Once you reach a certain point in your career, you may be asked to train your coworkers. If this happens, take it as a compliment. It means that your employer sees you as a knowledgeable, valuable resource for your colleagues – someone with the expertise and confidence to take on a leadership role.
Even so, training coworkers can feel like a lot of responsibility. Whether leading a group session or just giving informal one-on-one feedback, teaching others how to succeed is a big deal. But it would be best if you weren’t scared to train your coworkers – after all, you’ve already proven yourself. You should, however, have a few training techniques to guide your approach. This will help you and your coworker get the most out of the experience.
To help you sharpen your training skills, here are five tips on how to train your coworkers:
1. Know your coworker’s skillset
Before the training, reach out to your coworker to clarify their experience. Ask them about their education, skills, and working knowledge of the training topic. This will help you customize the training to fit their needs. If they’re skilled, you won’t waste time reviewing basic knowledge they already have – and if they’re a rookie, you’ll know to cover the basics first.
2. Clarify the goal
Explain the objective of the training – the “what” and “why” of whatever you’re teaching. For example, “I’m showing you how to use this charting software so you can more easily and accurately track patient information.” If your coworker has a clear goal, they’ll understand the training isn’t just a formality but a way to help them succeed. This will keep them motivated and attentive during the training.
3. Show the end product
No matter what you’re training about, seeing an example of the finished product will give your coworker a concrete idea of the end goal. To continue with the example from above, you’d show a completed patient chart, so your coworker understands what to aim for when they start charting.
4. Get organized
Plan your training and create a step-by-step process, so you don’t forget anything. Consider how you do the task yourself and the questions you had when you first learned. If your company isn’t providing training materials, create your training document with the instructions typed out.
5. Make time for questions
It’s a good idea to finish the training with Q&As, so your coworker can ask any questions that pop up. If they don’t have any questions, you may want to quiz them a bit about everything covered to ensure they understood the training – and aren’t just too nervous or confused to ask questions.
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