Ask Nándor Csirmaz about his development as a trainer, and he soon starts talking about other people: the colleagues he learned from, the participants in his training sessions, and the team he now leads.
Nándor has been part of DEVELOR Hungary for fifteen years and has served as Service Director for the past year. The way he supports the Hungarian trainer team’s development sets an example across the international DEVELOR network.
After receiving the Growth Ignition Award, we asked him what legendary quality means in practice, what experience has taught him, and where he still wants to grow.
What does legendary quality in a training experience truly mean to you?
It means creating genuine engagement during the training and a strong commitment to applying what has been learned afterward.
The first step is for the trainer to work with the group, rather than simply deliver the content. We need to involve participants by drawing on their experiences, aspirations and concerns. The second step is to use tailored examples, messages and training activities.
Finally, we need to give them enough opportunity to practice in the “training gym” so that they feel confident enough to try out what they have learned in real life.
Looking back, what key moments shaped you into the trainer you are today?
When I joined DEVELOR, I had the opportunity to observe three colleagues during my first few years, and their approaches and styles strongly influenced me.
Gábor built on the participants’ insights with impeccable logic. Attila captured their attention with his masterfully crafted stories. And through his openness and genuine care, Zoli created a safe space where participants could learn.
What was one major professional failure that fundamentally changed how you work? What did it teach you that success never could?
On the very first day of my first two-day training course, I threw myself into the trainer role with so much energy and determination that I forgot one important thing: the participants. I raced ahead, but no one followed me.
The next day, following my mentor’s advice, I started working with the participants – asking them questions, listening to them, and responding to what they shared. They began to come with me, and together we reached our destination.
How do you work on your own growth today, now that you are seen as a role model?
In exactly the same way as I always have. The drive to keep growing is still one of the most important things to me.
Through what I do and how I do it, I want to help make this country a better place. If I can do that a little better every day, I know I am on the right path.
What are you currently striving for, and where do you still want to grow?
Today, as a leader, my main goal is no longer simply my own development, but my colleagues’ development. My own growth supports theirs.
I strive to set inspiring goals and create a supportive environment where my team can grow. To become better at this every day, humility is the key for me.
What message would you share with training professionals who want to deliver legendary quality?
Looking good and getting better rarely happen at the same time. So don’t waste your energy trying to look smart when you could be getting smarter.
For Nándor, leading a trainer team means continuing to learn alongside the people he supports. His ambition to get a little better every day now carries a shared purpose: creating the conditions for his colleagues to do the same.
We warmly congratulate Nándor on the Growth Ignition Award, and thank him for the care he brings to helping participants and colleagues grow.
