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TOT 172- WEEK 172
“RE- STRUCTURING ”
“ Technique of Restructuring “ helps trainers to prioritize different tasks /things/ problems that they feel compelled to handle or address. Following this technique in the training schedule makes the training/s more effective.
At times trainers may get tensed or confused when :
i)The major portion or considerable portion of the time allotted for their session is consumed by other previous speakers/ trainers.
ii) Knowingly or unknowingly the previous speakers have already spoken on the topic to be covered by them .
iii) The earlier speakers have referred to same examples/case histories which they wanted to refer .
iv) The simulation exercises or situational role plays /facilitation exercise/s that were chosen to be done cannot be done due to shortage of time , or because the previous speakers have covered the same during their presentation.
It is under such circumstances trainer has to restructure the presentation just before his or her presentation would commence. At times a trainer may get time for this restructuring during the time slot allocated for lunch break or tea break or health break. At times trainer may not get any time at all. In such circumstances the following steps may help trainers to overcome the effect of their disappointment prior to the session leading to anxiety, and performance pressure.
- Mental preparation
Trainer has to take few minutes time to calm down. Get into the problem solving mode. Get self motivated by positive affirmations . Should not get into the presentation all at once. Should not allow the trainees to even have the least glimpse of his/her anxieties.
2.Focus on what is to be done at any cost
Trainer has to make sure that irrespective of what ever the previous speaker/s has/have spoken on the topic to be considered by him/her , he/she has to give some more inputs on the concept. The following method may be considered:
Mr..A has already given some inputs on the present topic. Mr.A said… and …. ( Mention it in one or two lines or words) . I would like to give further inputs on this…
And proceed to give further inputs.
Thus trainer has to be aware that irrespective of whatever is being spoken by other speakers on the topic, he or she cannot choose not to speak on the given topic. It is in this context it is always said that broader and deeper content knowledge adds to the credibility factors of a trainer. An efficient trainer immediately decides, “ as this aspect of the concept is already dealt with by speakers A , B and C, I will deal with this aspect of the matter from thins angle , and I will give these additional inputs. ”
3). Focus on what is to be done First
Trainer may have to decide whether he/she should begin the presentation with an exercise/ case history/narrative/story line /puzzle or a slide show or with lecture mode.
If the earlier speaker/s has/have dealt with more of lecture/s , changing the mode of delivery may help to regain and retain the attention of adult learners.
4)What can be deferred
Trainer might have chosen to introduce 2 case histories, and an exercise- a narrative etc , to be covered in an allotted time slot of 60 minutes. Considering the fact that the trainer now has only thirty minutes, he/she should take a call on which example/s/ exercise/s/narrative/s can be deferred to be introduced later. Where trainer cannot make a mental note of it and remember, he/she can mark it on paper what is to be told/and what is to be deferred by marking two specific columns.
5) Delegation
Trainer can speak to other trainers later regarding the aspects deferred by him/her and request the other trainers/co trainers to include those components as part of their presentations at the relevant time or in consultation with co trainers , can carve out some time during the next sessions exclusively to deal with these components.
Trainer can also plan to circulate additional inputs by way of a notesheet to the trainees.
6) What is to be avoided
Trainer has to decide what need not be dealt with at all.
- Things which need elaborate explanations.
- Story/narratives which have complicated situations and more number of characters.
- Simulation exercises which require time for pre briefing and de briefing
- Asking open ended questions
- Answering questions which need lengthy answers
“If you fail to take control of your response to the situation , later you cannot blame the situation for taking control of you. “
SLAMW
(All Copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 