The UAGurus Trainers and Consultants Creed

What does it mean to be a UAGuru?

• Being a UAGuru represents not just the kind of service I provide, but the kind of service I expect from others. It reflects superior quality in knowledge, information, and instruction.
• I am not just a trainer; I am a knowledgeable teacher with hard-won, real-world experience. I can clearly explain concepts and provide realistic examples, and I know user assistance technologies inside and out.
• I am not just a teacher; I am a user assistance developer and instructional designer with extensive experience in developing online help, web content, and other types of customer documents. When I offer you advice, that advice is delivered from a wealth of experience in actually developing the same types of online documents and learning products that you need to create. When I teach or consult with you on your projects, I offer expertise gained from experience in creating workplace information.
• I am not just an experienced user assistance developer; I am an accomplished communicator. I advocate plain language. The information I develop is accurate, understandable, interesting, and appropriate for the audience. (For more about plain language, see http://www.plainlanguage.gov and http://www.centerforplainlanguage.org.)
• During the many years I have been developing user assistance and learning products, I have made more than one mistake, and I have learned a great deal from each one of them. I will teach you about these mistakes so that you can learn from them, too. In fact, I will not just teach you how to use tools, but will also teach you to apply best practices in project management, user assistance and instructional design, and writing excellence.
• I develop quality courseware that meets the highest standards of instructional design. These materials provide step-by-step exercises, best practices, and unique information from my own experiences. I update these materials frequently, based on feedback I get in class and on consulting assignments.
• I choose good tools to teach to my customers, but I understand no tool is perfect. I am going to teach you not only how to use the product but also how to troubleshoot problems. I strongly believe that teaching you what works and what doesn’t is a critical part of superior training. I also think it’s the best thing for the product and our profession.
• I won’t wave good-bye when the project has ended and never again give you the time of day. Not only will I follow up to see how you’re doing, but I will answer your emails responsibly and provide support in continuing to learn about user assistance. And, of course, I am always available for specialized training and consulting. ;-)
• I care about your success. I believe how well you do is a reflection of how well I’ve done. Both – your success and mine – are important to me. I want you to leave my classroom not just with a wealth of tool knowledge, but with a better understanding of your job as a user assistance developer.

When choosing a trainer, don’t settle for less than a Guru!