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Written by David Brewer
Last Updated: 30 May 2014
Set out the deliverables at the start so participants understand what is expected
Your material
You need to rehearse what you are going to deliver at least once and make sure your script matches
your slides.
Check that nothing has changed overnight in terms of industry developments. Go online to read
industry media coverage. Look out for new developments, statistics, changing audience behaviour.
Take time to inject and information that is relevant. If you don't have time to update your slides consider
projecting a web page with any new information and discuss the implications with the group. They will
appreciate the fact that you are keeping your material up-to-date and that you are continually on the
look out for new developments.
Keep your slides brief, preferably rich in images and thin on words. Never just read from slides. If you
have to repeat some bullet points ensure you have added value material in your head. There is nothing
worse than being read to.
Keep your slides brief, preferably rich in images and thin on words
The technology
If you are using a projector, make sure there is a spare light bulb as backup just in case one blows.
Check there is an extension lead with two outlets, one for the projector and one for the laptop.
Make sure there is a table for the projector and a screen for the presentations. Check the distance.
Can it be viewed from the back of the room?
If you have audio, make sure there are speakers and that they work. If you have translation and group
discussions check the microphones and any translation equipment has been set up and is in working
order.
Always deliver a checklist of what you require to the organisers of the event well in advance and never
presume everything will be in place - often it wont.
And always be ready to run a session without a projector in the event of a power cut. Your training
must not be dependent on technology and you need to be able to continue when all around you is
falling apart.
You need to be able to continue your training when all around you is falling apart
Room layout
You will notice a massive cultural difference in terms of room layout from country to country.
Some like rows of chairs facing the front, others like desks set out in rows, some like a horseshoe
layout with the presenter in the middle and towards the front.
Make sure the layout is conducive to your style. A horseshoe layout can prove helpful for group
participation and discussion.
The room needs to be set up before participants arrive - you should not be moving chairs as they
gather for the event.
Check which way the room faces and whether there are blinds on the windows. You should make sure
the sun doesnt shine across your screen or in the eyes of the participants.
Welcoming participants
It is always nice to arrange for tea and coffee to be available as participants arrive for the first day of
the event. If your training is due to start at 10:00, invite people for refreshments at 09:30.
As they turn up be friendly but dont engage in conversations. Tell them politely that you will talk to
them at the next break but that you must prepare.
Allow them to mingle. A neat trick is to have an envelope for each participant with details of the first
icebreaker. Ask them to interview another participant over the first tea or coffee and jot down some
notes. Then, when the session starts, each participant introduces the person they interviewed. This is
a great way of breaking barriers and developing friendships within the group.
Facilities
Its always a good idea to have pens and notepads for participants. You will need a flip chart with
plenty of pages for use in the group and individual presentations. Some adhesive for attaching paper
to walls is useful. A whiteboard can come in handy. Make sure you have enough marker pens for both
the flip chart and the white board. Sticky notes are useful for presentations.
Check whether there are any breakout rooms for the interactive exercises when participants break up
into groups.
Arrange for name plates to be set up in front of each participant with their first name in large bold
letters and their title and media organisation. You will want to be on first name terms as soon as
possible. If you can arrange to have name badges, too, that may help - especially if you have a large
group and a poor memory.
Ensure you have all the basic tools for interactive group exercises
Refreshments
Always have drinking water available for participants. A tea/coffee break in the morning and the
afternoon is a good idea - perhaps two in each session.
It is sometimes nice to have a refreshment table in the room where people can recharge their energy
levels (even during the event). This sends out the message that participants are not trapped and that
your sessions are working events.
Smokers may become restless if they are away from nicotine too long, so make sure you
accommodate them, too. Check if there is a smoking area.
If refreshments are available at all times you can integrate breaks into the group interactive sessions so
that participants continue to work as they drink.
Also remember that some participants will need to make personal calls and send texts and emails for
business reasons. If you have sufficient breaks they can plan to do their personal and business
communications between sessions.
Be available to chat during the refreshment breaks - you may pick up important information that
you may be able to use in the sessions
Be well organised
Have a course outline available for participants at all times. It shows participants that you mean
business and it helps them plan their lives around the event.If you change the course running order be
sure to tell participants why.
Arrive early and set up immediately. Say hello when people arrive but only chat when you have set up.
When you start, tell people what they are going to be told and how the training will work. Tell them what
you expect from the event and explain what will be expected from the participants. A slide setting out
the course objectives is useful - you can use it again at the half-way point and at the end of the event
to assess whether any progress has been made.
If you are planning any assignments, both during and between sessions, you will need to make this
clear so that participants can set aside enough time.
Overnight assignments should not be time-consuming but should be something participants can think
about on the train, bus or in the car.
Inviting them to think through three examples of an issue is an ideal form of overnight assignment
which they can all report back on during the first session of the following day. The reason for using this
technique is to ensure they continue to think about the event as they travel home and on their return
journey the next day. It also gives you a flying start the following morning.
