Staff members are the backbone of every YMCA across the country, and staff training and development plays a crucial role in keeping members and program participants feeling welcomed, happy, and satisfied. In other words, training is a big responsibility and requires motivated and skilled people who are eager to pass on their wisdom in spite of any challenges they may face. Although trainers make up a small percentage of Y staff members, they are immensely important and there are a number of things that can be done to help them accomplish their goal of transferring knowledge to their colleagues. Like all Y staff members, trainers should always know that upper management is there to provide ongoing support, but here are some other things that can be done to make sure YMCA employee trainers around the nation have the tools they need to succeed.

Give Them the Opportunity to Grow

Trainers are tasked with helping other staff members develop their knowledge and skills, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t eager to expand their knowledge base and skillset as well. YMCA trainers typically fall into that role because they want to keep learning and bettering themselves and those around them. It’s well known that opportunities for growth at work increase engagement, every bit as much as the lack of growth opportunities leads to turnover.

There are three ways people grow in their jobs: financial growth, career growth, and professional growth. While it’s natural for Y staff members to be motivated by pay raises, it’s not the only way to provide opportunities for advancement. Trainers should be given as many opportunities for career development as possible, including but not limited to shadowing another trainer, being assigned a mentor from upper management, or attending a course on facilitation skills or new technology. Professional development can focus on the improvement of something the trainer struggles with or it can relate to new responsibilities or future career goals. Opportunities for professional growth can range from continuing education, to joining a professional organization, to increased job duties and responsibilities.

Help Them be Prepared

It may seem obvious that management should help trainers be as prepared as possible, but that’s not always the case. From the most basic things like making sure they have the supplies they need (think pens, paper, and clickers to advance their in-house presentations) to helping prepare training materials and getting the prep work out of the way. One huge way to help trainers is to assist with all the administrative work including copying materials, managing course enrollment and attendance, handing out certificates of completion, and preparing and collecting evaluation forms. Even the best YMCA trainers can be bogged down by the details—support from above will go a long way toward ensuring their success in the classroom.

Keep Them Informed of Changes Within “the Movement”

While most YMCA staff members strive to stay connected to what’s going on in “the movement,” it never hurts for managers and supervisors to pass on news regarding any changes that have taken place or are likely to occur. YMCA associates, regardless of their position, work hard to positively impact their communities and are proud to be part of something bigger than themselves. The more trainers are in touch with what’s going on within the movement, and the more they use that information in training sessions, the better motivated, informed, and prepared their trainees will be.

Offer Tools to Manage Stress

Work-related stress is more common than ever, and YMCA trainers should be given tools, or encouraged to find tools, that help them manage their stress. With so much emphasis placed on healthy living, YMCA upper management should encourage (and maybe lead) stress-relief activities such as walking, healthy eating, laughing, or even meditating. At the very least, staff members should be encouraged to participate in a regular exercise program or schedule short breaks throughout the day to walk or stretch. Understanding how to manage, minimize, and deal with stress can help Y trainers feel more relaxed and react better in stressful situations.

When it’s your job to help others excel in their jobs, stress comes with the territory. The good news is that there’s no shortage of ways upper management can help you prepare you for success.

How to Set Your YMCA Employee Trainers Up for Success