LEVEL 5 TRAINER?

An interesting observation has been made from all my discussions with trainers and facilitators in different countries. Basically, there are 2 categories of successfully performing trainers: the extrovert “Stars” and the introvert “Quasars”. If to use the “Level 5 Leadership” approach by James C. Collins, the “Stars” can be considered as the Level 4 Trainers, while the “Quasars” perform with an unusual blast at Level 5.

During my time in the global organization AIESEC, where I had managed to be in the role of trainer and facilitator within various events in different countries, I have observed quite interesting phenomenon connected with people’s character, reasons to become trainers, and their further performance. Now I would like to share it with you.

The NGO AIESEC is very active in the training/ facilitation area: rarely can you find a project / event here without some sessions / workshops entangled there (it has both advantages and disadvantages, but this is a discussion apart). Therefore, one has many opportunities to interact with young people on the start line of their training career, more experienced trainers, and senior specialists in this field from alumni and partner companies / NGOs. And from my discussions and collaboration with them, the following conclusion comes to evidence.

Basically, there are 2 categories of successful trainers grouped by specifics of their character and reasons of engaging into the training / facilitation area:

1) The “Stars”:

These people are mostly extrovert with strong need to be if not in the centre, then at least within large social groups. They enjoy communicating with people; social skill is one of their strongest points. The “Stars” are aware of this fact and seek any opportunity to actively interact with others. Training / facilitation area is very attractive for such people and that is why the majority of trainers are of this kind.

Truly, they are the “Stars”. Such trainers are able to work with public in a very effective way without any significant effort – well, it is their natural behaviour. They feel themselves like fish in clear water full of nutritious plankton. Thus, these trainers really shine on the sky.

However, the “Stars” perceive their training performance as natural and personal success (“How else could it be?”), therefore, they are not so attentive to details, innovations, and, in general, further development. Why change anything, when things are going more than very good? Especially if I am the reason of these “more than very good things”! Certainly, in most cases such approach creates stagnation in training development with the trainer himself stuck in his own “spotlight”.

2) The “Quasars”:

The majority of these individuals are introvert and sometimes even shy. They accumulate and use energy within them: from their own inner thoughts, imagination, and activities. Such persons can be characterised as modest, quiet, calm, and never boastful. Naturally, their communication skills are not developed so well, in some cases are one of the weak points. It should be quite unusual for the “Quasars” to be interested in such social-oriented, effective-communication-demanding, and egocentric area as training and facilitation. But, this is exactly the word “unusual” that brings such trainers great success.

Yes, the “Quasars” are aware of their weakness in social skills, but at the same time they possess very strong will to change this. It brings them certain discomfort in personal life, and that is why they put themselves out of the “comfort zone” by trying various social activities, like training / facilitation. And where these individuals lack in effective communication and adaptability to different social environments, they gain in unwavering resolve, undeniable desire, drive, hard work, focus on details, creativity and innovation. Truly, they are like quasars in open space: far outnumbered by the multitude of shining stars, they suddenly emerge from the darkness of supermassive black holes of unusual ideas and approaches, spreading their light to unbelievable distances and attracting everything around them with mighty gravitational forces.

It is interesting that something similar can be found in the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. The common point is related to Leadership and is called “Level 5 Leader”. The author points out that in order to reach Level 4 Leader, who maintains moderate or good performance of an organization, an individual should possess such characteristics as intelligence, ambition, charisma, egocentrism, etc. But in order to become the Level 5 Leader, the one that is able to give an organization “impossible” boost for a very long time even after his / her leaving, such paradoxical combination of humbleness with incredible dedication and drive for the organization is essential.

Such approach can be applied to the above-mentioned categories of successful trainers. You really need highly developed communication skills, natural outgoingness with public, self-confidence, and strong ego to become Level 4 Trainer. However, it is the synergy of “personal humility + professional will” that is able to take you to Level 5 Trainer – the level of successful performance with an unusual, but truly quasar blast.

Your faithful EthiX Guy,

Shurik