Several years ago Steve and Connirae Andreas, then co-head honchos of NLP Comprehensive, wrote a helpful article titled "A Consumers Guide to Good Training" (follow the link at the end of this post if you'd like to see it). In that article they drew upon their own considerable skill and experience. They explored the criteria that you might want to use to select among available training programs. As a trainer, I've referred to that article as a regular reminder and occasional admonition to keep me at my best. Students have choice about where they go to learn and explore and it's important that they know how to get information and how to make an informed decision
Last night I returned home to Orlando from a month away in the UK where I participated in a module of Christina Hall's excellent Trainer Training and then presented a course in Neo-Ericksonian Hypnosis. Both were offered by Salad Seminars. As I reflect back over the wonderful experiences of the last few weeks, I realize that trainers have choice too. If you're a trainer, you may have your own criteria .... Here are mine:
GET SOME TRAINING YOURSELF - Do you think you know everything about everything? Can't imagine sitting down and shutting up long enough to hear what someone else might have to say? (If the shoe doesn't fit, I'm just joking. And if the shoe DOES fit, I'm just SAYING ...) There's always more to learn and if the field you train in has any life in it at all, then you'd better "be there or be square" when new and cutting edge material is being presented. And as a trainer, you can get twice the value ... because you just might learn something new about your field AND something new about training. In fact, you can have TRIPLE VALUE when you let yourself learn about the experience of being a participant in training. Calibrating your own students' responses is vital ... but spending some time on the other side of the loop ... is the BEST thing you can do for yourself and for your training. As I mentioned earlier, I've just been in the last module of Christina Hall's SNLP Trainer Training and the experience has been a rich and rewarding one - offering new perspectives, watching training excellence in action and being immersed in a special learning community. Do yourselves a favor, trainers ... keep learning.
SHARE WHAT YOU LOVE - You're not going to be able to pass on a torch if you don't have some fire of your own. Yes, I know some trainers are forced by their employers or the needs of a particular market to present material that they aren't fascinated with. And to those trainers I say ... "I am sooo sorry." And I really hope that they, too will get to have the thrill of spending their time sharing and exploring their fascination with others. When you do that you find yourself on a great adventure. Not just a training, but a lifelong journey, where you can enjoy the camaraderie, share discoveries and spark the interests of other travelers through the territory
GATHER SUPPORT - Some trainers produce their own programs while others of us are often contracted to train by sponsoring organizations. I do it both ways, but prefer to do sponsored programs. Producing trainings is a big job .. and so we often find ourselves functioning as web designers, campaign managers, reservations clerks, sales associates and barterers, travel agents, logistics coordinators, video and sound engineers, taxi drivers, dishwashers, caterers... and ... and .... ENOUGH ALREADY! If you want an excellent training, then find someone to support you in delivering it. It's not that I'm allergic to hard work ... and in my own local organization I still DO all of those functions. But my vocation is to train ... and all of these additional tasks are distractions. It's a wonderful thing to have a sponsor, or at least a good core of assistants to support you, so that you can focus your attention on giving your best contribution and training at the highest quality. NLP Comprehensive, The UP Hypnosis Institute, IACT/IMDHA and others have all provided excellent training support for me in the last decade, yet and I'm especially appreciative of the "special relationship" that I have with Salad Seminars in the UK. I've been with them since their earlier days with the charismatic and dynamic Jamie Smart and through their recent handover to chief Tim Considine who brings a fresh perspective and new energy to Salad. I'm honored to be affiliated with the Salad brand and particularly grateful to Tim, Debbie Cook, and Damian Perry for their hard work and support during the just-completed hypnosis course in the UK.
SECURE A GREAT VENUE - Although this is a luxury and not always available ... it's really great when you've got a state-of-the-art training facility with internet, projection and music systems, great sound and video recording capability. And Salad has a great new place in a scenic country town with all the trappings - including bed and breakfasts and Inns and Pubs that make the stay special. For those who need a more urban experience, they're only minutes away from historic Winchester with it's great cathedral and home of the famous Round Table of King Arthur. Yep, you can't always get a location like that. And it really contributes to the training experience.
GET GREAT STUDENTS - Now this is especially important. Your niche market, the character of your promotional material, your positioning in the community, all play some part in defining your audience. And the footprints you leave on the road will make some difference as to who will follow you. But you don't always get to vote ... and that means you can always be surprised when you let yourself recognize the specialness of ALL the fellow travelers you meet along the road. Recently I heard about a husband and wife who were participating in two different NLP trainings with two different organizations in two different cities AT THE SAME TIME. One evening the wife called her husband to discuss the great time she was having in the vibrant mid-sized group she was training with. During the call, her husband grew extraordinarily quiet and then said, "It sounds like you're having a great time with lots of wonderful people who really LIKE each other and will be friends for years to come!. I'm here lost, lost in the crowd in this group of 150 people who could care less if they ever see one another again!" So remember this rule - it's easy to get great students ... especially in NLP and hypnosis, as you explore and discover how special each of them already is. Get great students because they're all great ... and prepare to fall in love. In the last eight days, I've fallen in love with 8 very special people.
