This slickly produced set of tips for the trainer is a must for those wishing to join the ranks of trainers.

Training is a serious matter and, certainly, the contents have to be given due weightage in adding worth to the trainees. But that does not mean that it has to either dreary or painfully stald. In short, it need not weigh down either the trainer or the trained. This is the base concept underlying the entire presentation, which provides some well-meaning and practical tips to the trainer.

Of course, the tips are neither new nor original. After all, each trainer is always aware of how to present his programme, how to structure the module, how to create a correct and conducive atmosphere, etc. What is new in this video-cassette is the compiling of these ideas in one place and the idea of demonstrating the tips by enacting them and illustrating them. The concepts have been presented in a precise, unambiguous manner. It is up to the viewer to imbibe and adapt them according to his inherent style. It is also about adding some much-needed embellishment to the concrete case of serious learning.

Very convenient and liberal use of acronyms throughout helps in the retention of the concepts-for example, presenter and writer John Townsend demonstrates to the viewer with appropriate enactment of how one P-A-M-P-E-R-S the performance of delivery: `P'roject your voice; `A'rticulate your words; `M'odulate the tone; `P'ronounce correctly; `E'nunciate; `R'epeat the key words; `S'peed the delivery

Townsend emphasises that to effectively influence the participating members, the trainer should make correct and effective use of body language, because the trainer himself is a visual aid to his training. He should make constant eye contact with the participants like a lighthouse beam sweeping the darkness.

However interesting, exciting, dry or dreary the subject, a majority of the participants are present simply because they have been told to be there. Hence, it is extremely important to catch their attention and keep it. Start with a bang. Initiate participation by throwing the monkey on your back to the participants, make them understand why they are there (apart from being told to be there). During the course of this, the what and how of their daily work routine will come out. This is the cue for the trainer to launch forth on the actual subject matter.

Extensive use of parables should be practised. Townsend counsels against underestimating the power of the parable. He explains that a parable leaves the desired impact on the sub-conscious and does not come close enough to our daily existence to embarrass anyone. Anecdotes, examples and parables rouse distant empathy-they influence without ruffling feelings.

The general bane of a trainer in any training programme is the routine heckler or the difficult participant. Townsend advises trainers to not over-react, but to rechannelise this energy and deflect it back to the entire group, for peer opinion both influences and subdues.

Another innovative idea is the hearing aid. The idea here is to play some soothing music while participants are completing an exercise or conducting a group discussion, The music obviously needs to be soothing -- maybe instrumental or natural sounds like the chirping of birds. This is a concept worth trying out for it adds the colour of naturalness to the air-conditioned environment.

Training invariably tests knowledge, improves skills and changes attitudes, the latter being the most difficult and time-consuming. Townsend exhorts the trainer to start with some relevant exercise and see how things are generally handled by the participants in their place of work and then tell them the generally acceptable methodology of doing the same things. The trainer is expected at all times to sell the idea of the training to the participants to make them want to learn what he is going to impart. He must also introduce the subject, teach it and recap what has been taught. This recap is best made into a mad recap. Fun is memorable. Make the end of the day fun. That is the icing on the cake of the day's learning.

TEN TRAINING TIPS

Written by John Townsend & Adam Gee

Produced by Melrose Film Productions Ltd, London

Distributed in India by Multi Media HRD Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai-400 039; Tel: (022) 204 2281, 2826312; Fax: (022) 283 6478. Rs 7,250; 35 mts

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.