Last week, we shared with you some of the responses we received after asking marketing professionals what skills they felt today’s Marketing Director must possess.  We also asked the same question of training professionals:  Based on today’s marketplace, what important new skills do you feel a Training Director needs to possess? Again, selected some of the most specific responses to share with you here!

“Assessments skills, stronger voice in positional placement, more enrichment classes targeting new issues facing staffs today.” – James Auippa, Regional Trainer, Capstone Management

“First and foremost, stop thinking of yourself as a trainer – more as an educator, coach, and mentor.  Even if your company has a ‘mentor program,’ so to speak, anyone who is in a training role has to not only teach, but make sure that the message is put into practice, consistently reaffirmed, and that the message evolves.  No one should be delivering the same materials over and over again for years – it gets too stale, especially for the world as it is today – fast!

“Security in your belief that you are a core person – just because you may not be setting rents does not mean that what you do is not going directly to the bottom line.  Confident, well-trained, educated people are the heart of a company’s success (how many employees function productively without being well trained and mentored).

“Knowledge source – you always have to be reaching out for better materials and keeping track of what is happening and changing in your field.  If you are a great trainer/educator, the associates you support will want to see you again and again – they want new stuff!!

“Expert on everything – you are sort of the guardian of your company’s knowledge capital – it all rests with you.  You should know everything and have it organized in an accessible way so that you can pass it on, but also have good resources since you cannot always be teaching everyone.” – Steve Matre, Director of Education, Marketing & Development, Banner Apartments

“A) Knowledge of Video software for production of training programs; B) Ability to track training; C) Advanced level speaking, organization, and presentation skills; and D) Advanced computer skills.”

“A Training Director needs prepare new ways to measure results generated from social media. Internet as a source is too vague.  Be knowledgeable in technical terminology and applications.” – Angie Sanchez, Director of Marketing and Leasing, Jersey Central Management

“Following up and providing support in a timely fashion.  Use the heck out of the follow up flagging function of your email.  It’s so easy to read over an email and say to yourself, ‘I’ll get back to that later,’ and then life happens and you forget.  If you can’t take care of it immediately, communicate that.  And staying open minded to different types of learning styles.  Group learning, one-on-one, webinars, phone calls, site visits, how-to manuals…it’s not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to learning so being open and aware of that is important.”  – Megan Bass, Leasing and Marketing Training, Allen and O’Hara Education Services, Inc.

“A Training Director in today’s market place should understand the importance on HOW TO be organized, be ready, be knowledgeable, be friendly, lead, and to show by example.  They should possess the energy and enthusiasm to research and gather the best training APP for that.” – Maureen Lannon, Director of Sales and Marketing, Allen & O’Hara Education Services, Inc.

“With the additional stress during a suffering economy, I feel it’s super important for Training Directors to know how to motivate and encourage their team.”  – Lizzie Blake, Regional Training & Marketing Coordinator, Resource Residential

Not to belabor the point, but here again, we saw not only specific mentions of new media, but also lots of other skills and skill sets that would be very well served by social media “know-how” including keeping the lines of communication open with your team members; staying on top of the latest and greatest training techniques and opportunities; to closing the time gap for follow-up; measuring results; multiplying your presence; and more.  Once again, thanks for reading today, and you’re invited to add your own responses to the question in the comment box below!