Have you ever sat through a training session and thought, “this has nothing to do with my job”?
The chances are, your team has also felt the same at some point.
Even the most carefully crafted bespoke training can fall short if it doesn’t feel relevant to the people in the room. If your goal is to build real skills and not just tick a compliance box, then making training relatable isn’t optional. It’s an essential component of your training planning and delivery.
What does relatable bespoke training really mean?
Relatable training connects directly to the work people do every day. It reflects real situations, uses familiar language and respects the experience your team brings to the table. When training is relatable, it has a direct impact on the participants.
People grasp the content quickly, retain it for longer and most importantly apply it more effectively in their day-to-day work. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, turning information into action.
Five ways to make bespoke training more relatable
Use real-life scenarios
Generic examples rarely leave a lasting impression, but real ones do. To make training stick, focus on actual situations from your sites, involving your people and your specific working conditions. For instance, rather than simply asking staff to follow safety procedures, walk them through a real incident where someone missed a step while isolating equipment and explain what happened as a result. These real-world stories resonate more deeply and drive the message home.
Involve the people doing the work
No one understands the job better than the people doing it. Involving operators, supervisors, or safety reps in the training design process helps surface what’s tricky, what’s often misunderstood and where the biggest risks lie. Their insights shape content that hits home and they’ll spot what’s missing and can also highlight areas that would be impactful.
Keep the language clear and direct
Avoid using corporate buzzwords or overly technical language unless it’s something your team already uses in their everyday work. Speak the way you would on-site, this should be clear, plain, and to the point. For example, asking someone to check the oxygen levels before entering the space is far more effective and relatable than instructing someone to conduct atmospheric monitoring in accordance with the confined space entry protocol. Simple, direct language helps ensure everyone understands the message the first time, without confusion.
Make it visual
People learn more effectively when they can see what you’re talking about. Visuals like photos, diagrams, short videos and even hand-drawn sketches from the field help bring concepts to life. When you show someone what a good example looks like or illustrate what can go wrong they’re far more likely to understand and remember the message.
Respect experience
Not everyone in the room is starting from nothing; some team members bring decades of experience to the table. Giving them space to share stories, lead discussions or challenge assumptions not only builds trust but also enriches the learning experience for everyone. These moments often spark the most powerful insights and create a stronger connection between the training and real-world practice.
Why does relatable training work?
When training reflects the real world, it becomes genuinely useful. People are more likely to stay engaged, ask meaningful questions and speak up when something doesn’t seem right. That shift from passive participation to active involvement is where the real learning happens and it’s what drives lasting change on site.
From compliance to confidence
The goal of training isn’t just to check a box or complete a course, it’s to build real confidence, capability and a safer working environment. Before delivering your next session or launching a new module, ask yourself one question. Does this feel real to the people we’re training? If the answer is no, it’s worth taking a step back. Talk to the people on the ground, listen to their experiences and adjust the content accordingly. Because when training feels real, it works and people learn.
Click here to learn more about 3t’s bespoke training solutions.