"Thanks for Volunteering!"

Are you tired of being the person who always announces the breaks or lunch during training sessions, and who always makes sure everyone is back in their seats on time at the end of the break or lunch? Why not "hire" a volunteer to take your place?

How It Works:

• As you introduce yourself and review the housekeeping aspects of the training day for your audience, "volunteer" someone who appears to have some leadership presence among the group.
• Thank the person for kindly "volunteering" to be the break monitor for the group for the day!
• Ask your "volunteer" to gently let you know when the predetermined breaks arrive by monitoring his or her watch. Have them give you five minutes notice prior to each break and lunch as well.
• In addition, let this person know that he or she will be responsible for getting everyone back in the room, in their seats, and ready to go by a agreed-upon time as you all leave for a break or lunch.
• Make sure the "volunteer" is aware that this is a serious job and that you (and the participants) are counting on him or her to have everyone ready by the EXACT time you agreed on after breaks and after lunch.

At the end of the day, don't forget to acknowledge the help and support of your "volunteer" break monitor. Maybe even give him or her a special prize of candy or movie tickets for helping everyone respect the day's training time.

Why it Works:

• This clever strategy helps you attain a bit more buy-in from everyone involved with the training by choosing someone it seems they all know and/or look up to.
• By giving the "policing" responsibility to a member of the audience, you're allowing the pressure to be put on participants themselves so they're accountable to one other for maintaining the respect and flow of the training seminar.
• In the end, you will have created a more democratic seminar by engaging the participants to help their own leaders and not get them in trouble!

| | |