In today’s highly competitive corporate world it is not
about big beating small; rather it is about fast beating slow. Organisations
are seeking for ways to be move from efficiency to effectiveness, from
performance to high performance and from planning for future success to wanting
success ‘yesterday’. There is a marked trend in moving from being transactional
to transformational in order to go to the next level. If organisations do not
see this movement they are going to be left behind.
For corporate organisations not to be left behind they need
to invest in training and development. To this end the scope for corporate
training is on the rise. When I say corporate training I mean, not just skills
and competency training; but there is a great need for behavioural training as
well.
In order for organisations to achieve consistent high
performance then high performance should become part of culture. With skills
and competence, you can develop a great strategy to outsmart competition; but
just like the saying by Peter Drucker made famous by Mark Fields, “Culture eats
strategy for breakfast”, culture can turn the tide at any time. Culture has a
lot to do with how people behave with each other. Hence, in today’s context
behavioural training should be more of an emphasis in corporate training.
Behavioural corporate trainers are the need of the hour.
Based on my 15 years of being involved with corporate
training here are some suggestions on how to become a corporate trainer (apart
from the necessary relevant qualifications). You need to have a PACT with
yourself:
1.
Passion to be a change
agent: This is the foundation. If you do not have a passion to make a
difference in people, then you will not make a good trainer. You cannot change
an organisation, but you can influence an individual. For that you need passion
and a love for what you do.
2.
Articulate in
communication: A significant skill a corporate trainer should develop is being
able to articulate thoughts, concepts and processes into understandable
language. He or she should be able to use the right terminology and be
contextual.
3.
Coach: A corporate trainer
needs to develop an attitude and skill of being a coach. Interpersonal skills
like listening to understand, a positive approachable body language, the art of
influencing by asking the right questions and not spoon feeding answers are a
few coaching skills that a good transformational corporate trainer should seek
to possess.
4.
Teachable: Well this seems
to be a paradox. If you are a corporate trainer, then I am supposed to train
and not to be taught. However, a good trainer is someone is always looking out
to learn. You cannot teach or train if you are not willing to learn. That is
why being teachable is a strength and an asset for a trainer. The humility to
learn from any one at any time is what being teachable is all about.
Timothy Connors, Program Director, Breakthrough
