Posts Tagged ‘full day training class’

When talking with my friends, family and clients, I am sometimes asked about what it is like to be a trainer.  Often, they say that they are terrified of getting up to speak in front of people.  Others wonder about the crazy questions I might have received from students.  They want to know what it is “really” like to go to different businesses and train employees. 
 
Just like in every other career field, there are myths and questions about what it is like to “really” do that job.  (I often ask those same questions to lawyers and pilots.  I think I specifically ask people in those two careers because when I was younger, I had wanted to be a lawyer or a pilot when I grew up.)  When I am asked these questions, here are some things I tell people.
 
1) Yes, I do get nervous sometimes but not as much as when I first started years ago.  There are even some nights before a really tough training class that I don’t sleep well.  My husband can tell you exactly which classes those have been because, unfortunately, he didn’t sleep well either with all of my tossing and turning.  With years of successful training classes under my belt you would think that I wouldn’t worry about being asked a question that I am unable to answer properly.  I guess I just want to be prepared.
 
2) I still get an adrenaline rush when I am training. (If I am honest with myself, I think I may be addicted to it…kind of like a runners high.)  I think it probably results from the nervousness in combination with the excitement of helping others.  If I am doing a full-day training class, I start to feel the exhaustion about 1 hour after class is over.  So, by the time I drive home, I’m completely exhausted.  However, I’ve spent the day on high alert, trying to keep my brain one step ahead of what I am explaining, attempting to answer questions that can be very complex at points, and reading the students’ non-verbal signals to make sure everyone is satisfied and understand what we are going over in the class.
 
3) I actually do read all of the evaluations after the training.  I obviously enjoy the compliments but also learn from the suggestions too.  I try to adjust my training style or content for the next time.
 
4) I don’t do my job “just for the money”.  I actually enjoy helping others and care that they learn the software.  I think that most trainers would tell you the same thing.
 
I hope some of these “confessions of a trainer” help people understand what it is like to be a trainer.  Or, if you are a trainer reading this blog, I bet you may be smiling and nodding right now.