How To Conduct The Opening Module In Your Next Training Course

Let me share with you the complete 30-step protocol that I use in conducting the opening module in all of my training courses:

Phase I: Introduction Exchange

Step 1: Welcome The Trainees

Good Morning! I welcome you all to this course on.... (State the course title)

Step 2: Express Gratitude

I thank you all for making the decision to attend this course.

Step 3: Introduce Yourself

I am ________. (State your first and last name.)

Step 4: Express Positive Feeling

And I am delighted to be your trainer for this course.

Step 5: Ask Trainees To Introduce Themselves

Please introduce yourselves by stating your complete name, job, position, organization unit, company, and the main product of your company.

[Note: If you are conducting in-company courses, you may omit all references to company name and product name.]

Step 6: Express Gratitude

Thank you for introducing yourselves.

Step 7: Conduct An "Ice Breaker" Activity

Let us do an "ice breaker" activity so that we can start our day with the right energy.... (State the procedure of the "ice breaker" activity that you have selected)

[Note: Your main intention for this activity is to "soften the wall" between you and the trainees early in the course. Specifically, during this fun activity, you want to build rapport with all your trainees by telling jokes, laughing at their ‘mistakes,’and praising their ‘success.’ Here is a video reference ( 3:18 minutes ) that you might consider for this activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a72goyDtjeI.]

Step 8: Conduct A 'Trustworthy-Person Anchor' Activity

I am a trustworthy person.... ( You gently touch your heart area with the two fingers of my right hand for two seconds ). Indeed, the trainees in my previous courses found out that they can trust me during the entire course ( for the second time, you gently touch your heart area with the two fingers of my right hand for two seconds ).

[Note: I am using a method based on Neuro-Linguistic programming (NLP) technology called ‘Personal Attributes Anchoring.’Here is a video reference ( 7:18 minutes ) that shows you the theory behind this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGAUQBIPWUM.]

Phase II: Rationale For This Course

Step 9: Explain How This Course Will Benefit The Company

This course is really important because you will gain valuable knowledge and skills that will help solve an operational problem with our company in ________. (State the reasons why your company has made the decision to conduct this course.)

[Note: This step is only applicable for in-company courses since you would know the specific operational problem or problems that their company is planning to eliminate. If you are conducting a course that is offered to the public, you may elect to delete this step because the trainees would have different company-related operational problems.]

Step 10: Explain How This Course Will Benefit The Trainees

This course is really important because you will gain valuable skills that will help. (State the reasons why their new knowledge and skills will help them in their career growth in their profession.)

Phase III: Course Description

Step 11: State The Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are ________. (State the objectives of the course).

[Note: Show a visual containing the course objectives on the projector screen.]

Step 12: State The Course Coverage

To achieve these course objectives, I will focus on presenting and facilitating the following topics: ________. (State the coverage of the course.)

[Note: Show a visual containing the course coverage on the projector screen.]

Step 13: Seek Specific Learning Objectives

There are three options for this step:

Option 1: One-Day Course

May I request each one of you to disclose your specific learning objectives in attending this course?

Option 2: Two-Day Course

May I request you to form groups composed of three trainees? Each group will discuss among their members and identify five specific learning objectives in ranked order. Each group will designate a presenter, and this presenter will state the five specific learning objectives in ranked order in attending this course.

Option 3: Three-Day Or More Than 3-Day Course

May I request you to form groups composed of three trainees? Each group will discuss among their members and identify five specific learning objectives in ranked order. Each group will write five specific learning objectives in ranked order on a flip chart. Each group will designate a presenter, and this presenter will state the five specific learning objectives as indicated on the flip chart.

[Note: If a trainee has learning objectives that are not part of the course coverage, you should state, gently but firmly, that you will not address these because these are outside the scope of the course.]

Step 14: Express Gratitude

Thank you for sharing your specific learning objectives.