Lots of gratitude and affection to the 2013 Trainer's Training , the Neo-Ericksonian Hypnosis Training and Salad Seminars
*Connirae and Steve Andreas Article ... http://steveandreas.com/Articles/consumer.html
Last night I returned home to Orlando from a month away in the UK where I participated in a module of Christina Hall's excellent Trainer Training and then presented a course in Neo-Ericksonian Hypnosis. Both were offered by Salad Seminars. As I reflect back over the wonderful experiences of the last few weeks, I realize that trainers have choice too. If you're a trainer, you may have your own criteria .... Here are mine:
GET SOME TRAINING YOURSELF - Do you think you know everything about everything? Can't imagine sitting down and shutting up long enough to hear what someone else might have to say? (If the shoe doesn't fit, I'm just joking. And if the shoe DOES fit, I'm just SAYING ...) There's always more to learn and if the field you train in has any life in it at all, then you'd better "be there or be square" when new and cutting edge material is being presented. And as a trainer, you can get twice the value ... because you just might learn something new about your field AND something new about training. In fact, you can have TRIPLE VALUE when you let yourself learn about the experience of being a participant in training. Calibrating your own students' responses is vital ... but spending some time on the other side of the loop ... is the BEST thing you can do for yourself and for your training. As I mentioned earlier, I've just been in the last module of Christina Hall's SNLP Trainer Training and the experience has been a rich and rewarding one - offering new perspectives, watching training excellence in action and being immersed in a special learning community. Do yourselves a favor, trainers ... keep learning.
SHARE WHAT YOU LOVE - You're not going to be able to pass on a torch if you don't have some fire of your own. Yes, I know some trainers are forced by their employers or the needs of a particular market to present material that they aren't fascinated with. And to those trainers I say ... "I am sooo sorry." And I really hope that they, too will get to have the thrill of spending their time sharing and exploring their fascination with others. When you do that you find yourself on a great adventure. Not just a training, but a lifelong journey, where you can enjoy the camaraderie, share discoveries and spark the interests of other travelers through the territory
GATHER SUPPORT - Some trainers produce their own programs while others of us are often contracted to train by sponsoring organizations. I do it both ways, but prefer to do sponsored programs. Producing trainings is a big job .. and so we often find ourselves functioning as web designers, campaign managers, reservations clerks, sales associates and barterers, travel agents, logistics coordinators, video and sound engineers, taxi drivers, dishwashers, caterers... and ... and .... ENOUGH ALREADY! If you want an excellent training, then find someone to support you in delivering it. It's not that I'm allergic to hard work ... and in my own local organization I still DO all of those functions. But my vocation is to train ... and all of these additional tasks are distractions. It's a wonderful thing to have a sponsor, or at least a good core of assistants to support you, so that you can focus your attention on giving your best contribution and training at the highest quality. NLP Comprehensive, The UP Hypnosis Institute, IACT/IMDHA and others have all provided excellent training support for me in the last decade, yet and I'm especially appreciative of the "special relationship" that I have with Salad Seminars in the UK. I've been with them since their earlier days with the charismatic and dynamic Jamie Smart and through their recent handover to chief Tim Considine who brings a fresh perspective and new energy to Salad. I'm honored to be affiliated with the Salad brand and particularly grateful to Tim, Debbie Cook, and Damian Perry for their hard work and support during the just-completed hypnosis course in the UK.
SECURE A GREAT VENUE - Although this is a luxury and not always available ... it's really great when you've got a state-of-the-art training facility with internet, projection and music systems, great sound and video recording capability. And Salad has a great new place in a scenic country town with all the trappings - including bed and breakfasts and Inns and Pubs that make the stay special. For those who need a more urban experience, they're only minutes away from historic Winchester with it's great cathedral and home of the famous Round Table of King Arthur. Yep, you can't always get a location like that. And it really contributes to the training experience.
GET GREAT STUDENTS - Now this is especially important. Your niche market, the character of your promotional material, your positioning in the community, all play some part in defining your audience. And the footprints you leave on the road will make some difference as to who will follow you. But you don't always get to vote ... and that means you can always be surprised when you let yourself recognize the specialness of ALL the fellow travelers you meet along the road. Recently I heard about a husband and wife who were participating in two different NLP trainings with two different organizations in two different cities AT THE SAME TIME. One evening the wife called her husband to discuss the great time she was having in the vibrant mid-sized group she was training with. During the call, her husband grew extraordinarily quiet and then said, "It sounds like you're having a great time with lots of wonderful people who really LIKE each other and will be friends for years to come!. I'm here lost, lost in the crowd in this group of 150 people who could care less if they ever see one another again!" So remember this rule - it's easy to get great students ... especially in NLP and hypnosis, as you explore and discover how special each of them already is. Get great students because they're all great ... and prepare to fall in love. In the last eight days, I've fallen in love with 8 very special people.
Lots of gratitude and affection to the 2013 Trainer's Training , the Neo-Ericksonian Hypnosis Training and Salad Seminars
*Connirae and Steve Andreas Article ... http://steveandreas.com/Articles/consumer.html
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