Planning, Preparing & Conducting Training Workshops Part 3
Potential Problems and Tips
Image credit: Ben White
Have you ever experienced these common problems when running a training course?
1. Wrong materials turn up for the course.
2. Additional attendees arrive who are not on your list and not enough materials to go around and the venue can’t accommodate.
3. Course materials and PowerPoint presentation information doesn’t align.
4. Technical and grammatical errors in course materials.
5. Trainer / facilitator has not properly planned the timing of the workshop and finishes far too early or has to cram a lot of information in at the back-end of the training to get through everything.
6. The set-up for the training is incorrect: for example, rows of seats when you want pods of tables.
Tips to avoid problems impacting on your presentation
1. It is up to the person running the workshop to be very clear during the planning phase that they understand what the ‘client’ wants from the training - what are the take-away and learning objectives? If time is not spent on this the ramifications could be:
- the trainer is never used again and seen as unprofessional
- staff very negative about the quality of any future training and management may decide not to invest in anything other than ‘mandatory’ training requirements
2. Create a well-planned approach for staff development including:
- Training calendar
- Skills / competency matrix
- Review
3. Provide a variety in the style of learning opportunities offered to staff. For example:
- Tutor lead training
- Hands-on experience
- Buddy-up
- Mentoring
- Coaching
- Distance learning
4. Double- and triple-check everything: emailed information prior to the training, PowerPoint slides, course & learning materials, venue facilities and timings.
Christine Brown is founder and managing director of Potential Unlocked, a market leader in the design of management systems that meet compliance and business requirements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (double major in Political Science and Public Sector Management); RABQSA Lead Auditor, DiSC 5 Behaviours of a Cohesive Team accreditation; Everything DiSC accreditation, TAE 40110 Cert IV Training & Assessment & TAELLN 411.
Due to her extensive knowledge and experience, Christine is trusted by her clients for her patience, understanding and her ability to interpret compliance requirements in a straightforward, uncomplicated way. She regularly facilitates in-house and public workshops, sharing her knowledge of designing simple processes and systems, communicating effectively as an auditor, building and leading teams, and risk management.
Christine’s clients range from small business and start-ups to large organisations and government departments. Covering a broad range of industries, her clients include Boral, BAE Aerospace, Geobrugg, Tenix, West Australian Police, and the Victorian Ambulance Service.
Christine’s new initiative, The Business Performance Program, assists businesses with all major areas of business that are essential for success
For any further information on contracting in an internal auditor to conduct your audits or auditor training please refer to more Audit Tips.
