Stellar Training Tips and Skills Laura C. Brey, MS April 21-23, 2008

Stellar Training Tips and Skills
Laura C. Brey, MS
NASBHC Training of Trainers
April 21-23, 2008
Objectives
Review presentation tips from expert
trainers
 Identify expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

2
“There are two kinds of
speakers…..
Those that are nervous and
those that are liars.”
Mark Twain
3
The facts….
#1 fear is public speaking
 #7 is death
 Over 41% of people have some fear

4
The myths ……
God given talent
 Easier for them
 Don’t have to work at it
 Don't get nervous

5
Presentation Tips – Sample
Outline
Introduction
 Issue/Problem Statement
 Action Plan/Solutions
 Results
 Summary
“Tell them what you are going to tell
them, tell them, then tell them what you
told them” Russ Consulting

6
Presentation Tips –
Stance/ Posture
Assume a firm stance
 Stand tall
 Assume a natural hand position

7
Presentation Tips -Connecting
with the Audience
Use a strong voice
 Relax your face
 Establish eye contact
 Talk to the audience

8
Presentation Tips - General
Beware of non-verbals
 Explain acronyms and abbreviations
 Don’t wear distractive clothing or
jewelry

9
Supporting the presentation
Audiovisuals /Equipment

Electronic presentations
●
●
●
●
●
●
good color,
good for any size audience,
need technical expertise,
need laptop and LCD projector
must bring presentation on jump drive or CD-Rom
some jump drives are not compatible with older
laptops
● equipment can fail
● be sure to bring hard copy of the presentation for
handout and note taking
10
Supporting the presentation
Audiovisuals /Equipment

Slides
● easy to travel with,
● expensive,
● can't change content easily
● slide projector must be available
11
Supporting the presentation
Audiovisuals /Equipment

DVD or Videotape
● easy to travel with,
● Can be used as main tool of the
presentation or an adjunct to other parts
of the presentation,
● DVD or VCR player with projection must
be available
12
Supporting the presentation
with audiovisuals /equipment

Overhead transparencies
● cheap,
● easy to use,
● good back-up if other equipment fails or
not available,
● cluttered,
● create broken speech patterns,
● need overhead projector
13
Supporting the presentation
Audiovisuals /Equipment

Flipcharts
● cheap,
● good for brainstorming,
● difficult to post,
● need a scribe
14
Key points for designing visuals
Determine necessity
 Choose right one
 Design visuals right
 Deliver them well
 Make charts and graphs self
explanatory

15
Seven deadly sins of speakers
Lack of enthusiasm
 Distracting visuals, verbals and vocals
 Material that is too technical
 Failure to speak to time
 Poor preparation
 Information overload
 Inappropriate pace

16
Common training delivery
problems







Materials
Facilities
Media
Fear
Openings
Credibility
Personal
experiences







Difficult learners
Participation
Timing
Adjust instruction
Questions
Feedback
Dependence on
notes
17
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems 
Materials
● Be prepared ahead of time

Facilities
● Visit the facility before hand
● Arrive early
18
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Media
● Know your equipment
● Have back-ups
● Enlist assistance
19
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Fear
● Be well prepared
● Use ice breakers
● Acknowledge the fear
20
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Openings
● Have a file of icebreaker ideas
● Memorize your opening
● Relax trainees
21
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Credibility
● Don’t apologize
● Have an attitude of an expert
● Share personal background
22
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Personal experiences
● Report personal experiences
● Report experiences of others
● Use analogies,movies or famous people
23
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Difficult learners
● Confront problem learners
● Circumvent dominating behavior
● Small groups for timid behavior
24
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Participation
● Ask open ended questions
● Plan small group activities
● Invite participation
25
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Timing
● Plan well
● Practice, practice,practice
26
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Adjust Instruction
● Know group needs
● Request feedback
● Redesign during breaks
27
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Questions
● Answering questions
Anticipate questions
 Paraphrase learner’s questions
 “I don’t know” is Okay

● Asking questions

Ask concise questions
28
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Feedback
● Solicit informal feedback
● Do summative evaluations
29
Expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

Dependence on notes
● Notes are necessary
● Use cards
● Use visuals
● Practice
30
Summary
Know your learners
 Know yourself
 Prepare yourself
 Prepare the material
 Support the presentation

31
Where to Get More Information
Handouts
 Knowles, M, Holton,EF,and Swanson,
R The Adult Learner, 5th Ed.
Butterworth-Heinemann : Woburn,
Mass, 1998
 Brookfield, S Understanding and
Facilitating Adult Learning JosseyBass: san Francisco, 1986

32
Objectives
Review presentation tips from expert
trainers
 Identify expert solutions to common
training delivery problems

33