When subject matter experts are assigned the task of delivering a product training class, it is not typically because they are great trainers or because they can hold an audience spellbound with their charismatic personality. Usually, it’s because they know a lot or have access to a lot of content. Your familiarity with your product solutions gives you a distinct advantage as a technical trainer. But training is like a two‐edged sword. You need more than product knowledge. You need to know how to facilitate learning for others. Once you are armed with both your product skills and teaching skills, you will be ready to transform good training into great training.

You may already be a natural instructor. If so, I hope that the principles and suggestions in this book will sharpen that natural ability, strengthen your resolve to continuously improve, and broaden your skillset with practical tips and tricks.

Maybe you are afraid of teaching or think you don’t have the skillset. This book will help you become a better instructor as well. As an expert, you will need, at some point in your career, to help a subject matter beginner improve his or her skills. If you aren’t asked to get in front of a classroom, you may be asked to assist a trainer, to give a webinar, to provide content for an eLearning module, or to mentor a new employee. The concepts in this book will help with all of that.

Of course, my hope is that seeing people become proficient in something because of your training will make you proud. I hope that it will make you and your company more successful and that training will become more than just something you do, but something you do better.

Being skilled at something implies that one has more than just knowledge. An accomplished artist combines knowledge with art to create something unique and exquisite. A skilled trainer does the same. You should know your product well. You must take that knowledge and create something unique and exquisite: an individual with a new skill.

It takes skill to teach skill.