You’re a speaker. You’ve got personality, lived experience, you know how to hold yourself in a room full of people and you get heart felt applause after your keynotes.
When you cross over from a ‘Speaker’ into an ‘Educator’ role though, do you find that your workshops aren’t quite landing with the impact or the OOMPH you know they could be? Like – what happens to the WOW factor that you have on stage? I have an inkling that when you’re delivering a workshop, this might also be you – is it?
- Your runsheet is you talking for 80-90% of the time.
- Training people feels a bit exhausting by the end of the day as it’s a lot of you standing at the front and speaking.
- If you’re asked to deliver a workshop, you approach it in a very similar way to the way you approach designing and delivering a keynote - lots of information transfer.
- You’ve got an inkling that the learners in your workshop might already know quite a bit of what you’re saying but you carry on delivering it anyway.
- Your learners are interested in what you’re saying but there’s not a lot of AHA! moments happening - they aren’t actually doing much with the information you teach them, they’re just absorbing it.
What this tells me, is that you’re a Speaker – who may need an upgrade in something called an ‘Educator Skillset’.
A what now?
An educator skillset.
The skills of educating people, getting them to DO something with their new knowledge, rather than just speaking at them. And this is what sets a speaker, a mansplainer, and an educator apart.
It’s simplest to think about it like this – in a training scenario (which is very different to a ‘speaking’ gig), a speaker can take on the persona of a ‘mansplainer’ or an ‘educator’.
Mansplainers: tell you what they think you need to know (perhaps things you already know).
Educators: know where the gaps in your knowledge are, and aim to bridge those gaps.
Mansplainers: keep explaining long after you’ve checked out.
Educators: put the onus on you to do the explaining.
Mansplainers: provide knowledge and experience.
Educators: ask questions that make you think.
Mansplainers: challenge you to pay attention and stay focused.
Educators: challenge you to build on what you know and demonstrate how to apply it in the real world.
And this is why it matters.
In the hands of an educator, learners grow – they have AHA moments – they walk away thinking and behaving differently. There’s back slapping and moments of realisation – eyes open and they walk away with a plan of action based on realistic goals and expectations.
In the hands of a mansplainer, none of that happens.
Source: Google Images.
Which side of the table would you prefer to be on as a learner? In the hands of an educator or a mansplainer? How do you want your learners to feel? It’s a no-brainer right?
The thing is, most great speakers have the backstory, the personality, the knowledge, skills and lived experience their learners want from them – they may just need an upgrade to their ‘extraordinary educator’ skillset (especially if they were taught by lecturers – there’s a fair chance you teach the way you were taught unless you’re taught otherwise!).
Ready to add ‘extraordinary educator’ to your speaker skillset?
There is a quick way to upgrade those skills, and it’s not
- a lengthy Bachelor of Education, or
- a painful Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
You’ve already got a solid foundation, as the skillsets of great speakers and great educators do have a lot in common.
‘Everyone’s a Teacher’ – the book, the audio book, or the workshop – can help you upgrade your speaking skills, and become an impactful adult educator – by demonstrating how to
- connect more deeply with your learners,
- structure your sessions for maximum engagement, and
- create learning resources that get your learners thinking and taking action instead of being passive observers who are half paying attention to information that will go in one ear, and straight out the other.
It focuses on how adults actually learn, how to design sessions that keep attention, and how to turn your expertise into something people remember and act on. If you want to package your knowledge properly, teach it well, and create something that delivers real value, Everyone’s a Teacher is for you!
Here’s what I’d suggest: Do the diagnostic tool to confirm that your ‘educator skillset’ is ready for an upgrade. It’s free and takes less than 5 minutes.
If you do have areas to work on, take action!
- Read the book,
- Listen to the audio book on Amazon, Audible or Audiobooks,
- Book in for the next workshop, or
- Book in for a chat!
Hallo! If you’re curious about the ideas explored in this article and how I might be able to help, please book in for a quick (complimentary) chat! Every client is different, which is why I have lots of different ways of helping – whether it’s an upcoming event, free resources on my website or one to one coaching, let’s work out the best fit for you and your unique scenario!
Continue the Learning
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, the resources below may be a helpful next step.
Further Reading
If this topic has sparked your thinking, you may find the following articles helpful. Each explores a different aspect of creating learning experiences that are engaging, practical, and meaningful.
Why do we need to rethink workplace learning?
In this article, Maria unpacks why so much learning fails to land, from death by PowerPoint and tick and flick online courses, to chaotic induction processes and outdated, top down, lecture style workplace cultures.
Everyone’s a Teacher
Maria Doyle’s book Everyone’s a Teacher explores the principles behind engaging, effective learning experiences. It introduces a practical methodology for making learning more interactive, memorable, and meaningful — whether you’re working with students, professionals, or teams.