in print

Being a person who is passionate about training, the title Training from the Heart caught my attention right away. I was hoping for a book with something more than research, something inspiring, and I wasn't disappointed. This book is a worthwhile read for both novice and veteran trainers.

The first section, designed for trainer introspection, poses questions and offers numerous self-assessments that help us look inside ourselves to better understand our individual motivation to train. The self-assessment, "What Motivates You," sounds like something we've heard before, but it is specifically designed for instructors. For me, it was a personal eye-opener.

The second section, "Creating a Positive Learning Climate," should be required reading for all trainers. The authors give advice on everything from using your natural style to dealing with disruptive participant behavior. They give particular attention to the importance of listening (which is often given a back-burner spot to "presenting") and they use excellent, memorable quotes from experts past and present to help us remember the important points.

The third section focuses on helping learners apply what they have learned in the classroom. There are many specific, practical suggestions to help us accomplish learning transfer.

Throughout, Lyerly and Maxie encourage us to use a democratic method of training–the "learning partnership"—which focuses on the instructor and the learner sharing the power.

There's a lot packed in 160 pages. I know a book is useful when I keep retreating from my "review" mindset to make margin notes for my own personal classroom use. Training from the Heart is that kind of book.