Train the trainer: Techniques for effective workplace training

Training in the workplace is a bit like herding cats — it requires a mix of skill, strategy and a dash of patience. If you're tasked with sharpening your team's competencies, you're in the right spot. Let's break down how to run a solid training session that leaves everyone fired up and ready to roll.

Essential skills for trainers

Anyone can stand in front of a room and talk. But effective training? That's an art. Here are the three skills you'll want to engage during your sessions:

1. Communication: Clear, engaging and sometimes even entertaining communication strategies get the message across.
2. Adaptability: No two trainees are the same and curve balls are guaranteed. Stay adaptable to reach everyone at a personal level.
3. Subject matter expertise: If you're not the expert in the room, who is? Stay confident and leverage your knowledge as you move through the session.

When you nail these skills, you'll keep your trainees hooked and guide them through complex material with ease. You might even manage to make it all look effortless.

Engaging adult learners

I'll let you in on a secret about training adults: they've got baggage. Not the bad kind, of course, but years of experience and opinions that you've got to respect and harness. To keep them engaged, make the training interactive. Think workshops where they can get their hands dirty, simulations that make them think on their feet and case studies that hit close to home.

Adults don't want fluff — they want relevant training that they can apply immediately. Bring real value to the table by showing how the session will make their jobs more effective. Real-life examples and practical exercises are powerful tools to accomplish this.

Training delivery methods

Not all training is created equal and neither is how you deliver it. In-person training is great for building rapport and getting instant feedback, but let's not forget the power of virtual and blended learning. Virtual training is here to stay, offering flexibility and reach that in-person sessions can't match.

For face-to-face training, focus on creating an environment where people feel comfortable interacting and asking questions. In a virtual setting, keep things lively with polls, breakout rooms and interactive content. And if you want the best of both worlds, go for a blended approach — it's like the Swiss Army knife of training methods.

Assessing training needs

Before you start training, get to know what you're up against. A training needs assessment is your secret weapon for aligning your program with organisational needs. Gather intel from leadership, dig into performance data and pinpoint the gaps in knowledge or skills.

Once you've got the lay of the land, you can tailor your training to hit those targets. This makes sure every session moves the needle on your team's performance. If you're investing the time, you might as well make it count.

Measuring training effectiveness

Delivering a killer training session is great, but how do you know it worked? That's where measuring effectiveness comes in. Use surveys, quizzes and performance metrics to get the full picture.

Follow up with your trainees to see how they apply what they learned — and keep an eye on the data to track improvements. This will show the tangible impact you've made and can point to areas for improvement in your next session.

Practice continuous learning

Workplace training done right is a game-changer. By engaging with adult learners in a way that resonates with them, you'll ensure your training sessions aren't just good — they're legendary.
Ready to see how it's done? Sharpen your skills with our Train the Trainer course.