Trainer engaging learners without relying on PowerPoint slides.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about training is that it is mainly about slides and presenting information. Many people believe that good training means standing at the front, clicking through slides and explaining content. This misunderstanding is exactly why so much workplace training fails. Train the Trainer is important because it shifts the focus away from talking at people and towards helping people learn.

Training is not a performance. It is a process that supports understanding, confidence and real application.

Key Takeaways From This Blog

  • Why PowerPoint is often overused in training

  • What effective training actually focuses on

  • How Train the Trainer changes the way people deliver learning

What Do We Mean by Talking at People

Talking at people usually means delivering large amounts of information with little interaction. Slides are packed with text, the trainer speaks continuously and learners sit quietly trying to keep up. While this may feel efficient, it rarely leads to real learning.

A common example is a trainer reading directly from slides. Learners either read ahead or switch off completely. With the right Train the Trainer Courses, trainers learn how to use slides as support rather than the main event, and how to involve learners throughout the session.

Why This Matters

When training becomes a one way delivery of information, learners disengage. They may look attentive, but learning is not happening. This leads to frustration on both sides. Trainers feel they have done their job. Learners leave unsure how to apply what they have heard.

Common Challenges

  • Over reliance on slides to carry the session

  • Trainers reading from PowerPoint instead of explaining

  • Learners feeling overwhelmed by too much information

  • Low interaction and limited opportunity to ask questions

  • Poor confidence when learners return to the workplace

What Improves When Training Moves Beyond Slides

When trainers stop talking at people and start working with them, engagement increases immediately. Learners feel involved and supported. Trainers become more confident because they are not hiding behind slides. Sessions become more relaxed, interactive and effective.

This is where training starts to feel human again.

Learners engaged in interactive workplace training.

Key Principles That Make Training Effective

Slides Support Learning
Slides should highlight key points, not deliver the full message. The trainer brings the learning to life.

Interaction Drives Understanding
Questions, discussion and activities help learners make sense of information and apply it.

Confidence Comes From Skill
When trainers know how to structure sessions and involve learners, confidence replaces nerves and reliance on slides.

How to Get Started

  1. Review your slides and remove anything learners do not need to read.

  2. Plan how you will involve learners through questions and discussion.

  3. Develop your delivery skills through Train the Trainer Courses that focus on engagement and clarity.

Where Our Train the Trainer Courses Fit In

At Target Training Associates, we help trainers move away from routine delivery and towards engaging, effective learning. We regularly work with people who rely heavily on slides because they lack confidence or structure. Once they learn how training really works, slides become a helpful tool rather than a safety net.

Through our Train the Trainer Academy, we provide ongoing support that helps trainers continue developing long after the course. This includes video learning, community calls and continued guidance so skills are embedded and confidence keeps growing.


Trainer delivering interactive training focused on learner involvement.

FAQs

Is PowerPoint bad for training
No. PowerPoint can be useful when used correctly. The problem is relying on it too much.

What if learners expect slides
Learners want clarity and relevance. When training is engaging, slides become far less important.

Can this approach work for online training
Yes. Interaction and structure are even more important in online sessions.

Final Thoughts

If you want training that delivers confident people, real skills and lasting impact, explore our Train the Trainer courses at Target Training Associates or get in touch to discuss your needs by calling out team on 0800 302 9344 or email info@targettrg.co.uk.