What are the signs that I need to improve my communication skills training delivery methods?
- Carly (CJ) Shorter
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 15
What are clear signs that you need to improve your training delivery methods? There's minimal interaction, no forthcoming answers to your questions, learners are disengaged in the learning and reading ahead, or talking among themselves, there's minimal interaction, or feedback that says "fine," and you're talking more than they are doing.
Research from the University of Sheffield's work psychology institute shows that effective training transfer depends on optimizing delivery methods to engage learners actively, as passive delivery significantly reduces knowledge application in the workplace [1], while a comprehensive academic study revealed that 80% of participants with negative training attitudes also had negative views on their job proficiency, directly linking poor delivery methods to reduced workplace performance [2].
Your training delivery needs serious work if you're seeing these red flags consistently. Phones out during sessions, people asking to leave early, participants who look confused but won't speak up - these aren't "difficult audiences," they're symptoms of poor delivery.
The biggest tell? When you ask questions and get crickets. Good delivery creates safety for people to engage, make mistakes, and learn. If your room feels like a library where everyone's afraid to speak, you're lecturing, not training or facilitating.
Another dead giveaway: participants reading ahead in materials instead of staying present with you. This screams that your pace is wrong, your content doesn't match their needs, or you're not creating enough value in the moment to hold their attention.
Watch for the "polite" feedback too. When evaluations say everything was "fine" or "good," that's not praise - it's people being kind about mediocre delivery. Real engagement produces strong reactions: people either love specific parts or have definite suggestions for improvement.
The ultimate test? Follow up 30 days later. If people aren't using what you taught, your delivery method failed, regardless of how much they smiled during the session.
Related Questions:
How can I tell if my participants are genuinely engaged or just being polite? Genuinely engaged people ask follow-up questions, share relevant examples, and challenge ideas respectfully.
What's the difference between a difficult audience and poor delivery? Difficult audiences still engage when delivery improves; poor delivery makes every audience seem difficult.
Should I change my delivery style mid-session if I notice disengagement? A definite yes - stop and shift energy immediately rather than pushing through dead air.