GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Use the following suggestions to assist internal clients in getting the most from on-site workshops and make the event a successful, productive learning experience. Provide this summary of expectations and suggestions to management along with a written confirmation letter that describes logistics and event details. The specific workshop referenced in this form is “Meeting Planning.”

Before the Training

 1. Review the outline and objectives that have been written to reflect your issues. Are there changes that should be made?

 2. Meet with the participants and discuss what you see as the business need and the trends in the organization that are being met by their attendance at this course.

—  Write an invitation or announcement to the participants you expect to attend this workshop.

—  Write benefit statements (in addition to the objectives) describing how your organization and individual participants will benefit from the skills learned in the workshop.

—  Provide participants a copy of the outline with the objectives.

This workshop should not come as a surprise. Issues about reluctant participation should surface well before the training takes place.

 3. Tell participants what you expect following their attendance at this course.

—  How will they be held accountable for using these new skills?

—  What materials will they facilitate?

—  When will they facilitate?

—  Will using these new skills be observed or reviewed on a performance appraisal?

—  How will they be acknowledged and credited for their contribution?

 4. Class hours are usually from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Do these hours need to be adjusted to meet your work hours? Earlier starting and finishing times are possible. We will need an overhead projector, flip chart with paper, and a screen. A “U” shape setting is best for a group of less than 20.

During the Training

 5. Participants should be prepared to participate and attend the workshop for the entire day. Phone calls and messages need to be handled only at breaks (one in the morning, lunchtime, and one in the afternoon). To the extent possible, compensate for workload while the employee is at training.

 6. As the manager or supervisor, we need your participation at the workshop for the entire day. Your presence will impart a stronger message than anything we can say about the importance of learning these new skills. We would appreciate your beginning the workshop and restating the business need that prompted the workshop and what objectives you have for the training function.

 7. It would be a good idea for the entire group to have lunch together. This will help us keep to the time constraints and allow the instructor to have some informal time with the participants.

Following the Training

 8. As a follow-up, give the participants a week or two to complete the development of their meeting plan.

 9. Have the group meet together and ask each person to present what he or she has planned.

—  Ask the group to critique the plan and offer suggestions to ensure that the meeting will be interactive and meets the stated objectives.

—  Participants may benefit from facilitating a portion of their plan and getting feedback from the group. This is a good opportunity to try out their plan.

10. Have the group meet again after participants have been able to try out their facilitation skills. Celebrate successes, and discuss ways of handling any problems that may have arisen.

Copyright 2001 by Jean Barbazette. Original purchasers of this book are permitted to photocopy or customize this page by downloading it from www.books.mcgraw-hill.com/training/download. The document can then be opened, edited, and printed using Microsoft Word or other word processing software.

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