TOT 63: “Less is More”

What is success for a trainer? Trainer’s presentation being appreciated? Trainer being congratulated by many? Trainer getting a feeling that I have done the best and no one has done as much as I have done? ‘Compared to others I am the very best’- self affirmation?

In order to be a good trainer, focus should shift from the trainer to the trainee. Replace the above questions with the following: How much could I connect with the trainees? How much of information communicated by me has reached the trainees in the manner in which it was required to reach? Are the trainees capable of making use of the knowledge I have imparted in their practical mediations? Of what use is my presentation to the trainees in their field work?

Trainer cannot ignore the fact that Mediation training is given to adults. Majority of them might have completed their academic studies long back. Attending 40 hours’ training program, sitting in the sessions as in college days from morning till evening, listening to various new concepts (many concepts unheard of by them), doing many exercises/role-plays etc. will definitely be a welcome experience for the trainers. Trainer should not forget that many of the trainees are listening for the first time to what is being said, and hence there would be no opportunity for them to compare with any other information received by them earlier, or they would not be knowing whether the trainer is right or wrong. But trainees’ ignorance should not be taken advantage by the trainer. “No one can find fault with me because, no one knows the subject”, should not be the attitude of the trainer. Trainer cannot ignore the fact that if the fundamentals reach the trainees incorrectly the very objective of the training would get lost. The trainees who would be mediators after 40 hours’ training followed by some practical mediations, may commit many mistakes which may be harmful to the very system itself. Trainer cannot ignore the fact that each concept introduced in mediation training is in one way or the other interlinked to some other concept/s. Hence extra caution has to be taken in deeper understanding of the concepts.

Errors committed

1. Collecting information about a topic from various sources without any basis and structure.
2. Overloading slides with information downloaded from google etc.
3. Trying to exhibit that trainer is very knowledgeable
4. Not focusing on what is the least that is required to be known by the trainees.
5. Not focusing on fundamentals

Suggestions

1. Understand the concept at the grassroot level.
2. Cross check with others as to whether the understanding is correct or whether it needs correction.
3. Focus on not more than 3-4 points to canvas a concept.
4. Make the trainees understand the concept clearly, so that their foundation remains strong.
5. Substantiate with appropriate examples/exercises/case histories

“Success is dangerous. One begins to copy oneself and to copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others”.

Pablo Picasso

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