Creative Training Techniques Handbook by Bob Pike

Creative Training Techniques Handbook is a very comprehensive toolkit for trainers, and in fact training professionals in general. There are a lot of practical tips to make training more effective, even for technical training e.g. system training. (For this chapter about technical training, I do find it very useful for most trainers in the bank. It will not only make training more effective, but also more fun for the trainers and participants. A very important factor since trainers can get easily bored with technical training.)

It took me quite some time to finish this book, and more importantly, to comprehend the content since it is a bit wordy and some ideas repeats in various places. Not a clear structure. Need to spend time to sort out my learnings from this book. In addition, whilst this is about tools to be used in the class, I know that I got to practice them in order to really ‘memorize’ them. Once again….’What I see, I forget. What I hear, I remember. But what I do, I understand.’

In particular, I want to highlight the 22 Deadly Sins mentioned in Chapter 16. Things that could be committed by trainers.

1. Appearing Unprepared
2. Starting Late
3. Handling Questions Improperly
4. Apologizing for Yourself or the Organisation
5. Being Unfamiliar with Knowable Information
6. Using Audio Visuals Unprofessionally
7. Seeming to be Off Schedule
8. Not Involving the Participants
9. Not Establishing Personal Rapport
10. Ending Late
11. Appearing Disorganised
12. Not Quickly Established a Positive Image
13. Not Covering the Objectives Promised
14. Not Scheduling Enough Breaks
15. Practicing Bad Habits
16. Not Checking the Environment
17. Not Updating the Material
18. Not Admitting Mistakes
19. Using Inappropriate Humor
20. Using Inappropriate Language
21. Coming on As an Expert, a Know-it-all
22. Using Poor Grammar, Pronunciation and Enunciation

Bob is very right!! And a great way to summarize the book!!

Are we committing any of the above?