The Training Trilogy (Second Edition)

This incredible book is written for both new trainers as well as those that are more experienced. New trainers apreciate Dr. Dick Leatherman's easy style of writing, personal examples, and detailed "How to do it!" instructions. Experienced trainers become even more effective by obtaining new ideas from Dick's 40 years of training experience. For all trainers, this book is a "Must" for their library. It is also an excellent participant's book to use when training trainers.

Effective trainers know that the training that is delivered is only as good if it addresses the real needs of their participants. A trainer's job does not usually begin with the development and delivery of a training program, it starts with a determination of the training needs that exist in the participant to be trained. This book begins at the beginning-needs assessment. This section in the book describes the clues that can tell us it is time to consider some kind of action. It helps us make sense of the convoluted subject of sampling procedures, and discusses in detail the ways that we can collect needed information to ensure that training is actually the right action to take.

After an analysis of the needs of the participants is completed, the next step is to design the program. Boring training sessions are not always the fault of lackluster trainers. If the training design itself is ineffective, poor training will likely result, regardless of the facilitator's skill and energy. Because training design is so important for quality training, over half of the book is devoted to this subject. This section deals with learning principles, describes in detail a 10-step planning process, provides detailed descriptions on how to document your training design, and presents a model for making decisions about off-the-shelf commercial training packages.

Finally, the book describes the steps necessary for effective training. This section starts with a detailed discussion of training ethics and integrity-the foundation of good training. The book closes with a detailed, step-by-step process for effective training, starting with "preparation" and ending with "closing and follow up."