RICHARD CHANG ASSOCIATES, INC.

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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES



APPLYING SUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES
TURN A GOOD PROGRAM INTO A GREAT ONE


Whether you are a consultant who has spent the last fifteen years
facilitating training sessions or a recent graduate who is about to
train your first session, this workbook is for you.
This guide includes the foundational methods and practices for
training and/ or facilitating a training session. It prompts you on
what you need to know to set up and successfully deliver a training
program.
If you have been a facilitator for years, then consider this
information a quick tune-upafter all, it may be time to oil a few
squeaky joints! Invaluable resources have been included in these
materials to add to your tool belt and help you facilitate smooth
and successful training.
The tools and techniques provided in these materials are designed
to develop your skills as a facilitator.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this session, you will be able to:

1. Use effective training and facilitation techniques to help ensure
successful transfer of information to the participants
2. Create and use successful materials and support materials within an
environment conducive to learning
3. Develop your own personal improvement plan to enhance your
facilitator competencies


In clu d ed with th is P articip an t
Wo rkb o o k are th e fo llo win g
guidebo o ks, published by R ichard
C hang Asso ciates, Inc.
Applying S uccessful Training
Techniques
C reating H igh-Im pact Training

RICHARD CHANG ASSOCIATES, INC.
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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES



EMPLOYING SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY SKILLS



Your message may be great, but your audience might never hear it
if theyre too distracted by your delivery. Successful facilitators
have honed their delivery skillsboth verbal and nonverbal.
Verbal Delivery
Skills
One of the most important facilitator tools is the voice. To take full
advantage of your voice, incorporate the following vocal
characteristics.
CHARACTERISTIC EXPLANATION
Pleasant
A pleasant voice conveys a sense of warmth and is
easy to listen to over extended periods of time.
Natural
A voice that is natural reflects your true
personality and sincerity. It doesnt come across
to others as being practiced or constrained. In
addition, use a natural, even pacenot too fast,
not too slow.
Dynamic
A dynamic voice gives the impression of force and
strength, even when it isnt especially loud.
It commands attention at appropriate times. Its
helpful to develop a dynamic voice for speaking
in front of large groups.
Expressive
An expressive voice portrays subtle differences in
meaning. It never sounds monotonous or
emotionless.
Easily Heard
If your voice can be easily heard, it projects the
proper volume for the size of the group to whom
youre speaking. Also, making sure you are easily
heard is especially important when using AV
equipment or darkening the room.



To practice these techniques, tape-record yourself presenting your
training materials. This practice will help you incorporate the
characteristics of an effective speaking voice.


P ractice is in stru m en tal
in im p ro vin g yo u r
sp eakin g vo ice.

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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES


Exercise # 2

QUESTIONING TECHNIQUES

Methods For
Asking Questions
The following questioning methods represent some of the more
common ways to effectively ask questions.
1. Recall facts: ask participants about specific facts or concepts to
check for understanding.
2. Make comparisons: have participants compare the known with
the unknown to promote transfer of learning.
3. Probe for opinions: ask participants for their points of view to
discover and/ or correct misconceptions.
4. Propose a case to solve: ask participants to manipulate
information and arrive at a reasonable answer to practice
recently acquired knowledge or skills.
Your Turn
With the above techniques in mind, think about which questions
prove to be the most difficult for participants to answer in your
training classes. How can you best handle these situations?

QUESTIONING METHOD HOWTO HANDLE

A. A.

B. B.

C. C.

D. D.


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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES



CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGHIMPACT TRAINING
MATERIALS


Quality Indicators
Look for the following quality indicators when developing
additional training support materials for your program.

QUALITY TRAITS OF HIGHIMPACT TOOLS
Visible

Message can be easily seen
Materials can be easily read
Simple

Content is digestible, limited
Key words and concepts
are highlighted
Accurate

Information is up-to-date,
factual, properly ordered,
and complete
If revisions are done, all
training materials reflect
the changes
Interesting

The design, colors, and
graphics attract attention
The illustrations and examples
promote retention
Practical

Program can be easily
identified with from the
trainees point of view
Tools provided are
application-oriented and easy
to understand


Train in g su p p o rt
m aterials are th o se
critical co m p o n en ts flip
ch arts, o verh ead s,
m an u als, etc.) th at can
m ake o r b reak yo u r
train in g effo rt.