Set out course objectives at the start so participants know what to expect and what is expected
from them
Activities
Keep participants active. The session should not be about you talking at them. Its about engaging the
audience, allowing them to participate and ensuring that they take ownership of the event.
Icebreakers (games to help people participate), energises (more games for the times when energy
levels are dropping - usually after lunch), individual presentation and group presentations and group
discussions and debates, are all important tools that can help lift a training event.
For example, if people are looking tired it is always good to call a short break and ask them to write
down three does and three dont from the session you have just delivered and ask them to present
their six points in 30 seconds after the break. This will give you a great piece of feedback on whether
the information was understood.
Add group exercises to all sessions - training should not be about you talking at people
Enthusiasts
You will have those who are genuinely interested in the topic being covered and will have made a
special effort to attend. They will be theenthusiastswho could be great assets and contribute to the
success of the event.
Vacationers
You may have a couple of vacationers - those who are there because it is a chance to have a day off
work. Their attitude will be one of contributing the least amount of effort possible. They will be polite,
usually quiet although appearing attentive, contribute little and ask few questions.
Prisoners
Then there are the prisoners. They have been sent by their line manager to make up the numbers.
They have no desire to attend your session and will be determined not to contribute. They will typically
be texting friends, the first to stand up when a break is called, the last to arrive in the morning and the
first to leave in the evening.
Your job will be to win over the vacationers and the prisoners and to involve the enthusiasts fully. Its a
delicate balancing act. Your aim, by lunchtime on day one, is to have everyone fully engaged and
enthusiastic about the training.
You will also need to acknowledge the activists (those who like to do),reflectors (those who like to
review), theorists (those who like to think things through and reach a conclusion)
and pragmatists (those who like to plan).
These characteristics will have been identified by your course questionnairewhich you will have sent
out prior to the course or which you will have introduced during the first session.
Disruptive behaviour
You will need a strategy for dealing with disruptive behaviour. Shouting does not work, neither does
ignoring it.
If someone is repeatedly interrupting the event you could acknowledge their question but make it clear
that there will be a chance for discussion before the next break.
If someone is continuing to cause problems you can take them aside and talk to them over the next tea
break. At that point you will need to find out what is concerning them.
You may decide that they have some good points to make and consider involving them in helping with
the event. You may deduce that they have no interest in the event and don't want to be there. If you
feel there is no value in them remaining in the group you may need to consider asking them to leave.
Ignoring disruptive behaviour will annoy those participants who mean business. They will see it as a
sign of weakness and you may lose their attention, too.
Plagiarism
Never steal another trainers presentation. Not only is it unethical, but it is also dangerous. If you have
not written the training and thought through every point you may fall flat on your face when challenged
- or worse, end up in court.
Your material must be all your own work. It must be original, unique, stimulating, mind-stretching,
relevant, every-changing and fresh.
If you use quotes from other trainers be sure to reference them, acknowledge them for their value and,
if possible, provide links to the original work.
Only deliver original material that you have created - never steal material
Take aways
You should consider having the following course material available for all participants.
Timetable - refreshed each day and detailed down to the comfort breaks
Business cards - your contact details should participants want to follow up.
Participants like to take material away with them to work on in their own time
Feedback
Allow enough time for participants to fill out the course feedback form. A sample list of feedback
questions can be found here.
They are the people who will deliver the results of the work you have researched, designed and
delivered. And you will be evaluating the success of your intervention by analysing how their behaviour
changes and what those changes mean to the media business.
With some participants you will be establishing an ongoing working relationship. Ensure you
acknowledge those who participated positively and enthusiastically.
Without the participants you wouldn't have a job, so be sure to thank them at the end
Without the participants you wouldn't have a job, so be sure to thank them at the end
Note: The training cycle has four stages. Research, Design, Delivery andEvaluation.
The author of this piece, David Brewer, is a journalist and media strategy consultant who set up and
runs Media Helping Media. He delivers journalism training and media consultancy
services worldwide via Media Ideas. He also runs a media mentoring service.
http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/training-resources/tot/598-basicrules-for-delivering-training
When participants first arrive for their training, they may feel fearful and apprehensive. This tool suggests
simple tips and ideas that can help put participants at ease both before and as they arrive in the training
room.
Who this tool is for
This tool is for new and inexperienced trainers to help them put course participants at ease.
Before you start
You may wish to read through the following tools to help you see how this particular tool fits within the wider
context.
Tool aims
This tool will help you to:
Identify the fears and apprehensions that course participants may have before they begin their
training.
Take simple steps to help put everyone at ease on arrival, before the training starts and as they
enter the training room for the first time.
As well as providing people with the necessary logistical information, pre-course materials tell people what to
expect and what the benefits of attending will be. They can also let people know about any pre-course
preparation they need to complete, along with anything they need to bring.
Who this tool is for
This tool is for experienced learning and development professionals and managers, to help them create
engaging pre-course materials. This tool can also be used to coach new and inexperienced trainers.
Tool aims
This tool will help you to:
To provide logistical information about the training and the benefits of attending
Provide an overview