Getting to Know Your Learners

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The situation:

The situation:

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You're an external facilitator, preparing a training course for a group of employees who you know little about. How do you develop practical examples for individuals with whom you don't work, in an industry with which you don't have experience? Will you be able to meet learners where they are?

You're an external facilitator, preparing a training course for a group of employees who you know little about. How do you develop practical examples for individuals with whom you don't work, in an industry with which you don't have experience? Will you be able to meet learners where they are?

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The trick:

The trick:

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Mine for information before and during the training session to develop relevant examples.

Mine for information before and during the training session to develop relevant examples.

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   Once you have the roster of course participants, google the industries and companies in which the learners work. If you're facilitating a course for healthcare workers, for example, what are common industry challenges? They may include burnout, long hours, staff shortages, compensation variance, and emotional exhaustion.

   Once you have the roster of course participants, google the industries and companies in which the learners work. If you're facilitating a course for healthcare workers, for example, what are common industry challenges? They may include burnout, long hours, staff shortages, compensation variance, and emotional exhaustion.

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   Based on job titles, you can gain insight into what learners likely do and their everyday challenges. Will you be facilitating a course with managers who are overloaded with new expectations of leading in a hybrid workplace? Their pain points may include exhibiting empathy remotely and recently receiving a promotion without any training around interviewing, coaching, or conflict management.

   Based on job titles, you can gain insight into what learners likely do and their everyday challenges. Will you be facilitating a course with managers who are overloaded with new expectations of leading in a hybrid workplace? Their pain points may include exhibiting empathy remotely and recently receiving a promotion without any training around interviewing, coaching, or conflict management.

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   You'll come across as a more authentic and approachable facilitator if you draw on your own experience. There are common challenges across business sectors, generations, and work levels. Today, burnout is one of them, as is learning about artificial intelligence best practices. And even though your background may be in banking, for instance, change management is a struggle you share regardless of industry.

   You'll come across as a more authentic and approachable facilitator if you draw on your own experience. There are common challenges across business sectors, generations, and work levels. Today, burnout is one of them, as is learning about artificial intelligence best practices. And even though your background may be in banking, for instance, change management is a struggle you share regardless of industry.

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   Plan your opening icebreaker to get to know your learners in the early stages of your course. For example, a cocktail party icebreaker enables participants to chat one-on-one with each other. Set a timer so that learners meet different people in the process. That activity can be more comfortable for attendees than introducing themselves to the entire class. Walk around the classroom and listen to the conversations to glean information about the learners and their workplace challenges.

   Plan your opening icebreaker to get to know your learners in the early stages of your course. For example, a cocktail party icebreaker enables participants to chat one-on-one with each other. Set a timer so that learners meet different people in the process. That activity can be more comfortable for attendees than introducing themselves to the entire class. Walk around the classroom and listen to the conversations to glean information about the learners and their workplace challenges.

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Source: Darryl Wyles, Senior Facilitator, ATD Education

Source: Darryl Wyles, Senior Facilitator, ATD Education

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Pro tip

Pro tip

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Facilitation is, first and foremost, a two-way street. Your participants learn from you, and you learn about and from your participants. Listening provides you with useful material for current and future training sessions.

Facilitation is, first and foremost, a two-way street. Your participants learn from you, and you learn about and from your participants. Listening provides you with useful material for current and future training sessions.