Langevin's Train-the-Trainer Blog

We can all relate to the constant chatter and distractions we encounter in our daily lives. One of those necessary distractions that has out-smarted us all, is our smart phone! Just like the American Express commercial says, “Don’t leave home without it.” And we see how everyone is forever connected to their phones.

I’m sure you’re aware of the saying “It’s not just what you know, but, who you know!” In todays’ business environment, this saying resonates with high volume. It can be challenging in the workplace to ensure all voices are heard, especially with so many employees working remotely, globally, and with such a variety of ways to communicate.

Every four years we are graced with the gift of being able to witness the “best of the best” athletes in the summer Olympics. I am always amazed, riveted, and spellbound by their abilities, whether they win the gold medal or not. Their performances are the result of years of planning, preparation, and practice. The process for developing our skills as trainers is similar in many ways.

I recently had an experience that made me think about the power that relevance plays in the instructional design and delivery of training programs, especially when the conditions are not optimal. As trainers, it’s not uncommon to work in conditions that are less than ideal. I’m sure we’ve all experienced rooms that are too hot, too cold, too small, and/or resources that are minimal or maybe even non-existent. I recently had one of these experiences, and what struck me the most was the participant’s reaction.

It continues to amaze me to hear about the number of companies and organizations who are still doing chalk and talks, data dumps, and death-by-power-point presentations, and calling them training. At Langevin, we teach that presentation alone is not training. A solid training program should contain a basic foundation of Presentation, Application, and Feedback, also known as PAF.

I’m sure we have all heard the cliché, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Learners attend training programs to gain knowledge and skill to improve their performance for their current job. However, what I often hear from many learners in my courses is a big “BUT!” The “but” is typically related to the challenges faced after training when they return to work. The most common challenges mentioned are a lack of time and a lack of management support to implement the new skills back on the job. These challenges don’t bode well for training transfer!

Most trainers are familiar with the term “Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP).” In its simplest form, this term identifies the three preferred learning styles most individuals have. They are as follows:

Visual—learners prefer to “See it.”
Auditory—learners prefer to “Hear it.”
Kinesthetic—learners prefer to “Do it.”

Many of you have likely had the great opportunity to attend a commencement ceremony. I had the wonderful privilege of attending my grandson’s college graduation. Occasions like this are always filled with so much joy. The cheers and excitement from family and friends are simply palpable as the graduates are being honored for their achievement. My eyes were filled with tears as my loved one walked across the stage to receive his degree; it’s an exhilarating moment to witness.

I was recently at the gym and overheard some complaints about one of the fitness instructors who is perceived as knowledgeable but cold. I felt the same way about her until I got to know her a little better. I discovered she is passionate about her job and sincerely cares about her clients. What she lacks is a smile. When she does smile she radiates warmth and kindness.