#7- Time Management Tips For Trainers: Simple Ideas To Avoid Disaster

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Jul 1, 2025

Mastering time management is key for trainers to enhance participants' learning experiences. Discover how to set clear goals for sessions and activities to prioritize effectively. Learn the importance of avoiding overcrowded agendas and incorporating flexibility with buffer times. Get tips on testing new activities for better time estimates and adjusting to group dynamics. Enhance engagement by communicating time clearly and sharing ownership with participants. Track your time in real-life scenarios to improve future sessions.

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INSIGHT

Time Management Protects Learning

Poor time management damages depth of learning, not just punctuality.
Mirna emphasizes protecting closing and key reflective moments to enable real integration.

ADVICE

Design With Clear Goals

Define clear goals for the whole session and each activity before deciding what to cut.
Use those goals as your compass when choosing whether to extend or stop a conversation.

ADVICE

Label Activities A vs B

Mark each activity as A (must-have) or B (nice-to-have) after you design the agenda.
Drop B activities when behind to protect the A activities and core learning.

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Time management is one of the most essential skills in training & facilitation. It ensures that you have the time to shape the participants’ experience in a deep and meaningful way instead of rushing through an agenda.

It gives you the power to protect enough time for the most important highlights of your workshop without getting sidetracked. Yet, if you are a trainer who chooses to give a lot of ownership to participants and to engage them actively, it is impossible to have a full control over the time. How can you merge the two: allowing ownership, but also protecting the essential bits of the workshop?

Time management is a skill I truly enjoy and consider on of my super powers. I also support countless trainers in developing it through both Train the Trainer and Advanced Facilitation Training courses.In this episode, I’m sharing some of my go-to, most practical time management strategies that will save your flow (and your nerves). Especially useful if you're planning or running complex sessions and experiential workshops.🎧

Enjoyed the episode? Remember to subscribe, like, or review - especially while we’re still early with these first episodes, it helps to get the word out there!🧠

Want to go deeper and practice these skills in action? Check out:

🎯 Train the Trainer program - build core skills & structure: https://www.trainers-toolbox.com/train-the-trainer/

🚀 Advanced Facilitation Training - for experienced trainers ready to level up: https://www.trainers-toolbox.com/advanced-facilitation-training/

To explore more tools and tips from a real-life practices, join me at:

📬 Trainers Toolbox newsletter - your weekly dose of fresh tools, insights and learning design tips (goes out every Wednesday): https://www.trainers-toolbox.com/newsletter/💬

Let’s Connect! You can find me on LinkedIn - I would love to connect but also hear your questions, feedback and ideas and wishes for future episodes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirnasmidt/

📚 Bonus: Remember to download the Time Management Tips for Trainers visual from this episode here (and do also share it with fellow trainers ;): https://www.trainers-toolbox.com/podcast-episodes-time-management-tips-for-trainers-simple-ideas-to-avoid-disaster/