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Many trainers try to teach adults the same way they were taught at school. The trainer talks. The learners listen. Everyone hopes the information sticks. Unfortunately, this rarely works. Adults learn differently. They bring experience, expectations and pressures that shape how they take in new information.

If you are developing your skills as a trainer, our ILM-accredited Train the Trainer courses explore adult learning principles in a simple, practical way so you can apply them with confidence.

In This Article You Will Learn

• How adults actually learn
• Why adults learn differently from children
• Simple ways to improve your sessions using adult learning principles

What Do We Mean by Adult Learning?

Adult learning is the process of helping grown learners understand, apply and feel confident with new skills or knowledge. Adults do not simply absorb information. They compare it with their experience, question its relevance and want to know why it matters. If we ignore this, training becomes

Coaching is one of the most powerful development tools available in organisations today, yet it is still often misunderstood. Many managers ask “What is coaching?” and confuse it with mentoring, training, problem-solving or simply giving advice. Others think coaching is something you do after training, rather than a core workplace skill in its own right.

These misunderstandings prevent organisations from seeing the full impact of workplace coaching, and they stop managers from using coaching skills confidently, effectively and at the right time.

In This Article, You Will Learn –

• What coaching actually is in the workplace

• Why so many managers misunderstand the coaching definition

• How confusion leads to unhelpful habits

• What coaching is designed to achieve

• Why coaching improves performance, confidence and behaviour change

• How coaching skills fit into day-to-day leadership

What Do We Mean by “Coaching”?

What is coaching?

Coaching is a structured, reflective conversation designed to

In the world of learning and development, effective trainers do more than deliver information — they reflect, adapt and continuously improve. One of the most powerful yet underused tools for trainer development is reflective journaling. It’s simple, structured and proven to transform how trainers think, behave and perform.

If you're looking to strengthen your delivery skills and develop deeper trainer self-awareness, our ILM-accredited Train the Trainer courses show you exactly how to apply these reflective techniques in practice.

As we head into the new year, Target Training Associates is excited to introduce a new tool designed specifically for trainers: Monkey Journal for Trainers — part of our brand-new Monkey Series of books. This journal has been created to help trainers build habits of reflection, self-awareness and deliberate improvement.

Before we explain what makes reflective journaling so impactful, let’s explore why reflection matters so much in the first place.

The Missing

People often think that good training is about standing at the front and sharing information. We see this a lot on our Train the Trainer courses. It is easy to assume that the more you tell people, the more they learn. In reality, real learning does not happen this way. Good training is structured, clear and focused on helping people feel confident to use what they have learned.

This article explains what good training really looks like and how you can apply these core principles to create sessions that work.

In This Article You Will Learn

• The five core principles of effective training
• What separates average training from great training
• How to use these principles to improve your own delivery

What Do We Mean by Good Training

Good training is training that leads to genuine understanding and real world application. Learners leave the session confident, clear and ready to apply their new skills. They know what to do, why they are doing it and how to do it well. Good training does not overwhelm.

Coaching and training are two of the most widely used development tools in organisations today, yet they are still often misunderstood. Many managers think training and coaching are interchangeable, or they treat coaching as simply “training with questions.” Others believe coaching is something you do after training, rather than a powerful development tool in its own right.

These misunderstandings stop organisations from gaining the full benefit of workplace coaching, and prevent managers from using coaching skills confidently, effectively and at the right time.

In This Article, You Will Learn –

• Why so many managers misunderstand the difference between coaching vs training
• How confusion leads to poor use of both tools
• Why using coaching and training together improves performance, confidence and behaviour change
• What each approach is designed to achieve

What Do We Mean by “Coaching vs Training”?

What is training?

Training provides knowledge, skills, tools and techniques. It is structured,

As we move into 2026, the workplace is changing faster than ever. Managers are being asked to support development, improve performance, handle complex conversations and help people grow — all while keeping teams motivated and productive. More than ever, managers need to know how to train people effectively.

Training isn’t just about teaching a topic. It’s about helping people understand what good looks like, building confidence through practice and ensuring learning transfers back into the workplace.

For managers who want to deliver clear, structured and confident training, an ILM-accredited Train the Trainer course provides a simple and effective framework.

Many managers want to train effectively but have never been shown a simple structure for planning and delivering sessions. A practical Train the Trainer course gives managers the tools and confidence they need.

Why Managers Need Training Skills

Good managers don’t just supervise; they develop people. They help team members improve their

Workplace training is essential for any organisation, yet many people still come away feeling confused, overwhelmed or unsure what they are meant to do next. This is not because they are poor learners. It is usually because the session was not delivered in a way that supports real learning. The good news is that when training is delivered properly it can completely transform confidence, performance and results. This article explores why so much workplace training does not work and what you can do to make your sessions far more effective.

This article explores why so much workplace training does not work and what you can do to make your sessions far more effective.

In This Article You Will Learn

• The main reasons workplace training often fails
• The impact this has on learners and organisations
• What you can do to create training that genuinely works

What Do We Mean by Training That Works

Training that works is training that leads to real change. Learners understand what they have been taught,

Coaching is one of the most valuable skills in modern organisations, yet coaching is still widely misunderstood. Many managers confuse coaching with mentoring, advice-giving or “fixing” problems. Others believe coaching is simply a softer version of leadership. These misunderstandings stop organisations from benefiting from real, effective workplace coaching and prevent leaders from using coaching skills confidently.

In this Article You will Learn –

• Most managers misunderstand what coaching is and how it differs from mentoring
• Poor understanding leads to ineffective coaching conversations
• When coaching skills are used properly, performance, confidence and decision-making improve dramatically

What Do We Mean by “Coaching”?

What is coaching?

Coaching is a structured, reflective conversation that helps someone think clearly, explore options and take ownership of their next steps.

Unlike mentoring or giving advice, leadership coaching is based on curiosity, listening and asking powerful questions.

The workplace is changing fast, and organisations in 2026 need trainers who can do far more than deliver a slide deck. Employers want confident, credible trainers who can engage people, transfer skills, and improve performance quickly. This is why Train the Trainer courses are now one of the most in-demand development options for supervisors, managers, and technical experts.

Choosing the right course can transform someone from “good at their job” into someone who is great at developing others.

Summary

• Employers now need trainers who can teach practical skills, not just talk through theory.
• Communication, confidence, and engagement techniques are more important than ever.
• Accredited, structured Train the Trainer courses give internal trainers the credibility organisations expect.

What Do We Mean by “Train the Trainer”?

Train the Trainer (TTT) refers to structured training designed to turn subject matter experts into effective workplace trainers. Instead of assuming someone can teach just

Organisations often rely on subject-matter experts to train others, yet many have never been shown how to train effectively. This leads to inconsistent knowledge transfer, lower confidence, and frustrated learners. Training trainers properly is one of the most impactful ways to improve performance, safety, and workplace culture.

In This Article You’ll Learn

• Why effective trainer development matters
• The risks of letting untrained trainers lead sessions
• The key benefits strong trainers bring to an organisation

What Do We Mean by “Training Trainers Effectively”?

Training trainers effectively means giving them structured skills, tools, and confidence to deliver high-quality learning experiences; not just sharing information.

Example: A technical expert may know a process well, but without delivery skills, they may struggle to explain it clearly. Effective development bridges this gap.

Why This Matters

There are significant challenges facing individuals responsible for training others in the