Trainer Styles
Most trainers understand that learners are diverse and bring different learning style preferences to a course or workshop. This means that one size will never fit all and explains why participants’ behaviour varies so that:
- some talk a lot while others are quiet
- some ask questions while others hold back
- some find the course too slow while others find it too fast
- some volunteer to present in general sessions while others steer well clear of the limelight
- some read the handouts provided while others don’t
- some produce lots of off-the-top-of-the-head ideas while others only produce pre-meditated ones
- some experiment with different ways of doing things while others cling cautiously to the familiar
- some are keen to get involved in exercises and have a go while others prefer to observe
- some like to be told while others like to work things out for themselves
- some are constantly distracted by messages and calls on mobile phones while others stay focused and concentrate on the job in hand.
Trainers have learning styles too and there is a tendency to use them as an excuse; “I’m an Activist so I work best with learners who are also Activist. That’s just the way I am”.
Trainers who are best equipped to help diverse learners:
- know their own learning style and how this spills over into their training style
- are alert to the learning styles of their participants
- adjust their style to cater for a range of different learning style preferences.
The Trainer Styles Questionnaire will help you self-assess your training style(s) and broaden your repertoire.