By Bob Pike
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Every trainer makes mistakes, whether they are new or seasoned. But the difference between an average trainer and an effective one comes after those mistakes are made. A good trainer learns from their mistakes and applies their results to future training sessions. There are a few common mistakes, however, that all trainers should know from their very first session. Below are a few of these frequently-seen mistakes – and the solutions to them.
Want to become a more effective trainer? Learn how to identify, avoid, and overcome the seven WORST mistakes when delivering training.
One of the biggest mistakes that trainers make is they have no “transfer strategy.” A transfer strategy is where training begins, long before it’s actually delivered, and continues until results are seen. The behavior everyone has during the training makes the difference. What you do before, during, and after training is very important. The solution for a poor transfer strategy is focus and clarity. The trainer needs to have clarity on the materials in order to provide the best training possible.
Another common problem is when training consists of too much content in a small timeframe. If there is too much to learn, nothing will be learned. To solve this, apply the minimalist set principle. Divide the content into three buckets: “Need to know,” “Nice to know,” and “Where to go.” Deliver the need-to-know information first.
Content needs to be delivered in easily digestible chunks. Throwing too much information at participants won’t help them retain it. Training expert Bob Pike says people can listen with understanding for about 90 minutes, with retention for 20 minutes and actively perform a task every eight minutes. Training sessions should not exceed 90 minutes without a break. During the session, deliver the content in 20-minute chunks followed by a review. People should be actively engaged every eight minutes during the session.
There are many more mistakes out there that need to be known by trainers. To learn more about how to avoid mistakes when training, watch The 7 Greatest Mistakes Trainers Make (and How to Avoid Them). Join training expert Bob Pike as he explores the worst mistakes trainers make when designing and delivering training and how to avoid them. He will cover mistakes in the following areas:
Bob Pike (1947-2023), CPLP Fellow, CSP, CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame, was known globally as the “trainer’s trainer.” He wrote more than 30 books and created dozens of videos on designing and delivering training. His Master Trainer’s Handbook remains the bestselling train-the-trainer book ever published, with more than 350,000 copies in print in four editions. He designed more than 600 one-plus day training programs in his lifetime and presented at every ATD International Conference & Exposition since 1977. Bob was a regular keynoter at global training and performance conferences in over 25 countries during his career, and his works have been translated into Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and more. The Bob Pike Group is an industry-leading firm providing training resources worldwide.
Want to become a more effective trainer? Learn how to identify, avoid, and overcome the seven WORST mistakes when delivering training.
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Explore the four dimensions of facilitation to overcome common training problems. The program covers various topics, including how to determine the appropriate content for the audience, the advantages of an active-learning approach, and how to handle difficult questions from learners.
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