| |
|
|
|
Choosing a Trainer
Are you in the market for an experienced communications trainer who can help you sharpen your abilities to deliver presentations and deal with reporters? We invite you to use these questions to select the trainer who's right for you:
- Do you focus exclusively on communications training? Don't get stuck with a "trainer" who accepts any type of business that happens along.
- How much experience do you have as a trainer?
- Will you custom tailor a workshop specifically to meet my needs? Don't be trapped by a cookie cutter approach.
- How much independent research do you typically conduct in
advance of a training?
- Are you flexible enough to accommodate some eleventh hour fine-tuning?
- What is your web site address? Be sure to look for signs indicating how often the site is updated.
- What type of clients do you work with? If you're a Fortune 500 company, you don't want to rely on someone whose experience revolves around local non-profits.
- Have you developed flexible training modules? A media training for someone who is going to undertake a television satellite media tour, for example, should contain different learning exercises than one for an individual approaching the trade press.
- If you are seeking media training: Have you worked in a newsroom?
- If you are looking for presentation skills training: Are you an accomplished speaker?
- Are you skilled at message development? A message is much more complex than just stringing together a hodgepodge of facts.
- Who will lead my training? Some big outfits try to substitute junior assistants for more experienced hands.
- If your training occurs in conjunction with a larger meeting: Does your trainer have the ability to serve as a speaker for a separate session?This saves you money you would otherwise need to spend paying other speakers and their additional travel expenses.
- What books and articles have you written? Thought leaders in any field should be published regularly.
- What type of experiential exercises do you utilize? Make sure he videotapes each exercise and gives you the videotape; it's a great learning tool.
- Do you offer a training guide for each participant?
- Will I see you after my workshop is done, or are you here today, gone tomorrow?
- Do you offer a reduced rate if I sign a contract for multiple trainings?
- Do you believe in integrating fun into your workshops?
- To which professional societies do you belong? This should give you some insights into whether your trainer is keeping up to date with the latest communications training advances.
This handful of questions should help you select the experienced communications trainer who is right for you.
|
 |
|
