What is training - what form of training is it, what types of training are there, what are their pros and cons

AUTHOR:

Dmitry Stadnik
If you think that this topic does not concern you, then...

• Infobusiness
• Sales

What are trainings and why are they needed - 6 facts in simple language

If you think that this topic does not concern you, then I hasten to disappoint you. Every modern person must know what trainings are and why they are needed. Why, you ask?

It’s simple: this is the next stage in the development of humanity in the field of information and educational services. I am sure that the moment will come when every inhabitant of our planet will attend training at least once in their life!

And if you are prepared for this type of training, the result will be much higher than even what you expected when you signed up to participate in the event. This article is also a kind of confession of a person who over the past year has completed 4 very worthy intensive courses in personal development.

Here's another reason why this material should appear on the pages of Yourselfbranding. It is my duty to tell everything I know about training for ordinary people in an accessible language. Because behind every unfamiliar term in the field of training education, there are hidden very familiar words for ordinary people. I am sure that if a person is informed, he is armed. Do you agree?)

Who am I to be trusted? Here are several of my credentials, which indicate that I have a certain right to speak on this topic. Here are the questions we will consider in this article:

• What are trainings?
• Main types of training
• Why are trainings needed?
• How are the trainings conducted?
• Coaching style training
• How to choose training to suit your goals?
• Why do trainings produce results?

And at the end of the article, all the most important conclusions about the trainings that I have completed over the past year. So, are trainings a waste of money or a new life?

Conduct training and think about future prospects

If your training meets the expectations of the audience, be prepared for the fact that you will not have time to present most of the material. There will definitely be additional questions or nuances that will delay the training and limit the compiled program. In this case, you must rank all semantic blocks by level of importance: from priority to secondary.

Place priority blocks at the beginning and work with them until all the necessary information is told. If there is time left, you can also connect secondary units. At the end, be sure to provide links to your resources where you can find out more information, buy a paid product, or sign up for the next training. That's all.

We understand that it is impossible to take into account all the nuances within one article. Therefore, we tried to talk about the most important things, and now we are waiting for feedback. Write how your first training went and which of the suggested recommendations helped you? Good luck!

We also recommend reading:

• Storytelling
• Training by Tony Robbins. Day 1. Control of emotions: the secret of success
• Training effectiveness assessment model
• Master class: what is it and how to conduct it
• How to create a continuous learning system
• Types and forms of education: a brief educational program
• ADDIE model for learning
• Training by Tony Robbins. Day 6. Manage your time and your life
• Webinar: what is it and how to conduct it
• Training by Tony Robbins. Day 5: Your Standards of Behavior: Be Impeccable
• The Four Elements of Strategic Communication

Keywords:1LLL

What are trainings?

I admit honestly that until recently I didn’t really understand the difference between training, coaching, consultation and seminar. Literally until 2018, when I became a professional coach and am ready to tell the whole truth about such training.

The fact is that I took my first sales training in 2003, working as a sales representative. But I understood the essence of this type of training only after I was on the other side of the barricades, when I held several of my events.

To explain the essence of training, let’s imagine that we decided to tighten our body and signed up for a gym. How will the training process take place? Alternatively, you can just come and, without preparation, start working with the weight that we can handle at the moment.

What will happen the next day? That's right: you probably won't be able to get out of bed to drink a cup of morning coffee, let alone somehow get to your desk. Or is there another option.

You work with a personal trainer, who will first give you instructions, then show you a set of exercises to warm up your muscles, select the right types of exercise equipment for your body, and calculate the optimal load based on your data. As a result, you get a whole set of actions that are designed individually for a person.

All people differ in their abilities. The heavyweight program will not be suitable for those weighing less than 70 kg.

So: the brain, just like muscles, needs training. Without constant stress, this organ may stop working effectively, which will affect a person’s results in all areas of activity.

Train with knowledge

Training is a gym for the brain, with an individually selected training program for an individual or group of people. Typically, collective training is carried out for an audience whose participants have similar characteristics in the type of activity.

For example, activities for those interested in yoga, muscle stretching, painting or the topic of seduction. In the business sphere, trainings can be conducted for the entire sales department, HR department, middle or senior managers.

