Train the Trainer: My Journey into Training and Why the Right Trainers Make All the Difference

When organisations roll out training whether it’s a new system, a process change, or onboarding, there’s often an assumption that anyone can deliver training.

But that’s simply not true.

The reality is: great trainers aren’t just knowledgeable, they’re skilled communicators, facilitators, and performers. And without the right people in those roles, even the best training content will fall flat.

This is exactly why Train the Trainer (TTT) programs exist and why they matter more than ever.

I was working in the IT department of a large manufacturing business. My day-to-day role? A bit of everything:

• Helping staff with mail merges
• Troubleshooting software issues
• Fixing the inevitable printer paper jams

If it had a plug or a keyboard, I was probably involved.

But something interesting started to happen.

I noticed I didn’t just enjoy fixing problems, I loved showing people how to do things themselves. Explaining. Demonstrating. Breaking things down so they actually made sense.

So I started running small internal workshops for staff.

And I absolutely loved it.

That was the moment I realised: this wasn’t just part of my job this was what I wanted to do.

Taking the Leap Learning to Actually Train

Recognising that passion is one thing, learning how to do it properly is another.

So I enrolled in what was essentially the UK equivalent of a TAFE course focused on becoming a trainer.

At the time, I was still working full time.

That meant:

• 2 nights a week
• 3 hours each session
• Plus a significant amount of homework in between

It was intense.

Fifteen of us started that course.

After one month? Only five of us were left.

That tells you everything you need to know about how challenging it is to learn how to train properly.

The Hardest Part? Delivering in Front of Your Peers

One of the most valuable (and confronting) parts of the course was delivering practice sessions in front of our peers.

You’re not just presenting…

You’re being watched. Assessed. Critiqued.

It’s uncomfortable. It’s nerve-wracking. And at times, it’s brutal.

But it’s also exactly what makes you better.

Because through that process, you learn:

• How to structure a session so it flows
• How to engage an audience (not just talk at them)
• How to manage nerves and build confidence
• How to handle difficult questions or unexpected situations
• How to read a room and adapt your delivery in real time
• How to give and receive constructive feedback

You quickly realise that training is not just about knowledge, it’s about connection, communication, and confidence.

Why Train the Trainer Is So Important

From my own experience and years of delivering corporate training, TTT programs are critical because they help organisations:

• Build confident internal trainers
• Improve the quality of training delivery
• Standardise how training is delivered
• Turn subject matter experts into effective trainers
• Increase engagement and knowledge retention

The Biggest Mistake Organisations Make

One of the most common issues I still see today is this:

“We’ll just get someone to run the training.”

Often, the person chosen is:

• The most experienced
• The most senior
• Or simply the only one available

But here’s the problem…

❌ Expertise ≠ training ability

And sometimes, organisations select someone who:

• Dislikes presenting
• Avoids speaking in groups
• Lacks confidence

In other words a “shrinking violet” who would rather be anywhere else.

That’s a recipe for poor training outcomes.

Choosing the Right Trainers Matters

If organisations want training to be effective, they must be intentional about who they choose.

The best trainers are typically:

• Clear communicators
• Engaging and approachable
• Patient and empathetic
• Comfortable presenting
• Interested in helping others learn

And most importantly…

They want to train.

Training Has Changed and So Must Trainers

One thing that has changed dramatically over the last few years particularly since COVID is how training is delivered.

Virtual delivery is now a standard part of the training landscape.

And while it offers flexibility, it introduces a whole new set of challenges.

Delivering training online isn’t just “face-to-face on Teams or Zoom.”

It’s a completely different skillset.

Trainers now need to:

• Keep learners engaged without physical presence
• Manage silence (which feels very different online!)
• Use chat, polls, and interaction tools effectively
• Read limited visual cues
• Handle technology issues smoothly
• Maintain energy and momentum in a virtual environment

What works in the room doesn’t always work online.

Keeping people engaged virtually is a unique skill and one that requires practice, confidence, and structure.

This is why modern Train the Trainer programs are so important they don’t just teach people how to train…

They teach people how to train in today’s world.

From First Course to Career

That decision to complete my Train the Trainer qualification was one of the best I ever made.

Soon after, I saw an opportunity advertised for a junior Microsoft trainer at a Microsoft ATEC.

I applied. I presented. And I got the job.

Two years later, I started my own business as a freelance trainer.

That was back in 1996 in the UK.

I then moved to Australia in 2013, and in 2015 I launched Trainers Direct.

And I haven’t looked back since.

That grounding learning how to train properly has stayed with me throughout my entire career.

One Lesson I Still Use Today

There’s one thing I learned on that course over 30 years ago that I still use in every workshop I run today.

It goes something like this:

“Tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ’em…
tell ’em…
then tell ’em what you’ve told ’em.”

Very English… and yes, it always gets a bit of a laugh 😄

Final Thoughts

Training isn’t just about delivering information.

It’s about:

• Engaging people
• Building confidence
• Transferring knowledge in a way that sticks

And that only happens when you have the right people delivering it.

That’s why investing in Train the Trainer and carefully selecting the right trainers is not just a “nice to have.”

It’s essential.