Trainers' Additional Qualities: Physical Presence (The External Personality)
In addition to what has been mentioned about the desirable qualities of excellent trainers (http://trainers-qualities.blogspot.com/2009/05/trainers-qualities.html) it is important to know a few more dimensions of their personality. It has to do with the first impression they create on their audience. Howsoever great their subsequent delivery is, the first impression counts a lot.
First impression is often created by their outward appearance- their external personality. That is surely first seen by the authorities with whom they deal with in order to bag a training contract and later by their audience in the training programs they conduct. Both consciously or unconsciously make an opinion about them and to some extent also make up their judgments on how good the trainers they could be. You may argue it is wrong but that's the fact of life. You may say that the trainers' knowledge and expertise on the subject (their internal personality) should be what the authorities and audience should be concerned with. But people do get impressed or are not impressed by your looks, postures, dress etc, no one can deny it.
So why not make a great impact on them in the very first encounter? If the first impression tarnishes the trainers' image in their minds, trainers might lose an otherwise obtainable contract or even if they win a contract they will find it an uphill task winning their audience. It will require proportionately lot more effort now to create a second good impression during the delivery of the training program.
The essentials to create the first good impression by way of the external personality are:
- Controlled weight of the body: slim and trim rather than fat or obese
- Well-trimmed hair and decent hair style
- Clean-shaved (for men)
- Pleasant, warm and genuine smile
- Exude confidence (what people these days call an "attitude" but in the positive sense)- eye-contact, confident walk, confident initial talk, firm handshake
- Formal dress (but don't over-dress)
- Right body posture: do not slouch
- Avoid distracting mannerisms: fiddling with thumb/fingers, constantly scratching the nose or ears, adjusting the spectacles every now and then
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