How do you stay motivated as a trainer or facilitator?

Thankfully the job I currently have aligns with my passion for teaching. I do my job because I love sharing my knowledge and crafts with new hires, I’m the first trainer for my department in the history of my company so the impact I want to leave I want it to mean something and create a legacy for the next trainers coming after me. I want to set myself as a master and leader in my job field and industry. I craft my training to not only teach my trainees what they need to know to do their job but to make it fun and memorable so they can take those skills and tools with them during their career and if they decide to take another path in life.

Knowing your "why" is so important. Possibly the most important thing. Once I tapped into my "why" (or sense of purpose), it shined through as passion to the audience. Passion is contagious! Passion grabs attention, gains buy-in and can motivate others. Speaking, or training, from a sense of purpose will also come through as authentic and allow for connection between the audience and myself. "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it." - Simon Sinek

First off, one needs to know or understand that not everyone learns the same way, some individuals are visual, some are audible, or hands on, or a mix. That said one needs to finds what best works for the group or individual. In my case I start with questioners abut them and their learning styles, once you get a sense of what group you have or individual you have, I start looking into what has worked for me before for an specific group or individual as well new training trends, new modalities, fun ways to deliver content, arrange e-learning and in person sessions, so that you always have them engaged in learning and participating.

Working for a company that shares this belief is a privilege, and there is no better motivation for an employee than when their morals and integrity align perfectly with their employer. Secondly, my true intrinsic motivation comes from being able to help others. Employees come to work to provide for themselves and their families, and it is essential that they are given the knowledge and tools to execute their job. Being in a position to help people excel in their work is incredibly empowering. Especially those that have the skill but have learning disabilities that make mastering the task difficult.

Two critical factors influence my motivation to work in training and development. Firstly, I am driven by the need to provide training that ensures the safety of our owners, flight crews, and technicians. Over my almost 40 years in aviation, I have witnessed the devastating effects when things go wrong in our industry. Aviation is a highly unforgiving business; safety must be the top priority.

I agree, In my experience the support is a big part that ties in with motivation! When I have an idea or a success as a trainer I always go to them as a soundboard and for feedback as it gives another perspective. Thankfully I have some amazing managers and mentors that support me so I can support my team members when it comes to training something new or doing a refresher course!

I always do a debrief with the group and Co-facilitators - especially on longer sessions. Just a simple what went well and how can it be even better. It helps me keep enduser focused, gives me feedback and gives a chance to get creative with the outcomes.

Having fun and celebrating the little wins daily help keep me motivated as a trainer and facilitator. Remaining true to yourself and allowing your team to be themselves breaks down walls, and allows team members to open their minds and feel more comfortable in group collaboration! It's fun to be a part of something bigger than yourself! Especially when you're building a foundation for growth!

Change your own game. Challenge yourself to present things differently. Don't be afraid to allow your audience to take you down different paths and be able to think independently of our subject matter. It also challenges us to ask questions we may not have known to ask.

Staying motivated to me is remembering that what I know might not be common knowledge. Thank you, Pike street Fish! Philosophy

Remember it's their first time! As facilitators, we're often discussing content that we've discussed dozens of times. For me, remembering that the people in the seats in the room may have never considered the things we're talking about grounds me. It helps me to feel excited to light up their minds with new ways of thinking. I often say to myself when I'm bored or feeling stagnant, "it's their first time".