Top Ten Tips for... Delivering a Great Training Session

The benefits of training in the workplace are undeniable - it's a great way to boost morale, re-focus your team and enhance and develop your employees. So, how can you make sure you're delivering a training session that's truly beneficial for your team and your business?

Read on for our Top Ten Tips...

1. Tell your delegates what they can expect in advance

Start your training session off on the right foot by ensuring everyone in attendance knows what they can expect from the day. Whether you reach out to every delegate beforehand with an itinerary or simply incorporate an in-depth introduction into your programme, it’s important that your trainees know what points will be covered within the session and what they can expect from the day.

2. Use all the senses

It’s a well-known fact that everyone finds it easier to learn in different ways. Some may be visual learners while others prefer hands-on experience. Try and incorporate as many different learning styles into your session, you could even get creative and use different sounds or food and drink to emphasise the key points in your programme.

3. Demonstrations and practical activities

Similarly to the point above, you may lose the attention of some of your delegates if you simply stand there and recite information from a PowerPoint presentation. How can you make the training more hands-on? Get your trainees involved in practical demonstrations or activities and they are more likely to remember your key points and gain a greater understanding of the subject matter.

4. Test what they’ve learnt so far

Incorporating tests and quizzes into your training session is also a great way to ensure your attendees play extra close attention to the material. Particularly if you have a lot of information to get through, break it up into smaller chunks and follow each module with some quiz questions. This is a great way for you to determine whether your training session is having the desired results.

5. Involve your trainees

Throughout the session, ask your trainees to share their experiences with the training topic. Many of your delegates will be experienced personnel who have valuable information to contribute and they are likely to get more out of the session by hearing about their co-workers’ experiences. Hearing different voices will also keep the day varied and interesting.

6. Don’t be afraid to repeat yourself

It’s good practice to get into the habit of repeating questions before you answer them. Whether these are questions you’re asking the group or queries from the trainees, this simple trick will ensure that all participants know what the question is so they can make sense of the answer.

7. Analyse the session as you go

Whether you are new to delivering training sessions or you have plenty of experience, it’s always a good idea to evaluate your own session as the day progresses. Be on the lookout for what works best and when you discover a new technique or method that clicks with the group, make a note of it so that it can be incorporated into future sessions.

8. Keep the session on track

As the organiser, remember to prioritise time management and try to make sure your session starts and finishes on time. If you’ve created a schedule and the delegates are aware of it, you should follow this closely to ensure you have enough time to fit in all aspects of your training. Consider that some areas of your training may require more time than others and don’t forget to allow some leeway to answer any questions your trainees may have.

9. Put yourself in their shoes – or seats

Remember to give frequent breaks, especially for all-day and half-day sessions. It can be tricky for most people to concentrate for an extended period of time and regular breaks have been linked to improving concentration. Pausing for tea and coffee also gives your trainees a bit of time to chat with each other, making connections that could be beneficial for them in the future.

10. Ask for feedback

There is always room for improvement, so don’t forget to ask your delegates for feedback on the training session. How did they find the day overall? What were the highlights? Was there anything they didn’t find effective? People may be more comfortable giving their critiques anonymously, while some may offer to discuss their thoughts in person – choose whichever style works best for your group. Trainee input is vital for making the next session, and the overall training program, more effective.

Recent articles:

Share This Post

Posted In

Top Ten Tips

cHRysos HR Solutions are a UK wide HR training and consultancy company offering CIPD accredited qualifications, Apprenticeships, Training and HR Services to SMEs. For more information about how cHRysos HR can help you or your teams successfully achieve further qualifications, contact us on info@chrysos.org.uk or call 03300 562443.