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There are many things in life that require a tune-up periodically to ensure consistent performance. For example, I have to tune up my car, bicycle, and heating system. Almost everything breaks down over time but professionals help us prolong the life of our vehicles and other possessions. Well, trainers can also break down over time if we’re not careful. Instructor burnout is a real problem especially if we conduct too many training sessions mixed with constant travel.
This blog is about how to keep our training skills sharp and well-tuned so we can prolong our time as trainers and keep our performance top-notch.
In our instructional techniques workshops, we offer many checklists full of ideas to incorporate into our training. New ideas and instructional techniques keep our training fresh and new. When we change things up there are many benefits to both our learners and ourselves. Our trainees learn better and stay engaged, and we continue to enjoy what we do and prolong our time in the profession.
The following five instructional techniques are some of my favorites to keep your skills sharp and your training fresh:
1. Always point out how the course content fits into your learner’s jobs.
2. Do unexpected things like sitting with the learners or telling a short story.
3. Have learners choose from a variety of activities instead of everyone doing the same thing.
4. Towards the end of a long training day or week, perform a simple magic trick to boost the energy level in the room.
5. Use brainteasers when learners return from breaks to refocus the class in a fun way.
There are many instructional techniques we can incorporate to liven up our training and prevent burnout—I’ve only shared a few of my favorites! In training there is always more than one way to do just about everything. Keep that in mind when you design your classes.
What do you do to prevent burnout and keep your training lively and varied?
