A lot of people don’t actually know what they want. So they follow the crowd, hoping they’ll figure it out along the way. But even then, something still feels off. They’re not fully satisfied, because the thing they truly want (even if they can’t quite name it) hasn’t been met.
In training sessions, this shows up more often than we realise. It’s actually quite rare to meet participants who are clear about what they want to gain.
If you’re not convinced, try this during your next ice-breaking session. Ask them, “What do you want to get out of this training?”
Then listen carefully. How many will give you a clear, specific answer?
Now think about it, most of these participants didn’t just randomly end up in your session. They were informed earlier. There was probably a memo, a briefing, or at least some notice about the training topic. Which means they had time to think about it.
And if they had taken a moment to reflect, they should have at least some idea of what they want to learn.
So why do we still hear answers like:
- “I want to learn”
- “I want new knowledge”
- “I want to improve my skills”
- “My boss asked me to come”
These answers aren’t wrong. They’re honest. But they’re also vague.
Compare that to someone who knows what they want. Their answers sound different:
- “I want to understand the difference between method A and method B”
- “I want to see how I can apply this in my department”
- “I want to check if what I’ve been doing is actually correct”
- “I’m here to make sure I can represent my boss properly”
See the difference? One is general. The other is intentional. And that difference matters.
As trainers, it’s not just about delivering content. It’s about helping participants get what they came for, even if they’re not sure what that is yet.
For those who are still unclear, we need to guide them. Help them reflect. Help them define what they want.
Because if we don’t, there’s a risk they’ll walk away thinking the training wasn’t useful when in reality, they just never figured out what they were looking for in the first place.