Advice for new trainers

Relax & Relate.. the first 5 minutes are the most important

Follow the 3 Golden Rules:

1. Relax & Relate – the most important ‘work’ is often done before the event starts, when you meet and build rapport individually with the learners.
2. Agree the Agenda with the group – Use the phrase ‘It’s your course’, to encourage involvement and ownership – especially with resistant participants.
3. Agree a clear ‘Course Protocol’ – i.e. what’s ‘ok’ and not ok, e.g. Ok: contributing, being receptive, having opinions,and sharing experiences, respecting the situation / other people, and having fun. Not ok: breaking event timings, being a ‘passenger’, not being willing to change, and ‘fighting’. I say this with tongue firmly in cheek, to relax the group and get people smiling at what can often be a tense or nervous moment for them.