Such events can take a person out of his comfort zone, make him feel the situation through role-playing games, and find a way to solve problems that stand in the way of achieving goals.

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To put it even more simply, we place our mind in a stressful situation, which can stimulate the discovery of a person’s internal resources.

The main goal of the training is for a person not just to receive new information, but to take certain actions in practice and experience new experiences in the real world. Naturally, all this takes place under the strict supervision of the coach and his assistants.

A little about personal growth and mental health

One of the common myths is that sick people turn to psychologists, like doctors. And if at school a student goes for consultations with a psychologist, then very often children tease him as “psycho.” We inherited this stereotype from the “Soviet” culture, when psychology was considered a “handmaiden of the bourgeoisie.” This is equivalent to considering a person who does morning exercises, douses himself with cold water, and eats healthy food to be sick. Outwardly, the behavior of a person who simply leads a healthy lifestyle is really very similar, and a person after a serious illness who goes to a health group at the stadium and is on a diet. The difference is that one is engaged in prevention, and the second is in treatment.

Since the term “personality” itself, like the answer to the question “What is training?”, has more than 50 different scientific definitions, the concept of personal growth is very vague and is interpreted differently in different psychological schools. Which one is true, each person chooses for himself. However, the minimum, necessary condition for the possibility of personal growth is mental (mental) health. And the criteria for mental health, although blurred, have clearer boundaries.

At all times, among all peoples of the world, the officially recognized, enduring value of a person and society has been and is physical and mental health, at least this is officially stated out loud (mass advertising of tobacco and alcohol somehow does not fit well with the official recognition of human health as the highest value of the state and society). Even in ancient times, it was understood by doctors and philosophers as the main condition for the free activity of man, his perfection.

Considering a person as a bio-energy-information system, characterized by a pyramidal structure of subsystems, which include the body, psyche and spiritual element, the concept of health implies the harmony of this system. Violations at any level affect the stability of the entire system. Therefore, if a person is harmonious and fits harmoniously into society, then he is healthy.

It is known that the level of human health depends on many factors: hereditary, socio-economic, environmental, as well as the activities of the health care system. But according to the World Health Organization, it is only 10–15% associated with the latter factor, 15–20% is due to genetic factors, 25% is determined by environmental conditions, and 50–55% is determined by human conditions and lifestyle. Thus, it is obvious that the primary role in the preservation and formation of health still belongs to the person himself, his lifestyle, his values, attitudes, the degree of harmonization of his inner world and relationships with the environment.

All of the above are beautiful theories, but when it comes to practical activities, a huge number of questions arise. For example, regarding the physical health of young men, the criteria for suitability for combat military service in peacetime that exist today are very different from those that existed in the 60s. What do you think, dear readers, which of the criteria is more true? And the concept of mental health is an even more difficult thing to define in practice, which has two extremes. One is everyday intuitive understanding and sensations in general, and the other is in the form of an official medical report on a person’s mental state - whether he is sick or healthy, which is given by psychiatrists working in the relevant psychiatric institutions. And when the concept of “healthy” or “sick” acquires fundamental legal significance, the final word remains with the forensic medical examination, which is the legal truth. Paradoxical but true.

Main types of training

If you look through the eyes of the average person, all trainings can be divided into 3 large categories. They differ in the style of conduct and in the areas of human activity that affect them. I warn you right away that there is no direct relationship between the type of training and the results that the participant then receives. It all depends a little on other factors, which we will look at below.

Soft

This type is suitable for those participants who want to undergo training in a comfortable environment, without changing the usual rhythm of life. In such trainings, role-playing games are used that simulate various life situations. Having immersed himself in the game, a person understands where this or that problem in his life came from. Based on this new knowledge, conclusions are drawn that lead to internal transformation (change).

This type of training includes the following topics: relationships, happiness in the family, increasing sexuality, changing attitudes towards money, career growth, finding a calling in life.

Solid

In the case of this style of training, strict regulations and rules apply. A very common situation is a fine for being late or not completing a task. Often during such trainings quite complex tasks are given. For example, sell a pen to a passerby or ask for a loan in a nearby office.

