TOT 145-WEEK 145
“ Work on yourself”.
“Never fail to address shortfalls”.
Trainers perform differently in different training programs. At times, even the best of the trainers may not feel satisfied at the end of their session. Notwithstanding appreciations and good comments and/ or feedback from trainees and co trainers, a trainer is the best person to assess his/her performance. Self audit is the best audit as far as training program is concerned. Something from within a trainer tells him/her that “ you could have done better”, “ You must have got your knowledge updated” , “You could have prepared better”, “ You could have been little more systematic”, “ You wasted your time here and there” etc. A good trainer does not fail to take serious note of what his /her conscience tells him/her at the end of each session. . He/she works on the same to see to it that such mistakes do not get repeated again. Best trainer is one who works more and more on oneself. Good trainers do not give justifications for their shortfalls. They try to overcome and win over their shortfalls. This is an absolute necessity as far as a trainer’s profession is concerned. Any one of the above said thoughts/reflections may come to a trainer at any point of time in his/her career as a trainer. It may cause little bit of disturbance and disappointment. Nevertheless , trainer has to address these areas with an open mind. Failing which, these initial signals will become tumbling blocks and obstruct the performance of a trainer.
Performance must get noticed and will get noticed:
Self assurance is also an important aspect.” No doubt, “I am confident. I can do well. I have conducted many trainings. Many have appreciated my performance”,.etc may all have to be repeatedly remembered in order to feel confident. But one should not keep over thinking about these , and stop working towards being better. Over confidence, false self assurances may stop the growth of an individual. Simple questions like the following may be asked by the trainer “ May be I was appreciated in the past. Does it mean to say, even now they will appreciate me? May be I did my best in that training program where the trainees were so and so.. will I be appreciated in this training program where trainees are so and so.?” Can I do something more this time? Can I do better this time?” etc..
Trainer must not forget that performance must get noticed and will get noticed. Trainees may be different..but by word of mouth the credibility factors of a trainer gets spread over. If the organisers of the trainings are same, some amongst them may notice that “ This trainer has not grown at all. He/she is what he/she was.. . “ “ Old wine in the very same old bottle” . “ Has not worked on contents. Has not worked on innovative delivery techniques.” etc. Even if no one notices or tells any of these things , trainer will know . Before the performance gets noticed by others, trainer will notice the negative aspects of his/her performance. Some trainers wipe of these observations, and, paint the same with positive false affirmations, and thus go down in their career.
What is hard?
“I cannot work so much.. There is no need to work so hard .. I can make things very simple.. This much is enough..” Such affirmations will not take the trainer forward. On the other hand ..”I can work little more. I can learn something more. I can do this better as I am capable of learning better ways “ etc can be positive affirmations. With these replaced affirmations if one starts working, no preparation becomes hard. No effort becomes hard.. When one commits to learning and working on one self , nothing remains hard. The process becomes enjoyable. Each day, with each skill /techniques getting added to the trainer’s personal treasure box trainer feels really competent. With a feeling of contentment , trainer’s performance reaches the ultimate level.
Where a trainer feels that trainer’s job is the hardest job, and he/she cannot cope up with it , but still would like to be in the career, it is better to give up. It is a wrong choice for such trainer to continue as a trainer. Before working on the trainees, every trainer must be well prepared to work on himself/herself.
“The worst jobs are not the hardest jobs. The worst job is the job you know is wrong for you.”
John Hodgman – American Author Actor and Humorist.
(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 