Creative Training Techniques - The Bob Pike Group

Business success comes when you can move from being your client's customer service provider to trusted advisor. Becky has six tips of things you can do on the phone or in person.

Teaching as part of a team can be fun, but it also has its pitfalls. Becky has five things you and your teaching partners should avoid and how to overcome them. Remember, team teaching is more than just taking turns.

Do you have what it takes to be a great facilitator? Becky says the most important skill to have is the ability to refocus the group. But there are other things you need to be good at including how to manage difficult behaviors and adapting or changing easily in the moment. Can you summarize? If not, Becky has some ideas on how to make up for that. Links mentioned in the podcast: Facilitator Kristin Arnold's website extraordinaryteam. com Book - First things Fast by Allison Rossett http://www.amazon.com/First-Things-Fast-Handbook-Performance/dp/0787988480

So you're the facilitator. What can you do before, during and after your session to make it a success? Becky says it's important to begin knowing what success looks like - but your role in that success is NOT to have an opinion of what the solution is to the problem. Your job is to help the experts in the room find that solution. Agendas, timing, ground rules and follow up are all your responsibility and can make or break the session. And those people who speak too much or not at all? Those are your problems to manage too. You might want to listen to Becky's podcast on how to deal with difficult behaviors Preventing Problem Participants podcast is here: http://www.bobpikegroup.com/userfiles/files/Pluth0405%281906%29.mp3

What's the e in e-learning stand for? Becky says one mistake is thinking e refers to the device you're using. e-learning has its own set of challenges and Becky has some great tips for on how to do it.

Did you know our minds are naturally wired to wander? Unfortunately wandering minds may miss what you're teaching. Energizers will help your audience be more engaged and learn more. Becky has some fun tips on how and when to reset your audience and energize your learners.

Becky has some epic fails for instructors. Don't do this!

Time management can help you really be on top of your game during classes. Becky says dividing your content into need to know, nice to know, and where to go can help you relax and make the most of those precious classroom minutes. She also has some tips to help you organize such as why you should always plan on five minute segments. Links mentioned in this podcast http://www.lynda.com

Becky says the Masters Golf tournament tees up some very important lessons that you can apply to your training business. But instead of winning a green jacket, you'll end up with more green in your wallet (which you can use for a green jacket if your really want one.)

Becky has talked about how smart phones can be a distraction in the classroom, but they can also be a learning aid. Amazingly using smart phones can also get you powerful referrals. Links mentioned in this podcast i rig - http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmic/ Training Tunes http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/training-tunes-volumes-1-5-royalty-free-music

Are you making things too complicated for people to learn? Becky says short and sweet beats complicated nearly every time. She has some tips on how to keep your presentation simple and to the point. Links mentioned in this podcast Score Series of Books http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/score-and-powerful-presentations-books

Images and music can play an important role in making training successful. Becky has some great tips on how to employ images and music to enhance your next session. Links mentioned in the podcast www.bigstockphoto.com www.morguefile.com Training Tunes http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/training-tunes-volumes-1-5-royalty-free-music

What are you doing that is killing learning? Becky has a list. Are you doing (or not doing) any of these things? Mentioned in the podcast: Becky's Deadly Sins of Trainers White Paper http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/Articles/487

You can teach it, but will they use it on the job? Becky says the person who has the biggest influence on that might not even be in your training session.

It only takes one problem participant to make learning difficult in a training session. Becky says 80% of problem participants can be prevented. She gives you with some great techniques to identify and disarm those problems before they disrupt your session.

To successfully teach to different generations, you need to know how each generation learns. Complicating matters: age doesn't necessarily dictate what generation someone belongs to. Becky has some great advice on how you can reach silents, boomers and millennials even when they're in the same classroom.

Why recreate the wheel every time you create a presentation? Becky says just like having a checklist for packing, having a checklist for your presentation makes sure you don't forget important details that can spell the difference between an OK training session and a great training session.

When your computer is running slow, or acting cranky, often just rebooting it will fix the problem. Why? Rebooting it clears the cache—all those unnecessary bits of information that can clog up a smooth running computer. Becky says your learner's brain is like a computer, and when it's having trouble processing what you're teaching, often "clearing the cache" will make things run smoother. She has some great tips on how to do that. Links mentioned in the podcast: Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Leadership-Executive-Strategies-Tough/dp/0446394599

It's not just what you do during a conference call that makes it a success — it's what you do before, during, and after the call that can make the difference. Becky talks about some not-so-obvious things you should put on your next conference call checklist including picking a memorable start time. Links mentioned in the podcast: www.99designs.com www.fiverr.com

You know that music can impact your mood and energy, but did you know it can impact learning both positively and negatively? Becky has some clear guidelines on when you should and shouldn't use music and what kind of music works best for learning. Link mentioned in the podcast: Training Tunes For Classroom Vol 1-5 http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/training-tunes-volumes-1-5-royalty-free-music