Training is critical for the success of any organization. In today’s workplace, where employees are expected to do more with less, provide excellent customer service and strive for career advancement, training is essential. As a trainer, it is vital to have the tools you need to get the organization and its employees where they need to be. If you are not sure where to get started, The First–Time Trainer, A Step-by-Step Quick Guide for Managers, Supervisors, and New Training Professionals by Tom Q. Goad will provide the foundation needed to be a successful trainer.

Many times, supervisors and managers are thrust into the position of training their employees. Unfortunately they often do not have the first clue as to how to prepare a training program or deliver the training in a concise and effective manner. The First-Time Trainer provides a step-by-step guide for anyone responsible for providing training to organizational employees.

The book is broken down into easy to follow instructions, beginning with the basic essentials such as understanding why training is so important. From there, Goad deals with each aspect of training including focusing on performance, learning and delivery. It also provides well-rounded guidance by discussing feedback and continuous quality improvement.

Many trainers, whether they are first time presenters or seasoned professionals often struggle with presentation skills. The First-Time Trainer does an excellent job of covering how to provide an effective presentation. Trainers may mistakenly neglect pre and post presentation details opting to focus the majority of their time on the presentation itself. Learning about training attendees is important in order to focus the presentation on their needs and learning styles. While getting feedback may be painful, it is invaluable to improving your presentation and presentation style.

How often have you sat in training and experience equipment malfunction? Goad advises trainers not to make excuses for mal-functioning equipment. He even goes as far as to suggest that offering apologies may “detract from your credibility.” While I agree that spending time focusing on equipment removes the focus from training, it does provide good customer service to acknowledge the malfunction and then move on. Checking equipment before, as recommended by Goad, may not prevent these issues, but it will definitely help to minimize them.

Are problem attendees a problem? How to deal with difficult attendees is also covered in book. The quiet ones, the disrupters, the chatterboxes and a host of other difficult types are given attention.

The First–Time Trainer, A Step-by-Step Quick Guide for Managers, Supervisors, and New Training Professionals is an excellent book for anyone who is nervous or needs help when it comes to providing training.

FTC statement – This book was provided for review, free of charge by AMACOM Books.