BIG EARS AND A SKATEBOARD: USING IMAGE AND SYMBOLS IN TRAINER DEVELOPMENT

Within a context of trainer training, examines a powerful exercise to encourage trainers to reflect on their role and effectiveness within their organizations. Describes how participants are asked to draw a “picture” of the “ideal trainer”. Symbols, images and metaphors can be very illuminating in helping us deal with complexity and to communicate our thoughts and ideas. Illustrates three versions of the “ideal trainer” and explores how the images and symbols used can facilitate highly pertinent discussions on trainer development. Links can be more readily made to current models of trainer role and to the ongoing debate about “competences” and attention focused on how best to equip trainers to intervene effectively within their organizations. Using images and symbols to depict the ideal trainer, trainers and trainee trainers are better placed to see where they are and how they could develop.