Motivating Your Trainees: Making It Interesting So They Want To Learn
Who says dull material has to be dull? If you're dealing with material labeled dry or boring, ask yourself: "Why is it boring? Is it the content? Is it the way it's presented? Is it both?" The answers to these two questions can help you identify the problems you have to solve to make your training motivating.
Here are some ideas to make even the most dull topic motivating to your trainees.
1. Help people see the relevance of the material: show them how it relates to their real world.
2. Help trainees see a personal payoff: relate training to their concerns and construct it to solve their immediate problems.
3. Have trainees develop their own case studies and simulations so they can apply the content to real world stuff.
4. Use "expert" input from someone they respect.
5. Use interactivity as much as possible: paired discussions, small group and team activities, anything that gets them up and moving.
6. Change delivery methods often; don't lecture for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Mix in other techniques frequently--keep changing the pace.
7. Use real-life stories and examples to make points. Use demonstrations (trainees or yourself) to dramatize key points and make them memorable.
8. Become an interesting presenter: lots of voice inflection, pauses, facial expressions and enthusiasm. Move your arms and whole body: exhibit energy.
9. Stop often to solicit trainees' concerns and questions. Invite them to challenge points you've made to generate discussion about "will it work?"
10. Keep things moving!! Training must be fast paced, interactive, and even fun.
Copyright 2003 Paul G. Fox. All rights reserved.
Paul G. Fox, Fox Performance Training
1802 Meadowview Drive, East Windsor Connecticut 06088
"No Fluff Training™" on behavioral interviewing and negotiation
Website: http://www.foxperformance.com
E-mail: pfox500@earthlink.net
(860) 623-8288
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