There’s a moment that happens in a lot of workplaces, often quietly, sometimes overnight. A brilliant technician, manager, or subject matter expert is asked to run a training session.
And just like that, they’ve become a trainer.
No formal prep. No guidance. Just, “Can you show the team how this works?”, or “Can you take this group and develop their skills?”
It sounds simple, after all, you know the job. But what happens next is familiar to many:
“Where do I even start?”
“Why aren’t they getting it?”
“I never signed up to be a teacher…”
Welcome to the world of the accidental trainer.
Expertise vs. Education
Being good at something and being able to teach it are two very different skills.
Technical experts often have years, even decades, of experience. They’ve solved problems, led projects, and built deep expertise. But when it comes to training others, they’re suddenly operating in unfamiliar territory. Explaining things clearly, keeping people engaged, adapting to different learning styles… that’s a whole new challenge.
It’s not about lacking knowledge — it’s about translating it.
Why It Feels So Hard
Training isn’t just about passing on information. It’s about:
Making it make sense to someone who might be starting from scratch.
Breaking down complexity without oversimplifying.
Building confidence in learners, not just knowledge.
And without support, accidental trainers can feel isolated, frustrated, or even like they’re failing. But the reality is they’ve just never been taught how to teach.
The Shift: From Doing to Developing
The good news? Training, like any skill, can be learned.
When accidental trainers are supported to grow into their role, something powerful happens. They start to see training not as a burden, but as a chance to shape how others grow and to reinforce their own expertise in the process.
With a few key tools and mindset shifts, they move from:
Telling → to teaching
Presenting → to facilitating
Informing → to inspiring
They become not just experts, but educators.
If This Is You…
If you’ve ever found yourself unexpectedly in a training role, you’re not alone and you’re not behind. In fact, you’re on the edge of something exciting.
Because when subject matter experts learn to teach well, it doesn’t just help the team, it elevates the whole organisation. Knowledge stops sitting in silos and starts spreading in meaningful, engaging ways.
So take a breath. You’re not expected to be perfect. But with a bit of guidance, you can be impactful.
From expert to educator is a journey and one that many of us never expected to take. But it might just be one of the most rewarding steps in your professional life.