Why I love being a trainer
You have to make a local impact first
When you first become a trainer, you have no idea about how little you know. You've probably been invited to run a class for your colleagues. I worked in IT, and on the day I thought they'd ask me about what I knew about that programming discipline. I knew the how and the what, which is what they paid me for. But, it quickly became clear that I did not understand the 'why'.
I invested a significant amount of money in programming textbooks, training courses, and experimenting with engagement techniques and activities. There were multiple challenges, but I somehow became hooked on the world of curiosity and taking action to make things happen for myself. I had some terrible days in class, which shook my confidence to the core. It took months of study and trial and error before I achieved a sense of fulfilment and a positive impact.
When that project ended, I could have returned to my incredibly safe desk job, but something within me said that I could never go back to staring at a screen 8 hours per day.
One day, I was invited to give a presentation at a small conference in the City of London. It ended, and I poured myself a cup of tea. I was approached by two gentlemen in smart suits who complimented my delivery. They said they were more than familiar with the issue, but they'd never considered it from my angle. We continued chatting for ten minutes, and they gave me their business cards and asked if I would consider becoming a freelance trainer. It hadn't occurred to me at that point, but when I read their cards, both members of Sun Microsystems Training Department, I began to see their comments in a different light. Six months, four presentations and three interviews later, I became a freelance trainer with them.
Settling into a new job, with new colleagues, new courses, weeks of study, lots of travel — exciting and exhausting times. I occasionally thought of my tedious 9 to 5 job, but those thoughts dissipated quickly with the new reality that I was making a fulfilling difference in my students' lives. When you're committed to a significant cause, there's no turning back.
In 2006, I ended my IT career because I had fallen in love with public speaking. I had joined a local speakers' club and within a few months became its leader. Over a period of six months, several individuals arrived seeking assistance to enhance their communication skills. However, their issues were beyond what the club could offer, and one by one they dropped out. I felt bad about that — people coming for help and practically being turned away. That's when I turned my full attention to studying psychology, philosophy, and personal development, and using my life as a student and trainer as a case study in helping others. With 100% commitment, everything is possible. This introduced me to hundreds of great characters from diverse backgrounds, and we were able to inspire and empower each other, unlocking our latent potential. The work contributed to positive change first on a local stage and then on an international scale, fostering confidence, leadership, and resilience worldwide.
Travel and Cultural Immersion
Twenty years later, I have travelled the world, delivering public speaking workshops at some interesting and exotic places (Mauritius, Kurdistan, China, the Middle East, Bangladesh), and taken numerous trips to Europe (Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Paris, Sibiu, Wroclaw, Brussels, Seville, Maastricht, Utrecht). This has provided opportunities for networking with people and organisations that are consistently growing and need communication skills to scale and enhance their workforce. Travel gives this opportunity to experience different traditions and perspectives firsthand. It enriches your personal growth and allows you to tailor your training to various cultural contexts. Recently, I have taken the initiative to attend summer university courses in the Netherlands. I will always be in love with Utrecht.
Continuous Learning and Growth
Working with diverse clients keeps you sharp, adaptable, and constantly evolving. The most stimulating projects have been those involving work with charities, NGOs, and voluntary organisations. I have travelled to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where I worked with people whose jobs are critical to the local population. I found it unimaginable that jobs like that existed. It humbled me to work with these remarkable individuals. I have worked with several charities in London. Homelessness and addiction charities often need support. One Monday, I ran a course at St Mungo's Recovery College in Southwark. I had worked over the weekend, and I was exhausted. It crossed my mind to cancel, but then I didn't want to disappoint the staff and service users. You learn from the challenges and success stories of people from diverse backgrounds. After fifteen minutes in class, I was floating on their incredible stories of defiance and resilience. These survivors gave me a huge lift that day, and with gratitude, brought attention to all the privileges in my life. There’s deep satisfaction in seeing students transform their lives.
Flexibility and Freedom
The international aspect of becoming a trainer continues to inspire me. COVID-19 killed travel for a few years, but airports are now at capacity again, and the desire to travel is overwhelming. Teaching courses that genuinely mean something to me makes my job a pleasure. Seeing students overcome their obstacles is incentive enough to propel my training practice forward. I have made so many great friends along this path. My network is growing exponentially as I am regularly invited to speak at international conferences. At a recent conference in Wrocław, I was asked to participate in a world-record-breaking 36-hour systemic dialogue (though my part was a three-hour session). Meeting people, making contacts, and receiving invitations to speak at even more conferences. I can design programs that align with my passion. Whether it’s leadership and management, training the trainer courses, mindset, or career growth, I'll be there when invited.
Invitation to become a trainer
If you have ever considered becoming a trainer, I highly recommend you conduct some research. It's a great industry with enormous personal rewards, but with that comes the risks and responsibilities. If you have a great attitude and direct that energy towards lifelong learning, you'll be in pole position to excel as a trainer. If you're looking for more information and a thorough grounding as a trainer, I recommend one of my 2-day Training the Trainer courses in London's King's Cross. You won't regret it. Or you can have a chat with me anytime after work.
Contact my colleague Rachel at +44 (0) 330 043 2677 or email admin@collegeofpublicspeaking.co.uk.
The College of Public Speaking promotes inclusivity, diversity, and equality.
