Engaging in meaningful conversations is important, but not all “good conversations” are pleasant and easy. Some will get you all fired up, but the whole point is to keep calm and composed as you reason to logic rather than respond emotionally.
Recently, a concern was raised by a participant about how an organisation selects individuals for trainer certification. The individual proceeds to point out that training is a talent that very few have – he, being one who has “trained” many and longer than the age of the TTT certification course itself, feels that public speaking is crucial for a person who wants to stand in front of others. Once a person can speak publicly with ease, they can “train on anything”.
While the participant’s concerns reflect his experience and perspective, it’s important to recognise that the training industry encompasses more than just speaking in front of an audience.
The training industry does not solely depend on the person talking in front. There are many roles, unseen by the lay person, that makes the training business run. If a person attends a Train-The-Trainer Certification Course to learn the foundation and later decides not to be in the limelight, he or she could still do other training related work from instructional design, to producing good quality training materials, to coordinating learning events, to sales and marketing, or even administrative work pre and post training.
On top of that, training is not just about talking or entertaining people with words, it’s about knowing how to assemble an end-to-end lesson plan within the limited time given (1 day, 2 days, etc.) A true trainer knows that public speaking is not enough. A true trainer knows that everyone can and should help others to grow – with or without fluency in speech.
Understanding and reflecting on different perspectives can be a valuable opportunity for self-improvement. While it’s not always possible to change someone’s mind or perception, their views can help identify areas for growth and enhancement, guiding future improvements in the training profession.