Your Trainers Know Your Business, So Use Them!

Fifteen years ago, when I was an internal trainer for a large telecom provider, I became certified to deliver Mandel’s programs.

Today, I’m the Senior Director of Global Training Services at Mandel. That should tell you a little something about the impact Mandel’s training had on me. I became a true convert.

In my current role at Mandel, together with colleague Kathleen Redd, I develop Mandel’s global team of coaches and trainers and also work with clients to certify their own internal trainers.

My experience on both sides of this story gives me a unique perspective on the benefits companies enjoy when they use their own trainers to deliver other providers’ programs, e.g., Mandel’s training workshops. I want to talk about those today.

Here’s why I believe Train-the-Trainer (TTT) Certification in communications training can be invaluable:

1. NO ONE knows your business and culture better than your in-house trainers.
   A trainer who has grown up in an organization—and who sees the daily ins and outs of operations and strategy—will always be able to link new knowledge and skills to business needs in an utterly seamless way.

   Now, any external training provider worth its salt should take the time up front to understand a client’s business issues and the desired outcomes of a training initiative.

   Mandel, for example, rapidly brings its trainers and coaches up to speed on a client’s business challenges and learning objectives prior to delivering any program. And, many of our trainers return to the same client locations often, becoming “almost like” employees in terms of their understanding of a business and its culture.

   That said, no matter how strong a provider’s commitment to this level of prep, there will still be a longer learning curve than if you were to use your own trainers.

2. Because 1 + 1 = 3 . . . or more!
   When companies invest in training, they expect it to result in meaningful improvement in the performance of participants. To achieve this result, the training must be memorable or “sticky” and participants must be able to access resources to help reinforce the skills they’ve learned.

   For example, Mandel’s training programs use easy-to-apply, results-oriented tools (e.g., Mandel Blueprint^®) that participants can use long after the training has ended to create and deliver high-impact messages.

   These tools together with individualized coaching on what to say and how to say it, pack a powerful behavior-changing punch.

   Now, imagine what combining this type of approach with the organizational know-how of your internal trainers could do? The potential impact is EXPONENTIAL.

   When using your own trainers, not only will employees get the same state-of-the-art training and tools they’d get if you’d used an external provider’s trainers, but they’ll also have ready access to coaching and feedback on an ongoing basis.

   Think about it this way: High-stakes sales call coming up? No problem. Just message or call your in-house trainer for some face time.

3. You gain “lifetime skills.”
   When you receive high-quality “trainer training” in communication skills, those skills tend to serve you for a lifetime, no matter what type of training you’re delivering.

   Prior to becoming certified to deliver Mandel’s programs, I’d already been certified in many other companies’ courses. But none of my “trainer training” had been as valuable as Mandel’s.

   The reason?

   Not only was the content highly relevant for any professional’s everyday communications, the Master Trainers were extraordinary at modeling those skills and providing in-the-moment coaching. So much so that I became a much better trainer, regardless of the content or training I was delivering.

   The bottom line is this: when it’s done well, TTT Certification in messaging, conversation, and presentation skills will give you transferable, everlasting skills.

Is TTT Certification a good investment for you?

Yes, as long as your internal team has the bandwidth to take on the delivery of additional courses.

Of course, I’m biased—but not without good reason. I’ve walked in your shoes and I’ve seen the difference between mediocre TTT Certification and exceptional TTT Certification.

The former trains people to deliver formulaic course content. The latter trains people to become better trainers. The former may transfer skills. The latter transforms individuals and entire organizations.

Don’t settle.

Are you considering certification for your internal team of trainers? Talk to us.  Learn how Mandel’s Train-the-Trainer Certification process works. Discover why recent participants described it as “incredible,” “innovatively managed,” and the “best I have ever experienced.”