From skilled worker to effective trainer: Shifting the focus to drive quality learning outcomes.  

Duration: 7m07s

AUSMASA Intro: Welcome to the Train-the-Trainer Podcast, proudly brought to you by AUSMASA, Empowering industry to develop essential workforce capabilities for today and tomorrow. 

Hi there, folks. My name's Marc Ratcliffe – back to chat about another critical train-the-trainer topic. In this episode, we're talking about making the shift from being a skilled worker to becoming an effective trainer. With me to discuss that journey is Ben Stone. Welcome back, Ben. 

Ben: Thanks for having me back, Marc.  

Marc: Let's jump right in, Ben 

In mining and automotive workplaces, many trainers begin the same way: they're good at the job. They know the equipment, the processes, the standards, as well as the rigours and realities of the site. Naturally, they get the tap on the shoulder and are asked to show others how it's done. 

Ben: That makes sense because technical credibility matters and is valued on work sites. That's how I started life out as a trainer, Marc. I was an operator who began working with new apprentices on the job to show them the ropes.  

Marc: But being highly skilled at a task is not the same as being effective at teaching it, though. 

Ben: And that is an important shift to understand. It was definitely a steep learning curve for me. \

Marc: And you're not alone there, Ben. One of the biggest challenges our skilled workers face is understanding the nuances of imparting knowledge. The scaffolding that should be involved in setting learners up for success.  

Ben: Yeah. A skilled worker focuses on doing the job well. But an effective trainer focuses on helping someone else learn to do that job well. That involves a different mindset, a different skill set, and a different kind of patience. 

Marc: Yeah, one of the biggest traps for new trainers is assuming that because something feels obvious to them, it should be obvious to the learner too. But expertise can have hidden steps.  

Ben: That's right, Marc. Experienced people often do complex things automatically. They skip over decisions they no longer consciously notice.  

Marc: And forget what it felt like not to know. I think the best trainers learn to slow that down. They break the task into parts. They explain the reasoning. Then identify the critical steps as well as the common errors to watch out for.  

Ben: So, they make the invisible thinking visible, and this is where the depth of learning can grow from.  

Marc: I couldn't agree more, Ben. I think another major shift is moving from telling to facilitating. What are your thoughts on this? 

Ben: Well, I often see new trainers try to transfer knowledge by talking more. But learners don't become competent just by hearing information.  

Marc: Yeah. Just because you taught it, doesn't mean they caught it! 

Ben: No. They need to see, ask, practise, reflect, and receive feedback. Effective trainers create those opportunities. That means less 'watch me, I'll show you', and more "now you try it, talk me through your thinking, and let's work on what needs refining where necessary.' 

Marc: I'm totally with you there, Ben. If I can expand on that a bit, I think it also means understanding that learning takes time. A skilled worker may complete a task quickly and efficiently. But the trainer has to allow time for new starters to quite literally get up to speed. So, they have to expect a slower performance while someone is learning.  

Ben: And that can be hard, Marc. Especially in a busy workplace where production pressure is real. But stepping in too quickly or taking over the task too soon can have an adverse impact on the learning. 

Marc: So true, Ben. Do you think extra feedback is important here?  

Ben: For sure. Skilled workers often notice what's wrong quicker. But this may be lost on a new starter. For instance, an experienced mechanic may spot small oil, coolant, brake fluid, or power steering leak before it becomes obvious to others. They also tend to notice patterns of wear, such as uneven tyre wear, cracked hoses, or damaged seals. This means they can act on these before they become a bigger issue. But a new worker may not have those reference points yet and might not connect the dots quickly enough. This is where that extra feedback comes in. 

Marc: This makes a lot of sense, Ben. I've seen similar situations when that seasoned automotive mechanic picks up on a slight knock, or a squeal, rattle, or hiss, and connects it to likely causes, such as worn bearings, loose belts, exhaust leaks or suspension issues. 

Ben: And this is where our skilled workers have to leverage their experience as trainers to support learners to understand the bigger picture of the job. 

Marc: So, you're saying effective trainers add that extra depth and know how to explain those practical steps that help to improve the learners' capacity? 

Ben: Yes. And they have to remember that the best feedback is specific, timely, and linked to the operational outcomes.  

Marc: That's good advice, Ben. And if I can just add, I think it's a framing thing. Now, it's important to tell the learner what they did well, what needs adjustment, and what good performance looks like. I personally prefer to use the term "feed forward" as this will influence future practice rather than what's happened in the past. 

Ben: That's a nice distinction, Marc. And the way we communicate that feedback matters too.  

Marc: Agreed. Effective trainers adapt their language to their audience, regularly ask questions, check understanding, and listen well. They pay attention not just to what they're teaching, but also to how the learner is receiving it. 

Ben: There is also a mindset shift around success.  

Marc: Oh yeah. What do you mean? 

Ben: Well, a skilled worker might judge success by how well they personally perform the task. Like a driller in a mining context might be trying to hit a depth benchmark during their shift, with the least strain on the gear. Yet, an effective trainer judges success by whether the learner can perform the task correctly, safely and independently. 

Marc: That is the big difference, then. The spotlight moves away from the trainer's ability and onto the learner's growth. 

Ben: That's right. And patience and empathy need to become your superpowers during the process because a trainer who "knows everything" but can't bring others along for the journey will always have limited impact. 

Marc: That's a nice way to wrap up our chat today, Ben. Thanks for dropping by and adding your ideas for shifting the focus from being a skilled worker to an effective trainer and driving those quality learning outcomes. 

Ben: Not a problem, Marc. I've enjoyed being in the hotseat again! 

Marc: The move from skilled worker to effective trainer is one of the biggest leverage points for capability building. When the right people are supported to teach well, the standards will improve and spread across the organisation. And when knowledge gets passed on properly, that culture of safety and quality becomes stronger. 

Therefore, if you're stepping into a training role, remember that your technical knowledge is the foundation; that's why you're there. But it's not the whole role. Your job is not to prove what you know; rather, it's to help others build what they know and become the best versions of themselves on site. 

You can do this by exposing some of those nuances of the job, those hidden things that experienced workers learn over time, but you can distil early for new workers to help put them on the right track for success.  

And when that becomes your focus, your training starts creating real outcomes, not just information transfer. 

I hope you keep crushing those goals with your learners.  

AUSMASA Outro: This was just one resource in the AUSMASA Train-the-trainer suite of tools aimed at bridging the gap for trainers and assessors in the mining and automotive industries. Check out the other learning assets to take your training and assessment to the next level, including videos, scenarios, case studies, job aids, fact sheets and other podcast episodes.  

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