Page 142 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 04 11/20/02 12:00 PM Page 131
Establish the Atmosphere Opening With a Bang 131
Another technique for fostering a feeling of unity related to the topic and your par-
ticipants is to adopt a theme for your session and decorate the room accordingly. For
example, if you were facilitating a session related to increasing sales on the telephone
you could put telephones around the room at various locations, have colorful posters
of flip charts made with dollar signs, and provide small incentives in the shape of tele-
phones (e.g., pencil erasers, squeeze toys, or refrigerator magnets that sound like little
phones). You could also start the session with a humorous role play demonstration in
which a sales representative and customer have a humorous conversation leading to a
huge sale. Following this, you could have teams develop a team identity as outlined pre-
viously with a focus on something related to telephone sales.
Part of the atmosphere relates to the roles played by everyone in the room. Some
participants may wonder what you expect of them and what they should expect of you.
This is easily handled through use of a Training Agreement or Contract that you read
about in Chapter 3 (see also Training Agreement in the Tools for Trainers section of the
appendices).

Start on Time

Time is a precious commodity for everyone in today’s workplace as employees are be-
ing asked to do more with less. For that reason, participants should be able to expect
that you will start, stay, and end on time. You should respect their investment and that
of their organizations related to commitment to training. Besides, starting late sends a
potential message of disrespect and lack of professionalism.

Come in with a Bang
Do the unexpected to grab participant at-
tention. Change lighting (e.g., flick lights
on and off or if they were dim, raise the
brightness as you enter); start with loud,
upbeat music; run into the room; wear
something outrageous; use whistles,
bells, and other noisemakers; or do
whatever else you can to startle and
wake participants up.

Be Positive

Even if some unforeseen events occur (e.g.,
handouts did not show up or you run out of
them, unplanned additional participants arrive,