| Well, the good news/bad news is anyone can be a | | | | of knowledge. Good training involves the ability to |
| trainer. There are no official qualifications, no stringent | | | | dialog with those in your classes. This means you |
| licensing, no rigorous testing or earned credentials that | | | | listen-to their questions, their concerns, their "ah-hah" |
| are universally recognized or accepted. But that | | | | moments-and hear, and respond appropriately |
| doesn't mean just anybody will be good at being a | | | | BUSINESS SKILLS |
| trainer. Nor can any good trainer run a business at it. | | | | So if you're a good trainer and want to not only do |
| There are two keys to starting your own training | | | | training for a living, but start and run a training business, |
| business: training skills and business skills. | | | | especially as a solopreneur, you also need to add |
| TRAINING SKILLS | | | | some key business skills to the mix. There are three |
| Having good training skills is more important than | | | | key components of having your own business-any |
| education or fancy credentials. But certainly, if you | | | | business: |
| have the skill set, then some credentialing or | | | | (1) A product or service to offer. So you've got to |
| certification on top of that would be extra | | | | develop and own that expertise that you want to |
| credibility-building. Here are the primary skills you need | | | | offer training in. |
| to possess or be able to develop if you want to do | | | | (2) The ability to market your product or service to |
| training for a profession: | | | | generate sales. Be prepared, it's a little harder to |
| Compelling presentation skills. To teach others, you | | | | market yourself, as a trainer, than it is to sell a product. |
| have to be dynamic and engaging, someone the class | | | | It's easy to expound on the virtues of your widget, but |
| wants to pay attention to. This requires excellent | | | | a trickier proposition to persuade clients how good you |
| delivery skills, a strong energy level, and logical content | | | | are. |
| organization skills. | | | | (3) A "back office." You won't just be out every day |
| Understanding of adult learning theory. Trainers know | | | | doing your training. If you're running a business, you |
| that you can't teach adults the same way we were | | | | need to either hire someone or be prepared yourself |
| taught in grade school. A good trainer makes adult | | | | to keep track of all the administrative issues, from |
| learning practical and relevant and directly involves | | | | appointments to proposals to bookkeeping. |
| participants in the learning. | | | | A final thought: Develop a business plan. It doesn't have |
| Subject knowledge. Obviously whatever topic you're | | | | to be formal. It's primarily for your own use, to force |
| training on, whether computer technology or customer | | | | yourself to think about the realities of your business. |
| service or negotiating skills, you should know your | | | | And one of the realities of starting a business is that |
| subject. Your credibility will be lost or made on how | | | | you're not going to be making money right out of the |
| well you know what you're talking about, and for some | | | | gate. So make sure you have sufficient financial |
| subjects like presentation skills or leadership skills, how | | | | resources to last you at least a year, including both |
| well you model those skills yourself. | | | | living expenses and some seed money to market and |
| Strong listening skills. A trainer is not someone who | | | | run the business. |
| talks at her audience, spewing information like a fount | | | | |