That guy should have talked some more

June 12, 1:15 PMWorkplace Training and Development ExaminerLenn Millbower

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Places please for effective instruction

In this article, we will discuss the tendency for trainers, teachers, speakers, and presenters to talk more than they should in the classroom.

We all do it. Let’s face it. Even though we don’t like to listen to recordings of ourselves talking, we sure do like to hear the sound of our own voices. Unfortunately, we are usually a minority of one. Other than our mother – perhaps - no one usually wishes to hear us talk more.

This problem is especially acute in the classroom. Trainers, teachers, speakers, and presenters, realizing that the time with the attendees is short, and with a legitimate desire to share all the expertise they have to offer, will usually talk beyond the point of learner endurance.

The irony is that by talking more we do our learners a disservice. The more we talk, the less they absorb.

Imagine a computer slowing down to a crawl - we all have experienced this phenomenon - as it tries to open too many programs at once. Its circuits seemingly freeze up as it struggles to absorb all the commands we have given it.

Our learners’ brains – their hard drives – experience a similar phenomenon. The more “commands” we give them, the slower their brains process the information. In this situation, less is truly more.

Follow some basic steps and you can avoid overloading their hard drives.

• Place yourself inside your learners mind.
• Script what you will say - even if just a bullet point list - and edit the script ruthlessly for clarity.
• Think before you speak every sentence.
• Ask yourself if your next brilliant comment is really necessary.

Perhaps then your learners will really leave the room saying, “Boy, I could listen to that guy all day. He should have talked some more!”