Many trainers reject the term “trainer” outright. Why is that? Here’s a thought:

Do YOU want to be a trainer?

“I am not a trainer!” – I hear this sentence more frequently from trainers who I would call exactly that. Without any bad intention, of course, because for me, a trainer has always just been a label for a person who supports and develops others (adults) in a professional environment.

In the June issue of Training aktuell, marketing expert Bernhard Kuntz also pointed out this phenomenon. His conclusion: “Trainer, stick to your flipchart!” The term trainer seems insufficient for many. They want to change the world – which doesn’t seem possible as a trainer.

I wonder: Is a trainer really “just” an old-fashioned educator with a flipchart? – Why shouldn’t a trainer also successfully inspire people and forge new paths?

Language in Transition

Clearly: Language is constantly changing. But is the term itself really “outdated,” or is it simply too often negatively charged in practice? If you feel addressed here, ask yourself: Do you not call yourself a trainer because the term doesn’t fit your activities? Or do you simply have negative associations with the term?

Alternative Job Titles

Let’s briefly consider alternatives: Which of these best describes you?

| Term | Associations || --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- || Consultant | Uses their expertise in a specific area to provide support from the outside || Coach | Develops potential, usually individually in a 1:1 format || Speaker | Stands on stages and gives lectures to motivate people to change || Trainer | Passes on their knowledge (theoretically and practically) to training groups |

Most trainers are probably a mix of at least two of the aforementioned titles. The most popular are probably “trainer, coach, consultant.” Understandably: On one hand, your own work is changing, and you might not want to commit to one label for all time. On the other hand, reality is simply not as separated as the terms suggest in theory.

PS: I intentionally sorted the job titles in the table alphabetically to express: For me, there is no “ranking” here. A flipchart trainer can be just as successful as a speaker who regularly appears on stages. What’s important is to perform every role with passion.

Association to a “Speaker”: In a suit at the podium, looking into the distance.

In Our Own Interest: For Now, We Stick with “Trainer”

For us at the blink.it editorial team, it is also difficult to choose the correct term. We usually stick with the term trainer because it is general enough for us and can certainly encompass coaches, speakers, and consultants.

This means: A trainer in the year 2019 is for us practically a Trainer 4.0 – they are still focused on the development of adults. However, the methods have changed: Instead of “just” standing at the flipchart and giving seminars, they are much more agile nowadays. Their repertoire includes both classic in-person events and digital training with online impulses. The Trainer 4.0 adapts their methods to the participants!

What is your opinion on the hotly debated topic? Is trainer a negatively charged term for you? Do you (therefore) expand it with other titles like coach or consultant? Or does trainer simply not capture what you see as your field of work? Feel free to send us a message!

Free Guide

Blended Learning for Trainers

Diverse methods and thus maximum flexibility is best achieved as Trainer 4.0 with Blended Learning: The mix of online content and face-to-face training. Check out our free guide now!

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