Do Train-the-Trainer Programs Work?

2013 has been an exciting year!  I have conducted more than 30 training classes on electrical safety, including topics such as basic electrical safety, shock and arc flash hazards, coordination of protective devices, control of hazardous energy (LOTO), and the design of equipment and machines.  These classes reference material from OSHA 29 CFR 1910, NFPA 70, NFPA 70E, NFPA 70B, NFPA 79, many UL and IEC standards.  Class participants range from people that were on the job for less than 3 months to people with more than 30 years of experience.

A couple of times a year I get asked if I could conduct a train-the-trainer program.  Before you decide on whether or not to have a train-the-trainer program, let’s look at the reasons behind using internal resources to train employees and what these trainers need to know and have available.

There are many good reasons to have in-house experts who can provide training to increase the knowledge and productivity to an organization’s most important resource (their people).  Here are a few:

• Reduce the cost of training
• Flexibility when and where to offer training
• Allow for the development of internal experts
• Provide career advancement of internal experts

Unlike K-12 teachers, college professors and professional trainers or instructors have little formal training in teach methodologies, and no licensing requirements.  People can obtain professional certifications that can demonstrate some level of competency, e.g. PMP, NCE, CPP, PE, MBA, PhD, etc.  Trainers can also follow specific training guidelines from organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for conducting professional training.  However, following specific training guidelines or having a certification in a topic does not necessarily make you a good trainer or instructor.  In fact, many can recall college courses or professional training programs that were really good and others that were less than desirable.

To be a good professional trainer or instructor, you need to have the following:

• Expertise (experience and training) in the field
• Expertise (experience and training) in teaching methods
• Ability to speak in front of groups of people, both large and small
• Ability to connect with people from all functional areas of an organization
• The resources (time and finances) to adequately prepare to teach classes
• Passion for the topic(s)

Experience and knowledge of the topic and how to conduct a training class are essential to teach others.  Without knowing how to put together a training program, devising practical examples, or understanding how to evaluate participants, the training programs will not deliver the anticipated results.  It is also important that the trainer have sufficient resources available.  These resources include not only the time to prepare for the programs they teach, but also the resources to have adequate support materials to augment the learning processes.  For someone teaching electrical safety, this includes personal protective equipment (PPE), voltage rated tools, and other items to ensure that participants can practice working safely in a safe environment.

The final ingredient for a trainer or instructor is passion for the topic.  If a person is passionate about the topic, they will be able to overcome any obstacle in their way.

If you are looking for an internal person to be the professional trainer or instructor, please make sure you have identified a person who has the experience, the training, the personal style, the resources (time and finances) and the passion to teach the topic.  If any of these are missing, then your money is better spent using a resource outside of your organization as the train-the-trainer program is probably not going to work.