3 Things You Must Address In A YMCA Employee Training Session

When it comes to employee training, we spend a lot of time talking about what not to do (don’t get off track, don’t talk down to the trainees, and don’t bore them), but we don’t always talk enough about what to do. Today we’re going to look at some things on the to-do list, specifically, certain things that should be addressed in each and every YMCA employee training session.

Start with an inspirational message

There are countless training techniques and “trade secrets,” but one thing most YMCA trainers agree on is that if you open your session by appealing to your trainees’ emotions, you’re well on your way to sparking their curiosity and interest.

A good “hook” helps you earn credibility and will get the class started on the right foot. In YMCA training sessions around the country, trainers often open with a quote of the day or an inspirational saying for a few reasons. One: Doing so appeals to the learners’ emotions and sense of self. Two: YMCA trainers try to tie the course lessons into what’s going on at their Y, in their community, or in the news. Three: Whenever possible, connecting the inspirational message to the Y’s core values and to the course materials makes the strongest impact of all.

Include core competencies

The YMCA’s competency model includes 18 competencies, several of which will be relevant to any training you conduct. YMCA leadership agrees that the best way to prepare the next generation of Y leaders is by encouraging a commitment to professional development and lifelong learning, so it only makes sense to reference which of the 18 competencies will be addressed during a specific training. For example, if you’re teaching a course called “Introduction to Leading Others,” you might want to mention early on that throughout class you will focus on decision making, communication, and relationship building. Much like opening with an inspirational saying or relating the course contents to what’s going on at your facility, calling out the core competencies is another way of tying it all together and keeping trainees focused and inspired.

Create a course evaluation

Anyone who strives to get better, on a personal or professional level, will tell you that feedback is a key step on the road to improvement. As such, gathering feedback from participants about what they thought of the training session is the best way to identify what improvements you should make to ensure that future sessions are as successful as possible. Most trainers agree that a successful training program is a work in progress and that improvement is always possible, so the training cycle isn’t complete without an evaluation of the training’s effectiveness.

Your evaluation process doesn’t have to be complicated or long—it can be as simple as a form to fill out or survey to answer at the end of the session. If your course is taught online, the evaluation can be included as a required step toward completion.

Here are some suggested questions to ask the staff members who take your training:

• Did you enjoy the training session?

• What specifically did you enjoy about the training?

• Did the training session begin on time?

• Which training methods worked?

• Which training methods did not work?

• What, if any, problems occurred?

• Did you like the trainer?

• How effective was the trainer at engaging the audience and explaining the course materials?

• What do you think can be improved?

• What did you learn that you will use in your day-to-day work?

• Were all the stated goals reached? If not, why not?

Although training materials and methods will vary greatly by topic and trainer, certain aspects of YMCA employee trainings should remain the same. It’s the trainer’s job to pass on knowledge and skills that will help staff members do their jobs to the best of their ability, and part of doing so includes motivating trainees to want to learn and engage in the training session.

Incorporating inspirational messages and various leadership competencies will help motivate learners and remind them of the importance of their job, as they strive to make the world around them a better place.

And since training is all about continued learning and development, the trainer must also find ways to continue to grow and improve. Asking trainees to provide honest feedback at the end of each session is the single best way to improve your skills as a trainer and your ability to capture the interest of a roomful of people.