Subject experts or line managers in training roles

Do you use subject matter experts or line managers in training roles?

Many organisations do. The complexity and technical nature of many products and services today means that organisations are increasingly looking outside the central training team to both develop and deliver relevant technical training and coaching to their people.

A growing number of subject matter experts and line managers, who are skilled in underlying products and services are being seconded to training roles. Relying on subject experts to train staff raises two vital questions. First, how important are generic training skills – which many technical experts and line managers will not have – to the learning process?

Second, what is the most cost-effective way to provide at least a minimum level of appropriate skills to this important group?

How important are training skills?

It’s well known that generic training skills are actually more important to the learning process than technical knowledge and skills. Effective training is a highly-skilled art and most L&D professionals have taken years to hone their skills through training and practise. Subject matter experts and line managers, however, have generally not been given adequate training. Without the supporting training skills, they will develop ‘death by PowerPoint’ courses and deliver these by lecture or presentation; they won’t train.

This severely reduces learning effectiveness. Compared to the overall budgets involved in staff training, the cost of empowering the trainers with the necessary skills is trivial indeed!

Depending on the specific role, various skill sets may well be required. The TAP Learning System Skills Programme offers a range of short, intensive skills courses.

TAP Qualifications Prospectus 2010

To get detailed information of all our programmes and receive a copy of our 2010 brochure, please contact us at info@tap-training.com or download the pdf here