Our train-the-trainer and public speaking courses show how to maintain professional, respectful relationships with all students. This can be easily achieved once you've given it some consideration.
It is a question every parent, every teacher, and every trainer will ask themselves.
'Am I too strict, too soft - how do I find the right balance?'
There are numerous factors that influence finding the right balance between formality and informality, such as: where the training is taking place; how committed and keen the attendees are to take part in the program; the nature of the subject matter, and the age, personality, and experience of the trainer.
But if we all think back to our school days, the teachers who were the most approachable, friendly, and easygoing at the beginning of the term often were not the most popular or respected by the end. In contrast, the stern, severe teacher who then relaxes a bit over the course of the year is usually looked upon with more respect and, eventually, even with more affection.
I remember a manager declaring with a bit of self-conscious irony:
'"Don't think of me as your boss, think of me as a friend who is always right!"
That is an almost impossible balance to sustain - an apparent best of both worlds. But as his statement implies, a boss sometimes needs to make clear decisions and take control in a way that would not be appropriate in a friendship.
Sometimes, when we want a candid opinion, we walk past our friends and go to someone a bit more detached because we feel they are not afraid to offer a more honest, balanced perspective.
A trainer, if only for a few hours, is also a mentor. And sometimes a mentor has to speak uncomfortable truths. After all, it is a professional relationship. We do not look to our Doctor to be our friend; in fact, we may be slightly uncomfortable if they were too close. We expect them to work in a professional context, in our best interests, and to tell us what we need to know, honestly and sensitively. So how does that help us with the initial question:
'Am I too strict, too soft - how do I find the right balance?'
Simply put, if you are going to err on any side, it is better to be too strict and detached. You can always recover and come back the other way. However, like a sports team that starts off too slowly, or a tennis player who underestimates his opponent, it can be hard to recover if you start too informally.
Your first job is not to be loved, it is to be respected.
From a student's point of view, a teacher whose attitude starts off a bit reserved and then warms up is seen as a pleasant improvement. You can always squeeze a bit more toothpaste out of the tube; putting it back in again is somewhat harder.
So an ideal posture for a trainer is friendly and professional; if not sure how far to go on the open, friendly side, hold back a little. You can always open up later. Before anything else, it is a professional relationship.
Vince Stevenson - Founder College of Public Speaking 2006 Ltd.
If you have a great attitude and look forward to making a difference in your life, I hope you consider joining one of our training the trainer courses or public speaking course soon. It's always possible to improve your skillset and take your work and achievements to a higher level. Three strong reasons to support training
