The Trainer's Handbook, Updated Edition

This thoroughly revised and updated second edition of The Trainer's Handbook presents a comprehensive, systematic approach to developing training skills and competencies. It reflects the current changes in the design, development, and delivery of training that will meet the needs of today's learner, distance learning, and performance consulting. The book offers a fresh focus on evaluation, includes practical how-to guidance, and a wealth of illustrative real-life examples.

The Trainer's Handbook walks readers step-by-step through the training process and contains tips on assessing the needs of participants, keeping training learner-centered, incorporating activities into training, selecting audiovisual aids, and closing sessions creatively. As practical as it is instructive, the guide is filled with worksheets, checklists, and assessments that are designed to be flexible so trainers can plan their own paths to success.

The book is organized in handy module format that progressively builds on knowledge in much the same way that effective training does. Like the first edition, this updated version of The Trainer's Handbook is an ideal resource for anyone in a full-time, professional training position who has little or no formal background in training others. It is also an important text for experienced trainers who want to learn new tips and techniques that will enhance their current skills and help them deliver on-target training that meets individual as well as organizational needs.

About the Author

Dr. Karen Lawson is an international consultant, speaker, executive coach, and author. As founder and president of Lawson Consulting Group, Inc., she has built a successful consulting firm, specializing in organization and management development. She has extensive consulting and seminar experience in the areas of team development, communication, leadership, and quality service, across a wide range of industries. Clients include a variety of prominent organizations from financial services, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, manufacturing, health care, government, and education. In her consulting work with Fortune 500 companies, as well as with small businesses, she uses her experience and knowledge of human interaction to help leaders at all levels make a difference in their organizations.

Karen is the author of The Art of Influencing; Improving On-the-Job Training and Coaching; Improving Performance Through Coaching; Involving Your Audience—Make It Active; Skill Builders: 50 Communication Activities; New Employee Orientation Training; Real-World Career Tactics for Women; Leadership Development Basics; and 101 Ways to Make Training Active (coauthor). She has also written chapters for many professional edited collections, in addition to numerous articles in professional journals.

She holds a doctor of philosophy degree in adult and organization development from Temple University; a master of arts in English from the University of Akron; and a bachelor of arts from Mount Union College. She is also a graduate of the National School of Banking in Fairfield, Connecticut. She is one of only four hundred people worldwide to have earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the four-thousand-member National Speakers Association. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding contribution to the training and speaking professions and was also named one of Pennsylvania's Best 50 Women in Business, as well as one of the Philadelphia region's Women of Distinction.

She has been actively involved in professional organizations such as the National Speakers Association and the American Society for Training and Development, holding leadership positions at both the local and national levels. She is also an active volunteer with the Arts and Business Council of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Karen is currently an adjunct professor at Arcadia University in its International MBA program and has taught at several colleges and universities at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. She also teaches at The School of Management Development for the American Bankers Association and has presented at several professional conferences in the United States and Europe.