The adult trainer: sharing knowledge

What does it mean to be an adult trainer? Different styles, new challenges every day, in short, a stimulating challenge day in, day out.

Training an adult audience, whatever the content of the course, can sometimes prove to be a perilous exercise. The mood of the participants and of the trainer can play a decisive part in the group dynamic and influence how smoothly a course runs.

The importance of atmosphere It is therefore, of course, advisable to establish a pleasant atmosphere from the very start of a training course, but also to leave room for participants to express themselves. Indeed, everyone must be able to find their place as an individual and feel free to share how they feel. Each trainer has their own method for this. "After saying hello, I ask them what frame of mind they are in, how they are feeling. And I always ask them the same question: what did they do over the weekend? It is very simple, but it allows us to build trust and get to know one another better, so we can start the course with good energy and a good atmosphere," explains Elvire Küenzi, a trainer on the TRE platform.

Elvire Kuenzi, trainer on our TRE platform

Of course, there is no magic formula for a successful training course, just as there is no "good" or "bad" group of participants. However, you need to be attentive to that all-important group dynamic from the very start of a training session, because it will be decisive for the rest of the course.

The welcome period that opens a course is an opportunity to clear up the various uncertainties that may be hanging over people's minds. The trainer explains the framework and the programme, which helps to clarify and understand how the training will unfold.

Once these first exchanges are over, the trainer will be able to "sense" the group's needs and thus adapt their approach while retaining their own style. Let us remember that their role is to facilitate learning, so they are responsible for the space in which they operate.

For example, varying the training methods makes it possible to optimise the transmission of knowledge while maintaining a positive group dynamic. Games, question-led presentations, work in pairs or in groups, and lecture-style teaching are all ways of setting a rhythm and thus keeping participants interested and engaged.

Nuance and adaptability Eva Poffet, a trainer at Valeur Plus, stresses how important it is to qualify what she says so as not to fall into a dogmatic approach in the courses she runs. "When a participant asks me whether the methods they use are right or not, I tell them there is no rule. It is all a matter of subjectivity." This nuance is a great asset in groups; it opens up dialogue with participants and also encourages them to share their own way of doing things without judgement from the trainer. One of the trainer's roles is therefore to offer advice, ideas and content while bearing in mind that nothing is set in stone and that any practice is liable to evolve.

Eva Poffet, trainer on our TRE platform

Each participant arrives with their own past, habits and knowledge, but also their own certainties. It is this diversity that makes the profession so interesting. "What do I like most about my job? The variety of participant profiles. They all have a background and experiences that personalise and enrich the exchanges, and sometimes even the content of the course," enthuses Romain Moracchini, a trainer. ​Being a trainer means constantly juggling several balls at once. One of the challenges is precisely the constant adaptability you have to show. Juggling everyone's expectations and needs, and juggling with time. Keeping a discreet eye on the clock to know whether there is room for more complex discussions or whether, on the contrary, you need to step up the pace to finish the programme.

Romain Moracchini-Villard, trainer on our TRE platform

Humour and good spirits

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life," said Confucius.

Humour, smiles, kindness, motivation and good spirits are essential keys on every trainer's keyring. They open doors and allow trainers and participants alike to enjoy themselves while working effectively.

The mirror and self-questioning ​For Véronique Bellanger, head of the TRE Platform at Valeur Plus, being a trainer is stimulating because it allows her to question herself: "Thanks to my groups of participants, I am constantly reflecting on my own practice; every day I learn to broaden my horizons and devise new strategies for passing on our know-how. I develop my critical thinking and also learn to let go." An article on the trainer's profession could quickly turn into an encyclopaedia (yes, trainers do like to talk). To grasp its many facets, the best thing is still to observe it in its natural habitat by taking part in a course.

Véronique Bellanger, head of ​our TRE platform