Week 29: Are we doing any of these?

Trainer is looking at only one group of trainees and ignoring the others.

It is often noticed that some trainers focus all their attention to only those seated in the first or/and second row/s ignoring the others. Some trainers address only those who are seated either to their left or to their right. Though the trainer may be audible to everyone, the others may feel disappointed. They lose the track. This practice may prompt the trainees to withdraw their attention. Some trainers speak only to one of the trainees, who keeps nodding the head, seemingly agreeing and sailing with the trainer.

TIP:

In the initial stages, while speaking to a larger audience trainer can look at the row behind the last row and speak. This will also help in reducing the fear of facing the audience directly. But a trainer may have to get trained to maintain the eye level matching to the eye level of the audience. Otherwise, while looking beyond the last row, it would look as though the trainer is addressing the wall/door/roof or the sky. Trainer may turn head slowly from one end to the other and get back in the same manner. Trainer may focus attention through the movements of eyes, on any one or two rows, pause for a while, be there with them, and then proceed.

Too many movements

Some trainers distract the attention of the trainees by too many movements. Trainees feel disturbed by their reckless movements. Many a times, trainees attribute this to the hidden tension and unpreparedness of the trainer. Too much of hand movements will also distract the focus of the trainees. Some trainers begin a sentence, and when they do not get an appropriate word move their hand and say “you can do this”, and move on to the next sentence. What do they mean by “this” is not made known to the trainees. When this is repeated by the trainer 2-3 times, trainees may lose their concentration on the topic.

TIP:

Standing at one place and communicating with the audience may be appropriate when the subject/topic chosen is suitable for a lecture mode. In training atmosphere, majority of the times , graceful movements are appreciated. Instead of standing on the dais, occasionally walking around the trainees and connecting with them while delivering the contents would be ideal.

Sound breathing

Some trainees have heard the sound of breath of some of the trainers. It may be the sound of inhaling and/or exhaling. This sound distracts the focus of the trainees. They may get a feeling that the trainer is tense and not confident.

TIP:

1. Trainer has to take a pause after one or two sentences.
2. When trainer feels tensed up and starts hearing the sound of his/her own breath, he/she may turn towards the white board and take two minutes in the pretext of finding the marker( even though it is in front of the trainer), and write on the board the word used or to be used by the trainer related to the topic.
3. Trainer may give commands of affirmation to himself/herself like “I am alright. I am calm. I can handle this” …. pause …. “Now I will begin”

Who will help you?

Many of the mistakes committed by a trainer may not be noticed, identified or recognized by himself or herself. It is expected that at the end of each session a trainer has to ask co-trainer/s as to whether he/she committed any of the mistakes mentioned above, and request him/her/them to give honest feedback and thank them for their feed back. Trainer may also get the video recording of at least a portion of the presentation and watch it calmly to notice the mistakes if any in the presentation. Trainer may have to request the co-trainer or lead trainer to do the video recording so that it remains confidential.

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says,

“I’ll try again tomorrow”

Mary Anne Radmacher

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(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)