It is generally accepted that such trainings can give more results, but I do not recommend people with a more subtle psyche to take part in such events. Here are the niches in which this type of training is used: pickup (meeting people on the street), most business trainings on sales and negotiations.

Hardcore

If you need to get a very quick and tangible result, then I advise you to go to such trainings. Since in this case the level of stress when completing tasks will be at its maximum, remember that this option is not for everyone. Such intensive courses are conducted in a “bootcamp” format. This is when people are isolated from their familiar external environment for several days, or even weeks, and the necessary skills are trained almost around the clock.

In addition to the fact that these trainings are quite expensive, those who do not complete the task on time may incur additional costs in the form of money transfers to charity. All men's training to increase motivation works this way. Recently, some programs on business topics have been conducted in hardcore mode.

If we talk about the types of trainings even more simply, they can be divided depending on the tasks assigned. It may well turn out that you chose training, but it turned out to be very far from your goals.

Trainings to improve skills

Recently, this type of training has become more popular. Its main task is not just new information, but training of specific actions. Knowledge without practice is of no value.

For example, at my 3D visualization school there was just skills training: in order to do something, you don’t need all the knowledge on this topic. Only the amount of information that is needed to complete a specific narrow task is given.

Very often such trainings are held in workshop mode (workshop in English - workshop). This is when a trainer demonstrates a skill and the participants repeat it. Usually after such a workshop a person has a specific measurable result.

Here are examples of workshops that I conducted: “Creating a YouTube channel from scratch”, “Launching the first e-mail newsletter”.

Transformational trainings

This type of training is designed to change a person’s thought processes. The main task of such events is not knowledge or skills, but internal transformation. Sometimes this training is called “personal development training.”

Each person has their own behavior, which depends on a set of core beliefs and thought patterns. This is a kind of software within which a person exists. The results in life depend on how a person thinks.

And if a training participant is not satisfied with the way he lives now, then transformational training is a good tool for significant changes.

Naturally, such training has many varieties, but this is a topic for a separate article.

Differences between training and other forms of training

What else is the difference between psychological training and training in general from other forms of training?

Firstly , different types of activities are used, such as discussion, group discussion, simulation of situations (role play), exercises (psycho-gymnastics), observations, etc. These types of activities are aimed at practicing new forms of behavior and receiving feedback from participants group, how this form of behavior is perceived by others.

Varied and fun

Secondly , rules must be introduced into the work of the training group.

Here are some of them!

• Activity rule. Each trainee necessarily participates in all tasks, he is actively involved in the process. It is through active participation that awareness is achieved, the consolidation of new ways of behavior and, in general, the result of learning. Therefore, groups in psychological training are small (5-12 people).
• Rule of creativity. The training creates an environment for generating ideas. This rule is aimed at destroying the stereotypes that are formed in us as a result of upbringing, training, and life experience. The rule makes it possible to experiment and take a creative approach to solving life situations.
• The rule of “competent” criticism. They do not criticize a person, but express their attitude towards the actions that a person performs. Thus, in the training, participants learn to competently give feedback, talk about their feelings and better understand others.
• The “here and now” rule. Everything that happens during the training happens in this exact place and at this exact time. Expressions like “I usually do things differently” are excluded.

This is just an example of the rules that apply in the training group. Their choice is largely determined by the purpose of psychological training, the group itself and the trainer.

Why are trainings needed?

Having examined the types of trainings, we briefly touched on why they are needed in general. But in this section we will try to analyze the additional values ​​that such a training format can provide.

Environment

The success of every person really depends on his environment. Now there is even such a science as networking. She teaches you how to make useful connections. Training is an excellent platform for such acquaintances, because such events are often attended by wealthy people with a high level of income and development.

From my experience, I can say that I met most of my business partners through such training. Firstly, the training participants are a team that thinks the same way as you. Secondly, during training, people become closer to each other faster, which helps strengthen relationships.

Skills

Trainings provide an opportunity to gain skills that cannot be obtained alone by simply watching videos at home. But there are tasks that cannot be done alone.

