I am currently mid-contract, training members of a finance department in using Microsoft Excel – a course tailored to their requirements. I have been booked for five training days spread over February and March. Each time, the level of the delegates determines the level at which I pitch my course: there’s no point in covering advanced material if the group isn’t up to it, and equally I don’t want to hold back the more advanced delegates. So as well as tailoring for content overall, I tailor “on the fly” for the abilities of the group.
This week, I gave my third session. As I was setting out my course materials, I realised that I had managed to leave my course notes at home. However, I do train this material frequently so I just swallowed hard and hoped I would be OK “flying blind”.
I was fortunate in that all the delegates in this group were at much the same level: not as advanced as some, but all with a good grasp of basic principles and keen to get more knowledge. Starting with a blank “scratchpad” spreadsheet, I introduced some basic refresher material to get them going gently (and to establish the level), then I moved into some more complex prepared exercises. Because I had no notes, I found myself much freer, and able to digress as questions arose. Everybody soon engaged fully with the course material and the banter between them showed that they were comfortable in asking questions – nobody felt embarrassed to be showing their “ignorance”. The day passed with much laughter from the delegates, as well as useful and interesting input and ideas being exchanged. In the end we got onto some considerably advanced material, and they all really showed that they were comfortable with the new knowledge they had acquired over the day.
At the end of the course, everybody was appreciative and happy, but one girl came up to me, shook me warmly by the hand and said, “that’s the best training course I’ve ever been on – I think you’re absolutely amazing”! Of course, the success of the day was largely down to the way the group had worked together, but I think this was aided by the fact that I was working in a much more flexible manner due to my lack of notes.
I think those notes will soon be heading for the recycling bin!
