We all have our opinions and favorite data points to convince others on what makes a great trainer. Personally, I'd love to always have a trainer who truly enjoys what he or she does; has great facilitation skills; is confident in his or her material; is comfortable in his or her own skin; has great content to work with; and understands the connection between what they are delivering, and the business objectives of the organization. I'm most comfortable when my client values the same things. Still, I'm not always going to get that. I'm therefore more successful (and happier) when I'm enjoying the challenge of making the most of whatever's at hand.
~MKP
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