Page 93 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 03 11/20/02 11:46 AM Page 82
82 The Creative Training Idea Book
Have there been times when you failed to plan and realized during the session that you forgot something?
If so, what challenges did that create for you and/or your participants?

What can you do in the future to ensure that you are ready for your sessions prior to the arrival of
participants?

PREPARING YOURSELF

A difficult concept for some trainers and facilitators to grasp is that they are not the
center of attention or the reason participants attend a program. It is the message and the
learning that results from their presence that is the crucial element; you and all trainers
are simply the catalyst or change agent for learning. Granted, some facilitators or trainers
are more effective than others owing to their “stage presence,” style, communication
ability, knowledge, and experience. If you put on too good of a show by using too many
bells, whistles, and fancy equipment, however, you can actually distract and detract from
comprehension of the message.
To prevent a negative learning experience from occurring, there are a number of per-
sonal areas that require advance attention.

Clothing

I have heard that within the first 30 seconds, participants form an impression of you
that can last a lifetime, no matter what you subsequently do. Coupled with the research
you read about in Chapter 1 related to attention span, this should certainly be reason
enough to focus on your appearance. What you wear and how you look is a very im-
portant part of setting the learning environment for your participants. The old adage,
“You never get a second chance to make a good first impression” is certainly true.
The standard advice for professional trainers and facilitators for years has been to
wear good quality clothing and dress equal to or one level above audience members.
Make sure that your clothing is clean, well tailored, and freshly pressed. Also, keep
jewelry low-key and minimal. What complicates this concept is that many organizations
now have casual days or dress down days in which employees wear all combinations of
clothing. This can certainly mean frustration and confusion for you. Often your dress
will be dictated by organizational culture, whether you are internal (working for an
organization) or external (consultant or contract trainer), the dress of participants, and
the topic and location of training. For example, if you are conducting ROPES training
in an outdoor environment, you may wear shorts and a collared sports shirt versus a suit
or dress in the corporate setting. Luckily, there are books (see Resources for Trainers in