Training Associates

Training other associates is a big part of what I do at work. The first time I began training other associates I was extremely nervous. However, our company provides many training materials that take us step by step about the content that we are supposed to be teaching. But no where does it teach us how to teach. This was something I had to, quickly, learn on my own. Throughout this learning experience, I had to figure out how to teach people, who all may have different learning abilities, a skill that has become so natural to me. This has taught me how to analyze other people's behavior in a learning environment. Often people are not willing to admit to their shortcomings. I have learned how to read other people's body language, and learn how to address any anxiety they may be feeling without drawing attention to the fact that that is what I am doing. Working with my peers, it is a big worry of mine that others will feel I am belittling them. By knowing how to maturely talk to ones my own age, it will benefit me in the long run when working with younger children. Although they are younger, I never want them to feel I am talking down to them. I want it to be a respectful and open environment, which I believe I have learned to create thanks to these training opportunities at work. Here is a question for you, the reader: What type of situations have you been in, that have unknowingly prepared you for teaching? When I first started working in retail, I never thought it would prepare me as much as it has for teaching. But, surprisingly enough, I have learned more here with real-world experience than I was expecting.