To Show or Not To Show Your Training Credentials

Copyright (c) 2010 The College Of Public Speaking

Some trainers, young trainers particularly, are a bit uncomfortable giving a glowing account of their CV at the beginning of a training session.

They feel it sounds a bit arrogant ('I have done this and this, and here are my achievements'). But at the beginning of the day it is vital to set a good learning environment, for 2 reasons:

Firstly, it will establish you as the expert, and why it would be a good thing for your students to follow your instructions.

Secondly, from the students perspective, they would appreciate somebody up there who is totally qualified to deliver this training.

(This also helps to answer the third of the 3 unspoken questions that most students have at the beginning of any training session:

i. Why am I here?

ii. What am I going to get out of this?

iii. Why should I listen to you?

If I were under the knife and the surgeon began by indicating how many successful operations he had undertaken, I wouldn't mind hearing about it. I would not see that as blowing his own trumpet.

Indeed, as I am putting my existence in his hands, I most certainly welcome his confidence!

That said, there is a clear difference between 'factual and relevant input' as opposed to the bragging and blagging trainer who loves the sound of his own voice.

Usually if you can point to over 2 years experience in a certain field, it automatically suggests to the listener that you will probably be more than competent in that area (-which is probably why many job adverts specify '2 years' experience').

Over 6 years' background in that field indicates that you should be an expert. If you can back that up with phrases like: 'that should suggest that I have the necessary knowledge' or 'which means I am well placed to be able to help you', the training participants will feel reassured and confident.

In that case, what do you do if it seems that you do not possess the appropriate experience?

On one level maybe you should ask yourself if you are in the best position to lead the training at all! However, more likely, you will be able to point to parallel experiences that may be relevant:

'I have only been in this job for a few weeks, but I have 12 years' experience doing something very similar'.

'I may not have delivered training in this area before, but I have many years' behind me delivering training in other fields.'

The point is, the trainer's introduction is not there for the greater glory of the trainer, it is there to reassure the participants that they are in safe hands. It is never about you - it is always about them.

Possible the most effective method is to reassure them at the outset that you are the best man/woman for the job.