I have to lead some training groups, and I'm nervous.

[malibu]

I'm not a good trainer. It isn't my strong suit.

We're rolling out a new system for time and attendance soon, and I have been put in as the lead person since I'll be using it the most as a payroll admin. One of the bigger tasks is training the branch managers and timekeepers on how to use the system. I'm a) not fond of public speaking and b) not a very good trainer of others. I'm one to figure stuff out on my own and try things until something works, which isn't great when you need to show someone else how to do whatever it was I just did. So I'm having near-anxiety attacks about the thought of having to train people on a system that still has glitches, isn't totally finished, and one that I don't necessarily feel 100% comfortable using. I need to plan out and execute training meetings in the next two weeks.

If you're a good trainer, do you have any tips/advice? I don't want to come off sounding like a bumbling idiot.

[Deleted]

How are people tracking time and attendance now? Is this something they're going to be really upset about?

The reason I ask is if it's going to be something you'll need to structure some sort of ice breaker or something to start to get past their walls over the idea.

[malibu]

Oct 18, 2013 12:44:28 GMT -5 @melissainabq said:

How are people tracking time and attendance now? Is this something they're going to be really upset about?

The reason I ask is if it's going to be something you'll need to structure some sort of ice breaker or something to start to get past their walls over the idea.

Sadly, people WRITE their hours on time cards. The warehouse guys use punch clocks, but anyone in the offices (myself included) use handwritten time cards.

Everyone has known about this system for months. Without going into a lot of detail, it was supposed to go live back in April. It's now October, we're not live, and we had to have a new programmer/project manager assigned to the account around June because the first one was totally inept.

The system is going to be great. We have some old-schoolers who I'm sure won't be as excited about it (computers are SCARY!!!111!!), but from the testing I've done, it seems like it'll make everyone's lives easier.

[Deleted]

Can you start with some funny stories or something as an icebreaker? Or ask people if they have funny experiences with the manual timecards? Or maybe share some of the results of the testing?

I like getting people to loosen up with stuff like this.

If you want to send me a private message with your email, I can send you a pretty good presentation I have on giving presentations.

[malibu]

@melissainabq PM sent!

[Deleted]

d

[Deleted]

Do you have a friend at work you could run through the materials with ahead of time to make sure it all makes sense?

[walterismydog]

I am a trainer. It comes fairly naturally to me, but these are the most important things to help yourself:
1. BE PREPARED. Do not go in there unprepared, it WILL show.
2. Be personable. Honestly, just be yourself. You don't want to sound like a robot.
3. Smile and relax.
4. Don't be offended if your audience is not paying attention. It just happens, even in my most exciting and fun presentations, there are people who simply DO NOT want to be there. Don't let those people bother you.

Point 4 was the hardest for me in the beginning. I would get very personally offended if people were not paying attention. I have learned in 5+ years of being a public speaker that that is just part of the game and it's honestly no big deal. The majority of people will pay attention and take something from it.

Q&A can be a little scary, because you never know what kind of questions will be asked. If you get a question that you do not know the answer to, simply say "you know, I'm honestly not too sure on that! Let me do a little research and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!" or something along those lines. People would rather hear honesty than hear you fumble and bumble around and then come up with an answer that doesn't make sense or isn't true.

[mrsbro]

I train and in my area people love handouts. Which while kills millions of trees it really helps me organize my thoughts and game plan for trainings.

When we moved to a new system I tried to make things as easy as possible.

I always try to answer the following things:

Vocabulary changed? Is X all of a sudden called Y in the new system? You'd be surprised how many people stumble with new wording.

What is their daily routine going to be like on this new system?

What is the biggest issue they will face as Managers? Show the areas that you feel they may have an issue with and present workflows on how to get around it (handout if you think they will need it?).

What is the biggest issue their staff will face? Show the managers how to answer those questions easily, they are going to be afraid because their staff is already afraid.

Show them something good. Easy to find how many PTO days you have? Anything - hell even if it's just the ability to change the color or email their information to themselves. Something positive.

[Deleted]

j

[mrsbro]

Oct 18, 2013 13:24:00 GMT -5 @sbonkers said:

Yeah handouts! I hate them HATE THEM - I'm too much of a hippy, but people love them, and it means that even if the training doesn't go 100% to plan they still have most of the information they need. Try put them somewhere online too so that if people lose them or things change you can just direct them there.

Bain of my existence as well. They print copies and give their coworkers them too {bangs head repeatedly}.

But malibu, you'd be surprised how far a handout goes though. There is something about receiving a 'folder' at a training that puts people at ease! And like I said it really helps you organize your thoughts.