Not All Trainers Are Equal: Choosing the Right One for Your Data Upskilling Journey

These days, it seems like there’s a data workshop for everything—Python, Tableau, PowerBI, even ChatGPT. And with governments subsidizing training to support digital transformation, signing up has never been easier.

But here's the thing: many learners walk away from these sessions disappointed. Despite putting in the time, attending diligently, and completing the exercises, they don’t feel more confident or capable in their roles.

And the problem often isn’t the curriculum or the content.

It’s the trainer.

🎓 Training Is an Investment—Make It Count

Let’s be real. Whether it’s two hours or two days, training takes up your time, mental focus, and in many cases, money—even if subsidized. That makes it a personal and professional investment. You’re not just looking for exposure to a tool; you’re hoping for a breakthrough that helps you work smarter, solve real problems, or grow in your role.

Which brings us to a key truth: not all training is created equal—and not all trainers enable transformation.

🥁 Drill Sergeant vs 🧑‍🏫 Coach: A Better Analogy for Trainers

Here’s a helpful way to think about it:

• A Drill Sergeant teaches by repetition. You follow the steps, complete the exercises, and build proficiency in what’s in the training manual. It works—to a point. But if you ask, “Why are we doing it this way?” the answer is often, “Because that’s the method.”

• A Coach goes deeper. They help you understand the essence of the skill. They adapt their teaching based on your goals, strengths, and gaps. A good coach doesn’t just want you to do the task—they want you to understand the task, so you can adapt it to different situations.

In the short term, both might get you to the same finish line. But in the long term, only the coach prepares you for the changes ahead.

🔁 Mass Production vs. Meaningful Progress

Drill Sergeant-style training is easier to scale. It’s repeatable, standardized, and can mass-produce hundreds of students who can run the same drill in the same way.

But here’s the issue:

• It builds proficiencies for today, not capabilities for tomorrow.

• Students often struggle to adapt what they’ve learned when faced with new tools, evolving business needs, or unexpected data challenges.

• It doesn’t help learners connect the why behind the skill, so they can’t confidently apply it in different contexts.

In contrast, a Coach-style trainer helps learners:

• See the bigger picture of where and why a method applies,

• Transfer their skills across different platforms or situations,

• And build a foundation that supports long-term career growth in an ever-changing data landscape.

  
  

📊 Real Example: PowerBI Training, Two Ways

We’ve seen this firsthand. In one PowerBI workshop for public officers, a trainer could have just taught participants how to build a dashboard—what to click, where to drag, which chart to choose.

But at FYT, we took it further.

We helped them understand why certain visual elements matter, how to structure a dashboard to communicate clearly with stakeholders, and how different decisions (like layout, comparison types, or use of color) influence interpretation. In short, we didn’t just show them how to build dashboards—we coached them to build better dashboards for the right message.

That’s what training at the “Why” level looks like.

👥 Another Case: HR Data Storytelling

In another workshop with HR professionals, we didn’t stop at “what is a chart” or “how to format a slide.”

We explored:

• What message are you trying to deliver?

• What sequence of data insights would help the audience understand and care about the issue?

• What happens if your stakeholders don’t act on this story? How do you give them a reason to listen?

• How can data drive influence, not just reporting?

By framing their analysis around problem, consequence, insight, and recommendation, participants didn’t just learn to “present the data”—they learned to tell a story that sparks action.

🧭 How to Know If You’re Getting a Drill Sergeant or a Coach

Here’s a quick test before you sign up for your next workshop:

What to Look For	Drill Sergeant	Coach
Teaching style	Follows the script exactly	Adapts to the learners’ needs
Learner engagement	Everyone does the same thing	Learners apply the skills to their context
Q&A responses	“That’s not covered in this session”	“Let’s explore how this might work for your case”
Training outcome	Technical proficiency	Strategic insight, confidence, and adaptability
Long-term value	Skills with a short shelf life	Skills that evolve with your career

✅ So, Why Does This Matter?

Because in the data world, tools will change. The way we work with data in 2025 will look different from 2023. But if all you’ve learned is how to press buttons in a specific platform, what happens when the platform changes?

You’ll need to retrain. Again.

But if your trainer helped you understand the core thinking—how to frame problems, ask questions, design visuals, or interpret patterns—you’ve got skills that transfer and scale.

At FYT, this is our entire ethos. We don’t just teach the tools. We teach the thinking behind the tools, so your learning has staying power.

🚀 Ready to Learn from a Coach, Not a Commander?

At FYT Consulting, we build data capabilities that last. Our trainers are seasoned practitioners who’ve lived the challenges you’re trying to solve—and we coach learners to apply data meaningfully in their roles.

Whether you’re in HR, Finance, Communications, or the Public Service, our approach helps you:

• Understand the why behind the training,

• Build skills that adapt to your job, and

• Grow into the kind of data professional who thrives—not just survives—as technology evolves.

👉 Talk to us about building sustainable, impactful data skills in your team

Because in the age of AI and automation, it’s not enough to follow the drills. You need to understand the game—and have the right coach in your corner.