Posted on Jun 5, 2015
Instructors and trainers, what are your successful tips and strategies for conducting training?
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This is for all instructors out there, both active and prior, as well as civilian counterparts. Though not all-inclusive, I compiled a tentative list of questions I'd like to hear your answers on. Please include additional input as you see fit.
How do you prepare to instruct your people?
How do you make your presentation on point when delivering it?
How do you deal with stress and uncertainty should one occur?
How do you recover/rebounce from not being able to answer questions?
I'd like to hear your ideas and all major lessons that you've learned over time to better yourself as instructor. Thank you for sharing and God bless your expertise!
How do you prepare to instruct your people?
How do you make your presentation on point when delivering it?
How do you deal with stress and uncertainty should one occur?
How do you recover/rebounce from not being able to answer questions?
I'd like to hear your ideas and all major lessons that you've learned over time to better yourself as instructor. Thank you for sharing and God bless your expertise!
Instructor
Training
Schools
Education
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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These are all very good questions. First and foremost know your subject and who your audience will be. I often will create an outline of everything I want to go over for the class, just key bullet points if it’s the first time I have instructed a course I actually type up a script, I may not use it entirely but I always run through it once.
As far as presentations go DO NOT make them overly wordy you are going to elaborate on each slide in your presentation, I can also suggest that if you know who your audience is customize the presentation to speak to the audience you are presenting to. I teach in many different countries and what might be pertinent for one group may be totally irrelevant to another.
Stress is something even seasoned trainers/instructors have, for me it happens mainly when teaching a class for the first time, practice, practice, practice you could have a co-worker listen to you and in lieu of a co-worker at a minimum practice in front of a full length mirror it sounds a little crazy but it does help. The other thing to mention is to put some thought into possible questions your participants may have so that you are prepared for questions.
Again you are not going to know the answer to every single question BE HONEST if you don’t know the answer create a ‘parking lot’ for those questions and tell the class you will look into the question and email them once you know the answer, and sometimes you may be lucky enough to have an SME in class who knows or even another student.
As far as presentations go DO NOT make them overly wordy you are going to elaborate on each slide in your presentation, I can also suggest that if you know who your audience is customize the presentation to speak to the audience you are presenting to. I teach in many different countries and what might be pertinent for one group may be totally irrelevant to another.
Stress is something even seasoned trainers/instructors have, for me it happens mainly when teaching a class for the first time, practice, practice, practice you could have a co-worker listen to you and in lieu of a co-worker at a minimum practice in front of a full length mirror it sounds a little crazy but it does help. The other thing to mention is to put some thought into possible questions your participants may have so that you are prepared for questions.
Again you are not going to know the answer to every single question BE HONEST if you don’t know the answer create a ‘parking lot’ for those questions and tell the class you will look into the question and email them once you know the answer, and sometimes you may be lucky enough to have an SME in class who knows or even another student.
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How do you prepare to instruct your people?
Since I am in charge of setting the training schedule for my company (non-military) I am afforded the luxury of time when it comes to preparing for a class. I begin my planning at least 21 days out for any particular class, identifying location, speakers, accommodations, review material and I begin compiling the attendance list. Days prior I visit the site, even if I have been there numerous time, to troubleshoot any issues I may have in delivering my set of instructions. The day prior I visit the site again, set up what I can and rehearse portions of the instructions. The day of I finish setting up, well in advance of the first attendee showing up and I test all video and audio components.
How do you make your presentation on point when delivering it?
Like I mentioned above, since I pick the class that is being taught at any particular class I am provided with the advantage of time to ensure all material is up to date. When delivering the presentation I use our powerpoints, interactive software and other electronic guides and paper handouts to present based on a timeline identified in the beginning of the class to the students. I rarely do a class alone and usually have at least one, if not more, instructors helping out. If we run into an issue where a student or instructor keeps getting off track, it is the second instructors job to point it out and help keep the ball rolling. We do use example stories and scenarios, but we keep secondary chatter to a very strict minimum, except for during breaks.
How do you deal with stress and uncertainty should one occur?
Stress and uncertainty are part of the job. When we host a class, 9 times out of 10 some people who registered are not going to show up and some who didn't are. We have experienced issues with video and audio on numerous occasions (even though we troubleshoot issues prior to class starting shit still goes wrong) and like all humans we make mistakes (i.e. forget material, don't bring enough handouts, etc.). The best thing to help with uncertainty is preparation, having a backup means and maybe even a second backup means of providing the information, an alternative timeline and a well defined emergency response plan. As far as stress goes, like I mentioned above, we use multiple instructors, so when things get stressful we work with each other to reduce the stress, eliminate the stress or take turns having to put up with the stress.
How do you recover/rebounce from not being able to answer questions?
