TY43215
NES Member
The greatest problem I see with many people claiming to be trainers and experts is lack of credibility. They take courses, read all that is written, and feed it back to neophyte students. They have no real life experience that they can show you to prove that what they teach or what they write works.
With this in mind, I found I am very critical of people claiming to be experts and/or trainers in this day and age.
With more and more people claiming to be "Tactical Trainers", I need to ask this question. As the student paying anywhere from $200 to $4,000 for a course, what credentials do you expect your trainer to have?
Here are some of mine:
1. Credibility: In order to have credibility as a trainer I feel experience in the real world is a very important factor. Having worked in the field to gain real life experience is a way to earn the respect necessary to give me faith in the ability of the trainer. Just because someone has taken courses, read books, written books, or watched videos, does not give them the experience I feel they need to prove that what they teach works. I have no faith in someone that has no real world experience.
2. Ability to perform all of what you teach. If you can do it, you can show me how to do it. I learn better from viewing than I do from reading. If I am paying you to teach me something, I expect you to know more than I do and wait for you to impart that knowledge. You are supposed to be the expert.
3. Can you get the point across? When you are trying to teach, are you confident enough in your ability that you can convey that experience to others? Are you confident enough in your ability that you can explain reasons why you teach this way? OR do you just say, "This is the best way so do it?" You have to show me why it is better than the other guy's technique and not just something different.
4. When I ask a legitimate question, I expect an answer. If you do not know the answer, I expect you to admit it but get an answer. A good trainer needs a network of other trainers that may have answers they do not have.A good trainer needs to know his limitations but be willing to call on others for help.
5. Is the trainer safe in what he teaches? If what you are teaching is obviously unsafe, you have lost me right at the start. I expect what you do to be safe and based on sound principles. Any less is unacceptable.
6. What training do you have? If you have had good training, you will share that with me as well as your real life experience. Real life experience with no training is just as bad as good training with no real life experience.
7. Am I going to get full value for the dollar I spend? OR Will I be disappointed? I expect to get what I pay for in anything I do. You need to price your courses to your abilities. Just because Front Sight charges $1,000 for a course does not mean your course is worth the same amount. If Trainer #1 charges $50 for a basic course and you charge $500 for the same course, you will need to show me why yours is worth the extra.
I have said my piece on this, now it is up to you all to add what you want to my list. I am not in this for a debate, only for more information so I will not be commenting further.
Should this discussion become heated at any time, I will ask Derek to close it as that is not what this is for.
So play nice and have at it.
Regards,
With this in mind, I found I am very critical of people claiming to be experts and/or trainers in this day and age.
With more and more people claiming to be "Tactical Trainers", I need to ask this question. As the student paying anywhere from $200 to $4,000 for a course, what credentials do you expect your trainer to have?
Here are some of mine:
1. Credibility: In order to have credibility as a trainer I feel experience in the real world is a very important factor. Having worked in the field to gain real life experience is a way to earn the respect necessary to give me faith in the ability of the trainer. Just because someone has taken courses, read books, written books, or watched videos, does not give them the experience I feel they need to prove that what they teach works. I have no faith in someone that has no real world experience.
2. Ability to perform all of what you teach. If you can do it, you can show me how to do it. I learn better from viewing than I do from reading. If I am paying you to teach me something, I expect you to know more than I do and wait for you to impart that knowledge. You are supposed to be the expert.
3. Can you get the point across? When you are trying to teach, are you confident enough in your ability that you can convey that experience to others? Are you confident enough in your ability that you can explain reasons why you teach this way? OR do you just say, "This is the best way so do it?" You have to show me why it is better than the other guy's technique and not just something different.
4. When I ask a legitimate question, I expect an answer. If you do not know the answer, I expect you to admit it but get an answer. A good trainer needs a network of other trainers that may have answers they do not have.A good trainer needs to know his limitations but be willing to call on others for help.
5. Is the trainer safe in what he teaches? If what you are teaching is obviously unsafe, you have lost me right at the start. I expect what you do to be safe and based on sound principles. Any less is unacceptable.
6. What training do you have? If you have had good training, you will share that with me as well as your real life experience. Real life experience with no training is just as bad as good training with no real life experience.
7. Am I going to get full value for the dollar I spend? OR Will I be disappointed? I expect to get what I pay for in anything I do. You need to price your courses to your abilities. Just because Front Sight charges $1,000 for a course does not mean your course is worth the same amount. If Trainer #1 charges $50 for a basic course and you charge $500 for the same course, you will need to show me why yours is worth the extra.
I have said my piece on this, now it is up to you all to add what you want to my list. I am not in this for a debate, only for more information so I will not be commenting further.
Should this discussion become heated at any time, I will ask Derek to close it as that is not what this is for.
So play nice and have at it.
Regards,