Why Leaders Struggle With the Jump From Doing to Training Others

Stepping into a leadership role after years of hands-on work sounds like progress, and it is. But it comes with new challenges that often catch people off guard. It's no longer about how fast or how well you can do the job. Now, it's about how clearly you can show someone else how to do it, and that's where many leaders hit a wall. Letting go of doing and focusing on teaching doesn't come naturally to everyone.

We've seen many new managers struggle with this change, especially when they don't yet have the tools to train others properly. That's where a train the trainer approach can really help. Shifting your mindset from "I'll just do it" to "Here's how you can do it" takes time, practice, and the right techniques. If this sounds like something you're facing, you're not alone. The good news is, it's a skill you can learn, just like any other part of leadership.

Why the Shift From Doing to Teaching Feels So Hard

Lots of leaders get promoted because they're reliable and skilled at what they do. They're the go-to person when something needs to be done well and done fast. But being good at a task doesn't mean you automatically know how to teach someone else how to do it. Leadership calls for a different set of muscles.

• Teaching others takes patience. When you already know the job inside out, slowing down to explain every step can feel frustrating.

• It requires structure. A good trainer needs to plan the learning rather than improvise it on the spot.

• Perhaps most tricky of all, it asks you to step back. Many new managers step in the moment someone struggles, fixing the problem themselves instead of guiding the team to learn. This creates a loop where no one learns properly, and the leader ends up doing double the work.

That cycle is hard to break without specific training in how to lead learning.

Common Training Traps New Leaders Fall Into

Trying to train a team without the right approach can make things worse instead of better. We've noticed that many new leaders fall into the same patterns:

• Doing all the talking. They turn a training session into a lecture, sharing lots of information but leaving little space for questions, conversation, or hands-on practice.

• Hoping people will "just get it" by watching. But watching isn't the same as learning unless the steps are broken down clearly and supported with feedback.

• Using slides or documents like a script. Slides can help, but leaning too heavily on them often leads to sessions that feel flat and disconnected.

The truth is, good training needs to be active, not passive. That means the leader has to learn how to guide the room, not just speak at it.

Why Being a Good Trainer is Different From Being a Good Doer

Doing something yourself and helping someone else do it well are completely different skills. Top performers often feel confident in their ability to deliver results, but uncertain when asked to train a team.

Here's what separates good trainers from good doers:

• Trainers focus on the learner, not themselves. It's not about proving what you know, but helping others remember and apply it.

• They ask open questions, give room for mistakes, and coach instead of correct. This builds trust and confidence, which helps learning stick.

• Clear, step-by-step guidance matters. A good trainer gives people space to try, supports practice, and stays open to different learning styles.

The ones who grow fastest as trainers are those who learn to shift the spotlight, from themselves to their people.

How a Train the Trainer Approach Can Help Leaders Grow

This kind of transition isn't something that clicks overnight. Most leaders benefit from practical support to build those training muscles. That's where a train the trainer programme can be helpful. It's about more than reading instructions or learning theory, it's about learning how to help others learn.

Here's what a focused training approach gives you:

• Tools that make it easier to explain ideas simply and clearly, even when the topic is complex

• Techniques to stay confident when guiding others, rather than stepping in and taking over

• A better understanding of how people learn, which helps you build stronger working relationships

When leaders train this way, it lifts the whole team. People listen better, take more responsibility, and feel more capable. The leader doesn't feel stretched so thin.

Target Training Associates' PTT Train the Trainer course is ILM-accredited and designed specifically for in-house company trainers and managers. Programmes focus on structured session planning, real case studies, and practical feedback techniques to take training skills further.

Your Team Grows When You Learn to Let Go

Letting go of doing everything yourself can feel strange at first. It's in that space that real leadership begins. When you stop doing and start teaching, you make room for others to grow. You also get to see your own habits more clearly, what you expect, how you communicate, and where your team needs more support.

The best part? You don't lose your edge by stepping back. You become stronger, and your team becomes more capable. Clear training and support bring people up to speed quicker, reduce errors, and lead to a workplace that works better all round. It's a skill worth learning, and it's one that carries through every level of leadership.

Building Lasting Confidence As a Trainer

Training others doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be thoughtful. When leaders learn how to explain, guide, and support in a structured way, people follow with more confidence. They ask better questions, make better decisions, and learn faster. That makes everyone's job easier.

You don't have to figure it out on your own either. If you're looking to feel more sure when showing others how to do the work, a proper train the trainer course can help build that confidence. It's an investment in how you lead, and it pays off in every conversation, meeting, and handover down the line. The shift from doing to training isn't just possible, it's how great leadership starts.

Embrace your leadership role with greater confidence and help your team reach new heights. Target Training Associates offers train the trainer courses designed to equip you with practical skills for effective teaching and team development. Our ILM-accredited programs provide the structure you need to lead sessions with clarity and avoid common pitfalls. Let us help you transform from a doer into a mentor, ready to inspire and empower.