To practice certain abilities, there are exercises in which at least 3 people must take part. You can, of course, try to do this with friends at home, but it’s far from a fact that your loved ones share your aspirations for self-development.

Moreover, the training creates such an atmosphere that several approaches are enough to hone a skill. In “greenhouse” home conditions you will have to train much longer. Gaining a skill through training is a valuable experience.

Feedback

In ordinary life, any value judgment from the outside carries either criticism or praise. The funny thing is that both do not bring any benefit to a person who strives for change.

When receiving praise, you may not notice areas that need to be worked on. With unconstructive criticism, you may receive a portion of such negativity that will completely destroy all aspirations for self-development.

Feedback during trainings is given by an independent observer according to a certain structure. After receiving such an assessment, the participant knows what to work on, what to pay attention to and knows exactly his growth zones.

Solution

I have witnessed more than once how people made fateful decisions during trainings. In such training, as a rule, insights come. Seemingly unsolvable problems in life suddenly become simple and solvable.

Sometimes the mind opens so widely that a person hears solutions to his problems in the form of a whisper of an inner voice. Participants begin to listen to their intuition and emotions, and not to imposed opinions from the outside.

Trainings differ from other types of training in their intensity. In a short period of time, you can pack a huge amount of knowledge and a set of skills, which makes the participant of such training essentially a new person.

Story

It is believed that the American writer and teacher Dale Carnegie contributed a huge treasure to the development of the technique. Having founded an institute specializing in social relations and public speaking, Carnegie introduced the practice of gathering to conduct joint trainings. The specialized center appeared in 1912, and provided an opportunity for everyone to hone the skills of public speaking, interaction with each other and increase self-esteem.

However, the founder of the method can safely be considered the American psychologist Kurt Lewin. Under his leadership, special training groups were created in 1946. After the first group meetings, it was proven that collective communication and analysis of individual behavioral characteristics are easier to achieve by training in a group.

A few years later, the National Training Laboratory was founded, aimed at training and developing public speaking skills among managers at various levels. In the 60s, training was actively conducted throughout the United States to develop communication skills among consultants and managers. Carl Rogers made a huge contribution to the development of the training process. In 1971, the German scientist M. Forverg created a specialized methodology for socio-psychological training.

As for Russia and the CIS countries, the first trainings were heard here in the 1990s. The development of the industry was influenced by the emergence of transnational corporations that needed highly qualified personnel. There was an acute issue regarding the training of workers in accordance with the standards of foreign organizations. In the early 2000s, the practice of conducting group trainings spread throughout the country.

How are the trainings conducted?

Having attended various events, I came to the conclusion that quality training is only possible with a limited number of participants. Therefore, it is difficult to meet me at large-scale entrepreneurial summits or speeches by world “success” gurus for 5,000 people.

High-quality training is a group of participants of 30-50 people. In rare cases, the number of trainees can reach up to 200, but then the group is divided into small groups for better skill development.

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Even with such a small number of participants, the coach cannot do without assistants. Usually 2-3 people help him. The more attention there is for each student, the better.

The structure of the event is slightly different for each trainer, but in general three components can be distinguished:

1. Theory. Participants are introduced to new information.
2. Demonstration. The trainer shows in practice what was stated in the theoretical block
3. Practice. Participants are divided into subgroups and repeat all actions after the trainer.
4. Discussion. After the exercise, participants ask additional questions and also share their impressions: what was easy, what was difficult.

Sometimes small groups compete with each other to see who can complete this or that task better. This further engages participants in the learning process. The main thing in the training process is complete immersion in the process. Without this, the result will not be the best.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the development of relationships within the participants. It would seem that all people are different and each new team of like-minded people is formed according to a different scenario. But in general, group work goes through several steps along the path of its development.

Acquaintance

At this stage, the team is just being formed and the activity of the participants may be low. People begin to get to know each other and take their places. It is possible that a leader will emerge within the group, to whom the rest of the participants will listen.

This person can set the general tone of communication at this stage. If the leader is open and does not hide his feelings and shortcomings, then the group will willingly join him and begin to move forward. It is worth noting that this stage is not very long.

