How many people will be attending? What is their background? What experience do they have in the topic at hand? For instance, do they need to learn how to use a new software program, understand safety practices, or develop basic leadership skills?
An example of a clear, achievable, and measurable goal in a training session on data security could be something like: “By the end of today’s session, participants will be able identify three simple, yet effective, ways to protect personal information online. ” A good rule of thumb is to choose 3-5 main goals to focus on.
PowerPoint presentations, videos, and handouts will help you reach learners who learn visually. Make sure everyone in the room can hear you loud and clear. This will be especially important for auditory learners. Prepare role-play activities or hands-on demonstrations for participants who learn best by doing.
Goal 1: By the end of the session, participants should know how to add sums on Microsoft Excel. Activity to reach goal 1: Hands-on practice using Excel at individual computer stations. Time to reach goal 1: Approximately 25 minutes.
When choosing what media or activities to create, keep in mind the goals of your training session, the different learning styles of your participants, and any time constraints you may face. For a training session on workplace etiquette, for example, you could film and edit a series of short videos of proper and improper workplace encounters or look for similar videos online.
As you write your presentation, don’t forget about time limits. The last thing you want to do is to reach the end of your session’s allotted time without having covered everything you wanted to get to. Try to add personal anecdotes, jokes, or light-hearted comments to keep your audience’s interest. Schedule breaks and provide refreshments for sessions longer than 90 minutes. Don’t forget to schedule time for questions.
The more you practice, the less nervous you will be the day of the actual session. If possible, practice in the room where you will be running the session to make sure you have everything you’ll need.
Make sure that there is nothing in the room that will distract participants from the training session. You should also make sure the building and room are accessible to people who have any physical limitations. Choose a space with adequate ventilation and easy access to restrooms. Make sure the space is equipped with the equipment, hookups, and resources you will need.
Don’t assume the room will be equipped with everything you’ll need. You might want to come to your session prepared with a backup plan in the event of any technology failure. It’s a good idea to make a checklist of the equipment and supplies you will need.
For a larger or more formal training session, set up a welcoming or registration table. If you’re providing refreshments, guide new arrivals to the refreshment table as they come in.
A clear and simple outline printed in a handout will help prevent participants from feeling lost.
For a training session on workplace safety, for instance, you could play a video that features the experience of someone who was hurt on the job to drive home the stakes involved.
One trick is to put activities and points of discussion you can cut at the end of the session.
If participants connect to you at a personal level, they’ll be more likely to remember what you discuss. Don’t shy away from sharing your personal experiences and mistakes related to the session’s topic.
For a training session on netiquette, for example, you could put up a PowerPoint slide of an online conversation and ask the audience what parts are problematic.
If you’re introducing co-workers to a new software program, for example, let them practice using it as you’re explaining it, so they can mimic your actions in real time. If your training session is on something more abstract like “leadership,” try incorporating role-play activities.
Give participants a chance to share what they learned from the session.
You’ll want to give participants the option of doing this anonymously for more honest feedback.
