I was recently reminded how important it is for corporate trainers to build the influence of authority in the classroom. The influence of authority suggests that people will follow the lead of credible, knowledgeable, experts. It is vital that participants follow your lead in the corporate classroom. Having learners that do not follow your lead can have all sorts of negative impacts on the training experience. It may lead to a lack of classroom control, it could impact your ability to cover all of the content, your ability to meet learning objectives, and so on. 😎📚
A couple of months ago, a training manager approached me to observe and provide feedback on her onboarding trainers. I sat in on day one of training and performed the observation. In that observation, I heard the trainer say either, “I am bad at explaining things” or “I’m not a people person” more than ten times! 😕😬
Both are HUGE no-nos! First of all, don’t belittle yourself or anyone in the room. It’s doing you no favors, and the class loses confidence in you. Second, if you truly aren’t a people person and are genuinely bad at explaining things, corporate training probably isn’t the right role for you. So here are a few Do’s and Don’t’s for building your authority in the classroom. 🚀🚫
Do’s:
- Be prepared: Know your content inside and out. Come to the classroom well-prepared. This will indicate expertise and earn your learners’ respect. ✔️📚
- Encourage open communication: Create a positive and inclusive learning environment where learners feel comfortable asking questions and participating in discussions. 🗣️💬
- Use positive body language: Project confidence and approachability through your body language. Maintain eye contact, smile, and use gestures to emphasize key points. This helps establish a strong presence and keeps learners engaged. 😃👋
- Share your story: As part of your introduction, share some key details about your experience that makes you an expert. 🎯📝
- Lead by example: Demonstrate professionalism, respect, and a positive attitude towards the subject matter and the learners. Your behavior sets the tone for the entire classroom. 🌟👩🏫
”Authority:
- Robert Cialdini
This is the idea that people follow the lead of credible, knowledgeable experts.
Don’ts:
- Don’t belittle or dismiss yourself or your learners: Avoid condescension or making learners feel small for not knowing something. Treat all questions and contributions with respect, even if they seem basic. 🚫🙅♂️
- Avoid one-way communication: Don’t lecture the entire time without giving learners a chance to interact. Encourage discussions, group activities, and opportunities for learners to apply what they’ve learned. 🗣️🗣️
- Don’t ignore feedback: If learners provide feedback or express concerns, take them seriously. Address any issues promptly and use feedback to improve your teaching methods. 📝🗒️
- Don’t pretend to know everything: If you don’t know the answer to a question, be honest about it. Use the opportunity to learn with your learners and model that continuous learning is essential. 🤔📚
I am certain this is not an exhaustive list. I would love to hear what recommendations you have. Please leave them in the comments below! 💬👇
