May 8, 2011
Roy Bethge and Tim Janowick
Of all the descriptions ascribed to trainers, maybe the most important is leader. Regardless of rank or title, when it comes to your training event you are in charge. Are you ready to step up and accept this challenge?
Creating adult training requires considerable work to be effective. As the trainer, you are responsible for researching emerging trends and ensuring your content is current and relevant.
Adult learners expect leaders at the front of the classroom. Credibility for you and your topic are critical. For in-house instruction, the applicable phrase is “organizational credibility.” This provides unique challenges because many of your students know you personally. They know your strengths, weaknesses and most frighteningly, mistakes. When teaching for another institution or speaking at a seminar, instructor acceptance falls upon experience, presentation quality, and engagement. Do these ideas sound a lot like leadership?
Great trainers, like great leaders, do it from the front. Leader-educators facilitate learning and relationship establishment between the adult learner and the material by being willing to put others before self. Possessing a unique and strong ability to communicate visions and ideas, trainers move agencies forward. Again, aren’t these the same expectations we set for our leaders?
We can demonstrate our leadership skills in many ways. However, leading by example or through how we live our lives and perform our jobs is most important. Leaders take risks, are willing to make difficult decisions, and aren’t afraid to fail forward.
Step forward to do what’s right for the students, agency, and profession, regardless of whether it’s popular or not. Be a leader in everything that you do, your life and the lives of officers you train may depend on it.
This article appears in the May 2011 ILEETA Digest.