EP314: Carrie Graham, PhD - How to Build (Healthy) Training Programs

Dr. Carrie Graham joins Cathy Sykora to explore the power of strategic, customized training programs rooted in adult learning theory. With a PhD in adult education and a background in healthcare, Dr. Graham shares how business owners can effectively engage learners, reduce overwhelm, and drive implementation by truly understanding their audience. She emphasizes the importance of introspection, learner-focused content design, and confidence-building throughout the learning process.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why adult learning principles are essential for creating effective training programs
• The importance of listening deeply to understand learner needs and motivations
• How to avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information
• Strategies to move learners from knowledge to confident implementation
• The value of introspection and self-assessment in program design
• Why one-size-fits-all programs fall short and how to customize for your audience
• Common misconceptions about learning styles and how to design more strategically

Memorable Quotes:

• "Less is more. The human brain has to process information, and too much at once triggers fight or flight."
• "Confidence and skill development go hand in hand—people won't implement what they don't feel confident doing."
• "Don’t pick someone else’s middle and try to work from it. Create your own center by aligning your content, skills, and audience."

Bio: Dr. Carrie Graham is an adult learning strategist and consultant who specializes in helping small and mid-sized businesses improve their training programs. With a background in healthcare and a PhD in adult learning, Dr. Graham combines research-driven strategies with real-world experience to craft customized, learner-focused programs that foster engagement, retention, and results.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Dr. Carrie Graham’s Website
• Free Training Assessment and Guide: Stop Googling What's Wrong

Links to Resources:

• Health Coach Group Website: thehealthcoachgroup.com (https://www.thehealthcoachgroup.com)
• Special Offer: Use code HCC50 to save $50 on the Health Coach Group website
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