When it comes to the subjects I teach if I am unable to answer a question, I am almost always able to identify a source that could answer it. With that said, instructors get caught off guard all the time. I keep a pen and paper with me when I teach to take notes throughout the instruction and I write down any questions that through me off. I try and get the answer for the individual who asked it before the end of the day either by doing research myself or having another instructor do so when I am giving a block of instruction. I keep track of those questions and review them after the class in order to help prevent a repeat fumble on the same or similar question in the future.
I hope some of this information is useful to you. Good luck.
Since I am in charge of setting the training schedule for my company (non-military) I am afforded the luxury of time when it comes to preparing for a class. I begin my planning at least 21 days out for any particular class, identifying location, speakers, accommodations, review material and I begin compiling the attendance list. Days prior I visit the site, even if I have been there numerous time, to troubleshoot any issues I may have in delivering my set of instructions. The day prior I visit the site again, set up what I can and rehearse portions of the instructions. The day of I finish setting up, well in advance of the first attendee showing up and I test all video and audio components.
How do you make your presentation on point when delivering it?
Like I mentioned above, since I pick the class that is being taught at any particular class I am provided with the advantage of time to ensure all material is up to date. When delivering the presentation I use our powerpoints, interactive software and other electronic guides and paper handouts to present based on a timeline identified in the beginning of the class to the students. I rarely do a class alone and usually have at least one, if not more, instructors helping out. If we run into an issue where a student or instructor keeps getting off track, it is the second instructors job to point it out and help keep the ball rolling. We do use example stories and scenarios, but we keep secondary chatter to a very strict minimum, except for during breaks.
How do you deal with stress and uncertainty should one occur?
Stress and uncertainty are part of the job. When we host a class, 9 times out of 10 some people who registered are not going to show up and some who didn't are. We have experienced issues with video and audio on numerous occasions (even though we troubleshoot issues prior to class starting shit still goes wrong) and like all humans we make mistakes (i.e. forget material, don't bring enough handouts, etc.). The best thing to help with uncertainty is preparation, having a backup means and maybe even a second backup means of providing the information, an alternative timeline and a well defined emergency response plan. As far as stress goes, like I mentioned above, we use multiple instructors, so when things get stressful we work with each other to reduce the stress, eliminate the stress or take turns having to put up with the stress.
How do you recover/rebounce from not being able to answer questions?
When it comes to the subjects I teach if I am unable to answer a question, I am almost always able to identify a source that could answer it. With that said, instructors get caught off guard all the time. I keep a pen and paper with me when I teach to take notes throughout the instruction and I write down any questions that through me off. I try and get the answer for the individual who asked it before the end of the day either by doing research myself or having another instructor do so when I am giving a block of instruction. I keep track of those questions and review them after the class in order to help prevent a repeat fumble on the same or similar question in the future.
I hope some of this information is useful to you. Good luck.
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Some of these answer themselves but may not be as obvious as they seem. Some are subjective. Hmmmmm......
How do you prepare to instruct your people? Review and know the material. This will also help with the last question. Be well rested. If you aren't ready mentally you might as well go in with a target on your chest.
How do you make your presentation on point when delivering it? Anticipate the barriers to getting the message across. Know your target audience. Establish credibility with the audience.
How do you deal with stress and uncertainty should one occur? Kinda goes back to the first one. Knowing the material thoroughly and anticipating barriers should help keep stress low.
How do you recover/rebounce from not being able to answer questions? Following the previous tips, being prepared, should prevent lack of being able to answer questions. If you can't, inform the questioner that you are unable to answer the question adequately but you will get back to him/her that you will get back with a suitable answer. Follow up with the answer or you will loose credibility.
How do you prepare to instruct your people? Review and know the material. This will also help with the last question. Be well rested. If you aren't ready mentally you might as well go in with a target on your chest.
How do you make your presentation on point when delivering it? Anticipate the barriers to getting the message across. Know your target audience. Establish credibility with the audience.
How do you deal with stress and uncertainty should one occur? Kinda goes back to the first one. Knowing the material thoroughly and anticipating barriers should help keep stress low.
How do you recover/rebounce from not being able to answer questions? Following the previous tips, being prepared, should prevent lack of being able to answer questions. If you can't, inform the questioner that you are unable to answer the question adequately but you will get back to him/her that you will get back with a suitable answer. Follow up with the answer or you will loose credibility.
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There are some dependencies, perceptions, knowns and unknowns before engaging into being a US military instructor on site. You have to Be...Know...Do...
know yourself...set limits and boundaries
be technically and tactically proficient
know your stuff and direct it to your target population
do your job and acknowledge the performance standard
remember...you are up front and center but part of a team...
dont be a hero and get back to those who have questions for later
you can always say...let me get back with you on that...drive on...
know yourself...set limits and boundaries
be technically and tactically proficient
know your stuff and direct it to your target population
do your job and acknowledge the performance standard
remember...you are up front and center but part of a team...
dont be a hero and get back to those who have questions for later
you can always say...let me get back with you on that...drive on...
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