C reating H igh-Im pact Training
Page 58

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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES



FACILITATOR COMPETENCY LIST


Successful facilitation requires proficiency in a number of core
competency areas. These competency areas include:
Training Methods
Facilitation Skills
Verbal Skills
Nonverbal Skills
Effective Use Of Trainer Support Materials
The following list presents core competencies that you can use to
measure your effectiveness as a facilitator.
CORE COMPETENCY DESCRIPTION
Training Methods
1. Present an
effective
introduction
Explain session relevance, highlight objectives
(in doing so, demonstrate your understanding of
them), and inform participants of expectations
during the session and back on the job.
2. Use an effective
ice breaker
Put participants at ease at the beginning ofand
throughoutthe training session.
3. Establish rapport
Build interpersonal support with participants;
establish a relationship that provides a
foundation for trust.
4. Use examples to
emphasize key
points
Use examples, stories, and analogies to
emphasize key points that are both relevant to
your audience and clarify the material.
5. Exhibit
knowledge of
material
Explain fully the skills and concepts being taught
through stories and examples, materials and
visuals, sequence and flow.
6. Demonstrate
flexibility
Flex your communication style to maximize
learning; adjust the schedule to meet learning
objectives and the needs of participants.
7. Utilize effective
questioning
Ask thought-provoking questions that challenge
the participants and enhance the learning
process.
8. Answer questions
effectively
Provide clear, concise, accurate, and
understandable answers to questions posed by
participants.

Applying S uccessful Training
Techniques
Page 90

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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES



IDEAS TO HELP MARKET TRAINING


Creating
Opportunities
For Success
Opportunities for getting organizational and management support
for your training program abound throughout the entire training
process. If you take advantage of these marketing opportunities,
you can improve both participation and the return on your training
investments.
Marketing Strategy
Checklist

From start to finish, the following checklist provides you with
specific actions you can take to successfully sell and market your
training initiative.
Use this checklist as an idea generator, and check off those specific
actions you find feasible to sell and market your training
initiativeand which will help you gain both organizational and
management support.
TRAINING STAGE YES NO SUGGESTIONS FOR GETTING BUY-IN
1. Needs
Assessment
#






#


#




#
#






#


#




#

1.1 Determine current critical business
issues, needs, and trends. Use the
information to create a foundation for
establishing targeted training
objectives and for generating support.
Show that training is a business
necessity.
1.2 Publish your findings and solicit
input for a strategic training and
development plan.
1.3 Meet with your customers who are
perceived to exhibit highly-valued
business behaviors and ask them what
critical skills they want to further
develop. Share your findings.
1.4 Your ideas:









Th e tasks o u tlin ed in th is
ch ecklist p arallel th e life
cycle o f a train in g
in itiative. Th ey start with
set-u p an d m o ve
ch ro n o lo gically th ro u gh
im p lem en tatio n
an d evalu atio n .

RICHARD CHANG ASSOCIATES, INC.
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APPLYINGSUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES



APPLYING SUCCESSFUL TRAINING TECHNIQUES
TURN A GOOD PROGRAM INTO A GREAT ONE


Personal Action
Plan


Key learnings:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

I need to contact and involve the following:
Name How When
_______________________ ____________________________________ ______________
_______________________ ____________________________________ ______________
_______________________ ____________________________________ ______________
_______________________ ____________________________________ ______________

The specific action steps I will carry out on the job include:
What When
1. ______________________________________________________________ ______________
2. ______________________________________________________________ ______________
3. ______________________________________________________________ ______________
4. ______________________________________________________________ ______________
5. ______________________________________________________________ ______________

Additional issues/ concerns I need to address:

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________