Train the Trainer Model: What is It, What are Its Benefits, and What are the steps to Create It?

A motivated and well-trained workforce is an essential component of any organization that desires to flourish and succeed. This is where the training of the trainer model comes into play.

It is an in-house training program that has the potential to help ensure that employees learn and have all the skills, knowledge, and ideas they need to do their jobs well, by making employees specialist experts who are able to teach their colleagues.

Train the Trainer Model

It’s a training framework that turns employees into subject matter experts who can teach other members of your organization. For example, a group of employees is trained in new safety procedures, or how to facilitate team meetings. After employees learn how to do this, they can train their co-workers in the details of these matters, so other employees can find out what they need to know about these topics as well.

Benefits of the Train the Trainer Model

Every employer knows that employee training is very important, but why should you consider the Train the Trainer Model? The primary benefit of this model is that it effectively distributes a range of new information and skills to large numbers of employees, and provides individuals with a compelling opportunity for professional development. However, this is not the only benefit of the training model.

Here are some other benefits you can expect after incorporating this model into your business:

1. A Customized learning experience

In-house coaches know your business environment and culture as well as products, services, and customer needs, and then this knowledge allows them to customize the content of their training to specifically teach other employees the most important elements of business operations.

2. Cost effective practice

It is much cheaper to hire a trainer who can make your employees professional experts than to hire outside experts to train everyone within your organization.

3. Distributing information quickly and easily

After you train your first group of employees, they can train the rest of their colleagues simultaneously

4. Follow up training

Since the people you train are also employees, they are there with you and can easily follow the training with their co-workers until all the necessary information is fully taught.

5. Continuing the training process

Because the standard approach of a train-the-trainer model means that the experts in your business receive training and then pass it on to other employees, it means that the same skills and information will be distributed and learned by all employees across your organization.

6. Acceptance of the in-house coach

Employees often seek advice and information from colleagues and supervisors they already know, rather than from outside professionals.

7. Increasing the trainers’ mastery of the subject

One of the most effective and efficient methods of learning something is by teaching it to someone else. While coaches teach their co-workers, they will be exposed to new situations and face a range of new perspectives and questions that will expand their knowledge base and enhance their mastery of the topic.

8. Develop an in-house training team

After employees are trained and reach the point where they can train their colleagues, their competence and capabilities as trainers will begin to grow and develop. This means that you can count on them the next time you need in-house coaches for another topic.

9. Attracting more employees

As a progressive company that provides growth and development opportunities for its employees, you are able to attract more potential future employees who want to be a part of your organization.

Selecting the right employees

There are a lot of rules you need to keep in mind when selecting the right employees to work as in-house coaches, and you should look for people based on the following characteristics:

1. Respect

You should choose coaches who are respected by others and are role models for other employees.

2. Communication

The trainer must have strong and practical communication skills to lead discussions and achieve harmony among all, and trainers must be able to handle situations when communication becomes difficult or ambiguous.

3. The ability to think

Trainers must be receptive to the feedback and be able to think about the content they are teaching.

4. Good behavior

A willingness to help others and a generally positive attitude are required to train other employees effectively.

5. Experience

The employee must have a high degree of experience to qualify for the position of coach, and you must ensure that they are effective in teaching others.

6. Flexibility

Coaches must be flexible and adaptive to face the sudden changes or problems that may arise.

7. Ability to undertake the task of training

It takes a lot of time and dedication to have in-house coaches; therefore, you must make sure that the employees you choose are able to handle the training task in addition to their other routine work, and you must also ensure that the employees are not overburdened.

4 Steps to creating a high quality coach program

There are a lot of things to think about when creating a high quality in-house coach program in your organization. To help you succeed, try to focus on these four key steps:

1. Program objective

You must decide what the goal of your training program is and the goals you want your employees to achieve, so find the areas where employees need the most help, and start training there.

2. Ratings and standards

Determine how you will objectively measure the results of your training program and evaluate its overall effects on employee performance. You need to do this to ensure that your training of trainers program can evolve and improve over time.

3. Design and application of the training program

Take the time to carefully develop a training program that can effectively transfer training delivery skills and relevant knowledge to employees, and make sure your training includes important topics such as coaching techniques and facilitation of group training.

4. Creation of training materials

All of your training materials must be prepared and ready for publication before employees begin the training program. This includes all posts, power points, and any other materials employees will need to effectively complete their training.