Storm

Once the community has settled in, the next stage begins. During this period, each team member tries to establish himself in the eyes of others. In business trainings, this stage is usually called “defining roles and functions.” In simple terms, this can be called a tug of war.

This is the most valuable stage for a leader, as his position is at risk. A good leader convinces each participant to take responsibility, accepts the right of each team member to assert themselves, and allows for any objections from outside.

In any training, the main leader is the one who conducts the training. In multi-day trainings, the storm stage occurs on the second day. Professional trainers jokingly call this stage the day of killing the trainer.

But a good specialist “resurrects” already on the third day. It is important to remember that in both large and small work groups this is an inevitable and necessary stage for which you need to be prepared.

In the real world, most teams in business and sports rarely go through this stage, but if the leader knows how group dynamics work, then making such a transition is not difficult

Calm

The development of relationships in the group moves into the stage of cohesion. There are almost no objections, all group members agree with everything, offer their own options, and any disagreements are quickly overcome. Each participant tries to help those lagging behind. But there is one danger.

At this stage, there is a possibility of overestimating the group's capabilities. It is possible that the quiet progress stage has secondary benefits for each of the participants. For example, complete the exercise faster and go home.

The duty of a good leader is to artificially maintain a certain psychological tension within the team. If everything is too good, then it’s not really good). An experienced coach can use tools such as frustration and trolling to increase work dynamics).

Legal subtleties

In accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, psychotherapeutic activity is a licensed activity and requires an appropriate official state license. And you can engage in psychological activities without a license, having a state diploma in psychology, having previously registered with state, tax authorities and foundations. Unfortunately, today there is no clear line between psychological and psychotherapeutic activities, both in medicine itself and in legislation.

Historically, practicing psychologists work with healthy people during training. After all, what training is is a learning process, but not a treatment. A self-respecting psychologist is unlikely to agree to risk his reputation by allowing a mentally ill person to attend his training. And if a person turns to a psychologist, this indicates his level of development and a competent attitude towards his personal development. At the same time, the training uses techniques and methods that were discovered in one or another psychotherapeutic school; these methods are simply effective when working with healthy people.

Personal growth trainings, as a rule, are conducted by certified psychologists or psychotherapists who, in addition to a diploma, also have certificates of one or another officially recognized direction in psychology or psychotherapy (NLP, Synton, Body Awareness, Gestalt, Psychodrama, Positive Psychotherapy, Socionics, etc. .), who are well versed in personality traits and have good experience in training work.

Another feature of personal growth trainings is the factor of voluntary participation. Since these trainings involve profound changes in the personality, its highest values, beliefs, and ideas about the structure of the world, each person makes the decision to participate in such training independently, based on his personal interests. And requiring a person to take part in personal growth training is like forcing a horse that was forced into a river to drink.

Coaching style training

I will highlight this type of training separately from the rest. This is a more progressive training model, as it gives the most tangible results due to the fact that before training, an in-depth analysis of the current situation is carried out.

In addition, the SMART model is actively used. This is one of the modern methods of goal setting. The goal must be specific, measurable, achievable, meaningful and time-bound.

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Let's look at the main stages of coaching training

Introductory session

At the initial stage, the coach helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of all group members. Participants establish common learning priorities. For example, if you conduct sales coaching-style training, the group itself identifies the most necessary skills for itself and works to improve them.

At this stage, work is being done to study the current situation. Participants in the training must answer the question: what is happening now? In addition, motives and the need for training are identified. If the group does not have true motivation for learning, then the results of the training will not be high.

Training session

At this stage, training takes place according to the classic formula, which we discussed just above: theory - demonstration - practice - discussion. The trainer selects exercises and games to achieve the needs identified at the first stage.

Depending on how the overall dynamics of the group develop, adjustments may be made to the training plan. For example, if the group is not very active, then exercises are added to increase the intensity of the learning process.

Final session

The third stage is reserved for analyzing the results obtained. Simply put, have the goals been achieved? This session also identifies obstacles and possible problems that interfere with learning.

