Jul 2
"Fatal" Distractions in Media Training
With almost every media training workshop we’ve conducted over the past two decades, we’ve asked students to fill out a questionnaire that provides us with a “report card” of sorts on how we did as well as help make sure we’re on track for future workshops.
It has always been our attempt to make the workshop as good an experience for them as we can. And, we know that there are many factors that go into the “good experience” equation than just the training program and the skills of the presenter. The workshop facility itself often plays a major role in how students evaluate their personal experience with media training.
That’s why we’ve always asked students to evaluate the facility where the training is conducted, as well as the workshop’s content and the way it was presented. A cold room, a cramped room, a noisy room or bad food can directly impact the way students look at the overall training experience.
We also ask whether they prefer to have future training conducted on site at their location – say in a training room or conference room - or off-site such as a local conference center or hotel.
Although many clients prefer the convenience and economics of conducting the training at their own facility, it often comes with a hefty price in the way of distractions. When your office, boss, colleague, and computer are just down the hallway or a floor away on the elevator, it’s difficult to give training your full attention. Just having your cell phone or Blackberry at a workshop can be a distraction.
Over the years, I can’t remember the number of students who have been called out of training sessions by their bosses: often the same people who asked that the training be scheduled in the first place. But it’s not always the boss who is the distraction. When the “boss” is in the training, there is never a shortage of people who seem to need his or her attention “right now.”
One of my favorite “complaints” came a few weeks ago from an executive who came in late for the group session, left frequently and then questioned why we didn’t cover some of the material he thought we should. The fact was that we did cover the material. He just wasn’t there to witness it. During the six-hour session, I doubt he was in the room for more than 90 minutes.
More recently, we had a one-on-one session for an executive who asked not to be disturbed during the training. That lasted about an hour and a half, before colleagues dragged him away for other pressing priorities.
I guess the bottom line is this: Media training requires not only a financial commitment, but a personal time commitment, as well. It works best when students can devote their full and undivided attention to the subject at hand. That is difficult to do when their attention is being diverted by other people and priorities.
When clients ask us for a recommendation on whether the training should be conducted on-site or off-site, I try to let them know the challenges of conducting the training at your own facility. It can be done, but there can be potential distractions that can negatively impact the training.
In case you’re wondering how students answer the “on-site, off-site” question, it’s probably about 50-50. It depends on their experience. When distractions become a factor, however, most opt for off-site workshops in the future.
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10:43 AM Feb 7