What a Good Train the Trainer Programme Includes

Organisations often ask internal experts to train colleagues, then wonder why sessions feel like presentations. Subject knowledge is necessary but not sufficient. A good train the trainer programme gives people the skills to design and deliver learning that sticks.

1. A clear needs analysis

The programme should start from who the trainers are, what they will teach and who they will teach. A generic course for everyone is a warning sign.

2. Adult learning principles

Adults learn best when content is relevant, they can use their experience and they practise. Trainers should leave knowing how to turn knowledge into activities, not slides.

3. Design skills

• Defining learning outcomes.
• Structuring a session with a beginning, practice and a close.
• Choosing methods such as cases, role-play, discussion and quizzes.

4. Facilitation skills

Questioning, listening, balancing voices, handling resistance and managing time are skills, not personality traits. They improve with practice and feedback.

5. Real practice with feedback

Participants should deliver short sessions to peers and receive specific, constructive feedback. Watching others do it is not the same as doing it yourself.

6. Online and hybrid delivery

If your trainers will teach online, the programme should include live online practice on the tools they will use. See our virtual train the trainer programme for an example.

7. Follow-up and evaluation

Plan a check-in after trainers have delivered real sessions. The four levels of the Kirkpatrick model, from reaction to results, give a useful structure for evaluating both the programme and the trainers it produces.

Questions to ask a provider

• How much of the programme is practice?
• How will it be adapted to our trainers and topics?
• What follow-up is included?
• How do you evaluate results?

Explore our train the trainer programmes and facilitation skills training.