People will be tolerant of good content that is poorly delivered if the presenter is not a trainer or speaker, but someone sharing lessons learned from a specific life event.
I see this occasionally at some of the conferences I have had the pleasure of presenting at. Some of the incident debriefs are done by officers who are not trainers, but have important information to share. In these cases the attendees understand if the delivery is lacking. If however, the officer is also an experienced trainer, the audience has a different level of expectation.
I have been at presentations by elite athletes who do not normally do public speaking, but have been asked to share some insights. In these cases the audience is sympathetic to the fact the person sharing is an athlete, not a speaker. If however, the athlete is on the speaking circuit then the expectations of the audience regarding both the content and delivery changes.
If you are a brand new trainer the participants will be more forgiving than if you are an experienced trainer, and rightly so, even if training is a peripheral duty.
As sport and performance psychologist Michael Gervais says, ”The three areas you can train are mind, body and craft.” Too often the one we neglect is craft, the craft of teaching.
If you are a trainer or speaker, even if it is part time, you need to work on that part of your craft continually. Regardless of how many times you have done a particular presentation you need to strive to make incremental improvements every time you teach it. You also need to show up with the energy, focus and commitment that the people in that class deserve from you. Remember it is not about you, it is about the learners, the participants in your training.
Sometimes despite your best efforts you will drop the ball for one or more people in the training. I know I have. When that happens, make sure you learn from the experience, regroup, recommit to practicing your craft and move forward.
Simple. Not always easy.
Take care.
Brian Willis
Winning Mind Training – Providing practical training to law enforcement professionals in the areas of instructor development, Performance Enhancement Imagery, leadership and mindset.
The Excellence in Training Academy – A membership site for law enforcement trainers seeking to invest in their ongoing professional development. Join Now.Dare to Be Great Leadership – Providing practical leadership training.
Address: