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Preparing to Train a New Topic

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Preparing to Train a New Topic

 

New topic on your calendar? You don’t need to memorize a textbook. A focused prep routine will get you confident, keep timing tight, and make the session feel relevant to your audience.

Your 8-step prep plan

  1. Clarify outcomes and audience. What must learners do differently next week? Translate that into clear objectives. Refresher: Writing Proper Training Objectives and Meet Organizational Objectives With Training.
  2. Read the Trainer Guide end to end. It’s your run sheet. Mark transitions, debrief cues, and risks. See: How to Use a Trainer’s Guide.
  3. Walk through the Participant Guide. Do key activities yourself. Note where learners might stall and add prompts or examples.
  4. Rehearse the slide deck out loud. Stand up and talk through it once at speed, once with full stories. Build 2–3 short personal examples.
  5. Decide timing: half day or full day. Protect practice time. Quick help: Full Day vs. Half Day Training.
  6. Prepare low‑tech backups. Plan where to switch to a flipchart for discussion, sense‑making, and decisions. Tips: How to Use a Flipchart.
  7. Anticipate questions. Jot likely FAQs and short answers. Warm up the room with a 3‑minute self‑check like the VAK Learning Styles Questionnaire to tailor your approach.
  8. Plan for transfer. End with a one‑page action plan and a manager nudge two weeks later. See Putting Training into Action.

Quick prep checklist

  • Objectives mapped to jobs to be done
  • Trainer Guide marked with tabs; risky sections highlighted
  • Two client‑relevant stories and one cautionary tale
  • Timing plan with must‑keep activities starred
  • Flipchart kit: markers (dark + 2 accents), tape, sticky notes
  • Self‑checks ready: Presentation Skills Self‑Assessment, Are You a People Person? Questionnaire
  • Transfer tools: action‑plan template and manager follow‑up prompt

Research: just enough, just in time

Stay practical. Read one solid primer, skim two recent articles, and collect one case you can retell in under a minute. Add client terms to your slides and activities.

Related tools & products

FAQs

How much prep time do I need for a brand‑new topic?
For a half day, 2–4 focused hours usually works: 60–90 minutes to study guides, 45–60 to rehearse, 30 to tailor scenarios, the rest to set up tools and timing.
What’s the fastest way to feel confident?
Run the deck out loud once, then teach a 10‑minute slice to a colleague. Fix rough spots you hear yourself say.
How do I adapt the same course to different audiences?
Keep the core. Swap examples, change role‑plays, and adjust timing. Use a quick check like the VAK questionnaire to vary methods.
What if someone asks a question I can’t answer?
Acknowledge it, park it, and commit to a short follow‑up note with a resource. Staying on track beats guessing.

About the Author

Written by the Training Course Material team, creators of practical, customizable resources for trainers worldwide.



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