Many people outside of the training industry assume that corporate training (or any type of education really) is just “talking to an audience”. I can’t count the number of times someone has said to me “How hard can it be? It’s just standing in front of people and talking.”
Yes, absolutely.
And conducting an orchestra is just standing in front of musicians waving a stick. And Monet just painted a bunch of water lilies and called it art.
We have all had those moments when someone outside our field fails to see the complexity and skill involved (well, unless you’re a neurosurgeon. I don’t think anyone has ever said something like That to a neurosurgeon.)
While being able to talk in front of a group of participants is certainly part of it – anyone in front of the room has to be very mindful of the participants at all times – there is so much more to providing great, engaging and effective training
Great training involves using all the senses of the participants, a high level of interactivity and hands on practice and a feeling of safety and inclusion. We have all attended training that Nailed It! and those that, clearly, did not
In this new age of “The Great Pivot”, many companies are working to pivot their Instructor Lead Training to virtual, online training. Doing this pivot is a heavy lift and takes a large amount of time. Each activity must be translated into its virtual equivalent, the interaction must be increased and the sessions shortened to reduce fatigue and maintain engagement along with a host of other adaptions.
If you are undertaking this herculean task, be patient, be kind to yourself, and have faith – the outcome will be worth the effort.
