Wyboston Lakes offers delegate-engagement tips

A Wyboston Lakes Conferences and Training product story

Edited by the Marketingweek Marketplace editorial team Dec 7, 2009

Wyboston Lakes has released tips on how businesses can maximise training and meeting sessions at the venue.

Trainers and hosts using the centre between September and November were polled and the results reveal ideas on how to get messages across in a short period of time in meeting or learning scenarios.

Break the ice early - know your audience as quickly as possible as you will find that there are those who will contribute and those that simply will not.

To ensure that everyone has their say during the session, make sure that those who are perceived as being quieter get a chance to contribute.

Acknowledge everybody's contribution and use whiteboards or flipcharts to record good ideas from the group for later use.

When learning a new skill, brainstorming or trying to get to grips with new procedures, clarify exactly what you are expecting from the delegates.

With everyone in agreement of what they are there for, make sure you keep on track, with everyone contributing equally.

Bring the conversation back on message if needs be.

Ask delegates to write ideas on cards and then put them on a board.

Ask a question but give the group some time to think, then ask each member of the group to share their thoughts.

For immediate engagement, welcome anecdotes and examples of workplace situations allow the presenter to base the presentation on things common to the audience.

Set aside 10 minutes for attendees to discuss the presentation's key themes in small groups.

This helps to create a stronger connection to the content and its message.

If you have specialists in the group, use them to help reinforce a point.