Creative Training Techniques - The Bob Pike Group

What was that? When we ask ourselves that question, we're ready to learn. Becky says you can use curiosity to engineer learning in your classroom.  If you're curious what the Oreo cookie effect is, you're not going to get it from reading this. You'll just have to listen and find out.

People don’t argue with their own data.  So why not use what your audience already knows to make your lesson points and get buy-in to what you’re teaching?  Becky has some tips on how you can get that to happen at your next presentation.

Review time is an important part of learning when you have the learners actually doing the review, not you. But how you set it up makes a big difference. Your job is to review using some of the fun, interactive ways she suggests.

Relaxed brains will learn and recall information better than stressed brains.  Becky says your surroundings, including the smell of where you are, can have a big impact on stress and memory recall.  She has several ideas on what you can do today to reduce stress and bring multiple senses into your learning environment.   Links mentioned in the podcast Brain Rules—John Medina  http://www.brainrules.net Made To Stick—Chip and Dan Heath http://heathbrothers.com/books/made-to-stick/ Dr. Caroline Leaf  http://drleaf.com 

Does tackling a big project make you feel overwhelmed?  Instead of trying to do it all at once, Becky suggests you make those big elephants into bite-sized 10 minute bits. Not only does it work on the things you have to do, but it also works with the things you love to do!

Becky confesses she isn't a planner, she's a crammer.  Some of her best work comes in the moment right before her presentation is due. When’s the most productive time for you to work? Becky has a few simple guidelines that will help you and your audience get the most out of your time.

Got a super important presentation to do and limited time to get it ready? Becky shares her method for pulling it together fast but successfully.

If you want an audience to show up to your next presentation, you need to do it at a time and place that works for them. That sounds simple, but it can be difficult to do unless you use Becky’s scheduling checklist.

This is a checklist that Becky uses every time before she does a presentation large or small.  It makes learning easier, gets buy in from your audience faster and reduces your stress!

It's crunch time and you have too much content for your presentation. How do you get it all in? Becky has three tips to save time and still get your important points across.

How should you decide what goes in your presentation? Becky has a system — three buckets — that will help you decide what you need to put in and what you need to leave out.

Becky says Bette Midler and Johnny Carson can teach you a lot about being a presenter.

What do you do when your learners verbally attack you in the classroom?  Becky has some thoughts on how you can come off as strong and not defensive when these situations arise.   Becky mentions her Heart Math podcast.  Here’s the link to it: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/userfiles/files/Pluth0507%281983%29.mp3

Who you are, what you’re teaching, and who you’re teaching it to can sometimes make it difficult for learning.  Becky has some ideas on how you can be ready to deal with the challenges that differences can present.

If you can get your learners to focus on their clients, you’ll find they’ll work harder and smarter.  Becky has some great ideas on how to make that happen.

Your reputation as a trainer depends on people trusting what you say and you keeping information confidential that should be kept confidential.  It can be harder to do than it sounds.  Becky has some tips on how to avoid common pitfalls that make you appear to be untrustworthy. Book mentioned in this podcast: The Trust Edge by David Horsager - http://www.amazon.com/The-Trust-Edge-Relationships-Stronger/dp/1476711372

People won’t use what they learn from you if their boss isn’t on board with the program. So to be successful, you need to build a relationship with that boss. Becky says you need to encourage that boss to become a coach.

You know from experience that people don’t pay attention as much after lunch. So how do you fight the post-lunch dip syndrome?  Becky says the key is to put brain friendly food on the lunch menu.

Everyone knows that cheating during tests is wrong. But some people do it anyhow. Why?  Becky says most of the time cheating can be prevented with one simple exercise.

Too hot? Too cold? Too humid? The environment that makes up your classroom can precipitate or freeze out learning. And as Becky explains you need to consider not just the temperature, but also the colors you use as well as the furniture design.