A separate block examines the transfer of acquired skills into the work environment. It’s no secret that in the same sales trainings, participants receive new skills, but do not use them in practice.

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In addition, a list is compiled of what can be done as an additional upgrade of skills and what will be mandatory. This stage helps to tap into the participant's inner potential through the creation of new vision and opportunities.

When is coaching effective?

1. If you need to quickly change the current situation
2. When a break from the usual rhythm of life and work is unacceptable
3. If you need a coordinated solution to the task assigned to the team.
4. In situations where it is necessary to increase the personal interest of each training participant
5. Reduce the level of resistance on the part of employees to new changes

The most important thing: coaching training does not allow the coach to work “for show” according to prepared templates. After all, you cannot know in advance what goals the training group will set for itself. This means that the coach must be truly highly qualified.

And if you ask my opinion, then coaching training is the best option for upgrading your abilities. But how to choose training is discussed in the next section.

What can they offer instead of training?

A lecture is not a training

This is a lecture, not a training.

If during a training session you sit still and listen more than half the time, this is not a training session, but a lecture!!!

• If you sit at tables and write something down, it’s a lecture.

Look at the result.

If at the end you have good knowledge, this is a lecture.

This is what it is intended for.

But this was not training.

Lecture is the cheapest type of training

• Because you can read it yourself, finding material now is not as difficult as in the days before the Internet.

A seminar is not a training

There is a trainer at the training. He teaches. He doesn’t doubt himself, because he knows and can do it - and this is obvious. And to save time for the whole group, he will not collect different opinions from students and discuss them with the group.

There is a seminar going on. It may soon turn into training. But for now this is a seminar.

• The coach can discuss such moments one on one, while the rest of the group is busy with the next exercise.

In front of the group, the trainer can only ask questions like these:

“What was important, useful, what works, what is not yet clear, what is the difficulty?”

But such a dialogue should not take much time.

If the trainer collects the opinions of the participants and records them on a flipchart, this is a seminar.

I also respect seminars, I myself have conducted hundreds of seminars, good seminars.

But the seminar should cost less than the training.

• Separately, I will write an article “What is a seminar.” And why I like him.

A motivational lecture is not a training session.

We did a great job - so what?

If the lesson has no result, then call it whatever you like, but not training. It happens that the group leaves inspired, everyone liked something... And the result is like a round dance around the Christmas tree.

• Even if it was “personal growth”, there must be this “growth”, and very noticeable.

Corporate party.

I often conduct team-educational trainings. The result is a cohesive team.

And I vouch for this result.

But when they order me to run, jump, climb ropes, and in the evening - barbecue... In such cases, I recommend hiring a good toastmaster.

And please do not call this event a training.

How to choose training to suit your goals?

I would immediately rephrase this question and ask: how to choose training so that it really brings results? To begin with, you must have clearly defined goals. If they are not there, then going to any training is pointless!

It doesn’t matter what your goal is, the main thing is that you have it. This could be: learn copywriting, improve your negotiation skills, or learn how to do personal selling. This is a prerequisite for obtaining results.

Now that it is clear that without a goal, any training is a waste of time, we will give basic recommendations for choosing training.

1. Subject of the training. Make sure it is fit for purpose

1. Personality of the trainer. It has been proven that the audience at such events mainly comes to the trainer’s name. If a really cool specialist is training nearby, then don’t waste time thinking: you have to go!

1. Price. If you don’t have your own money for training, then put off upgrading your skills for later. Even if you take out a loan for this business, there will be little benefit. You can't fully commit to studying with debt behind you. I advise you to choose a training that is slightly higher in price than you would like to pay. The higher the price, the better. This way you will get a better environment and opportunities for new useful connections.

1. Recommendations. If your friends attended the training and recommend it, then you can trust their choice. But keep in mind that their experience may not match yours. No two events are the same, even if conducted by the same trainer. Every experience is unique.

Another tip: modern marketing is cruel and merciless. To attract clients, most trainings have a so-called test drive. One or several first free days are given. The participant then decides to participate fully. It would be a sin not to take advantage of such an opportunity.

And now a little subjective opinion).