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The prospect of hiring the right trainer at the right price can be a daunting task. Faced with numerous choices, how will you choose the best possible speaker? How will you uncover a seasoned presenter who is a good fit with your organization's needs? How will you discern excellence from mediocrity? Here are some considerations:

1. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION:
   Is the trainer an effective interpersonal communicator? Are they available to speak with you personally? Do they sound warm, enthusiastic, and authentic? Do they listen to your needs respectfully? Do they respond in a reasonable amount of time to your phone calls or email? The way they interact with you is one indicator of how they will work with your group. Does their personality fit the intended audience?
   
   
2. SUBJECT MATTER COMPETENCY:
   Can the trainer provide evidence that they understand the central concepts of the subject matter and can create experiences that make these concepts meaningful? What related educational background and experience does the person have? Do they bring special expertise or unique qualifications to their presentations?
   
   
3. INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
   Can the trainer demonstrate that they understand adult learning methods? Can they give examples of how they provide learning opportunities that honor participants' prior knowledge, support individual uniqueness, incorporate a variety of interactive modalities, address various learning styles, encourage critical thinking, and promote creative problem solving? Is there evidence that they create a safe, supportive environment that maximizes learning? That they manage group dynamics competently?
   
   
4. CUSTOMIZED PLANNING:
   Does the trainer ask for your desired outcomes? Will the trainer customize the program to achieve your goals, to suit the needs of the particular participants' age, culture and interests? Do they give you a choice of training options, implementation strategies, and follow-up? What experience does the trainer have in delivering the program to similar size audiences, in similar settings? Will a program outline be provided in advance for your review and input?
   
   
5. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY:
   Does the trainer understand how to adapt training for participants of varying cultures and abilities? What experience do they have working with populations similar to yours? If none, what will they do to approach the situation competently?
   
   
6. TRANSPARENCY:
   Does the trainer make their underlying assumptions known? Do you feel assured that there is no hidden agenda?
   
   
7. PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS PRACTICES:
   Do they provide a written proposal? Are there clear policies around fees, deposits and refunds; a written service agreement? Can they provide a press kit, if necessary?
   
   
8. FEES:
   Are fees in line with industry standards and the trainer's qualifications? If the fees are considerably lower or higher than normal, can they explain?
   
   
9. REFERENCES:
   The best option is to personally observe the person in action, or to have a trusted colleague do so. If that isn't possible, do your homework. Do they have a video? Ask for relevant references and testimonials. Take time to speak with previous clients. How did the audience respond? Did the training offer concrete information? Did it meet the planned outcomes?
   
   
10. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT:
    What does the trainer do to improve their performance, to remain aware of current research and resources in their field? Some possibilities are membership in professional associations, attending relevant workshops, reading, communication with colleagues and seeking feedback through participant satisfaction surveys.
    
    
11. ETHICAL PRACTICE:
    Does the trainer accurately present their area of expertise and stay within that boundary? Are they aware of the code of ethics for their profession? Do they honor copyright laws and give credit to individuals or organizations that have influenced their work? Do they maintain confidentiality and avoid conduct that involves a conflict of interest? Is their advertising truthful? See National Staff Development Council Code at http://www.nancywatters.com/virtuesconsulting/ethicscode.html or a database of 850 codes of ethics at http://www.iit.edu/departments/csep/PublicWWW/codes/"
    
    
12. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT AND FOLLOW-UP:
    Does the trainer encourage you to assess the impact of the training program? Will they provide tools and resources for you to do so? Does the trainer encourage you to be systematic and do more than one-shot motivational events? Do they offer a follow-up plan? Will they coach you as you implement the program?
    
    ADDITIONAL FABULOUS TIPS AT: "Hiring a Trainer for Your Conference or Event", by Susan Vineyard. http://www.casanet.org/program-management/personnel/consider.htm
    
    

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