Step 15: State Your Commitment

I am 100% committed to fulfilling all your expressed learning objectives.

Step 16: State Your Expectations

As your trainer, I expect all of you to perform eight important functions:

a. Ask questions by raising your right arm on the topics that we will be discussing if you feel that you need more clarification for you to fully understand what has been presented.

b. Share relevant work experiences on the topics that I have presented so that I will have an opportunity to enhance your learning process by integrating your contributions into our course contents.

c. State your agreement on the topic that we have discussed so that I can acknowledge your position.

d. State your objection on the topic that we have discussed so that I can clarify your objection.

e. Disclose sensitive issues in the workplace that you believe will create obstacles in the application of the skills that you will gain from this course.

f. Help me as your trainer by pointing out my mistakes so that these may be remedied.

g. Immediately call my attention if I offended you with my behaviors so that I may extend my apologies and change these behaviors.

h. Preserve the confidentiality of all our discussions.

[Note: Show a visual containing your eight expectations on the projector screen.]

Step 17: Seek Commitment

Are you 100% committed to perform these eight important functions, if required, during our course?

Step 18: Express Gratitude

Thank you for stating your 100% commitment to perform these eight important functions.

Phase IV: Instructional Methods And Resources

Step 19: State The Instructional Methods

I will be using the following instructional methods ________. (State the various instructional methods you will be using in the course.)

Step 20: State The Required Technical Resources

We will be using the following technical resources ________. (State the list of technical resources required in the course.)

Step 21: Introduce The Technical And Administrative Support Staff

Let me introduce the following persons ________. (State the name of the persons who will provide technical and administrative support during the course.)

Step 22: State How The Trainees Will Be Tested

I will conduct a series of tests such as ________. (State the specific tests that you will apply.)

Step 23: State The Administrative Rules

Here are the administrative rules to ensure that we maintain discipline throughout the course: ________. (State the required administrative rules.)

Step 24: State The Time The Course Will End

We will finish our course on or before ________. (State the time the course will end.)

Step 26: Conduct The "Frontal Brain Lobes Activation" Activity

Let us do an activity to help activate the frontal lobes of your brain. These are the parts of your brain, which help you think in a logical manner. We need to prepare these parts to be in tip top shape for you effectively assimilate the new knowledge and skills in this course... (State the procedure of the "frontal brain lobes activation" activity that you have selected)

[Note: Here is a video reference ( 3:03 minutes ) that you might consider for this activity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2VT1A2n1a8.]

Step 27: Conduct The "Worry Vault" Activity

Let us do a guided imagery activity called "worry vault" so that we can forget all our worries and really focus on our course.

Please remain seated on chair. Place your hands on top of your thigh. Gently close your eyes.

Be aware of your breath as you breathe in and as you breathe out.

Be aware that your physical body is in a state of total relaxation.

Be aware that your mind is in a state of total relaxation.

Imagine in your mind that you are in front of a big round heavy metal door of a bank vault, and this door is in a close position.

Open the vault door very slowly with your right hand.

You can feel the coldness of the metal handle as you open the vault door.

You realize that this vault is empty.

Now put all your worries related to your job inside this vault in your own way.

(Pause for five seconds)

Put all your worries related to your financial problems inside this vault in your own way.

(Pause for five seconds)

Put all your worries related to your physical health problems inside this vault in your own way.

(Pause for five seconds)

Put all your worries related to your relationship problems within your family inside this vault in your own way.

(Pause for five seconds)

Put now all your worries related to your relationship problems with your friends inside this vault in your own way.

(Pause for five seconds )

Now close this vault door very slowly with your right hand until you hear a sharp metallic sound indicating that this door is closed and locked.

You realize that you find it easy to focus your mind on this course without being bothered by your worries since these worries are now locked away inside the vault.

Open your eyes when you are ready.

Step 28: Conduct A Belief Affirmation Activity

Let us do a belief affirmation activity so that you can imprint in your mind some positive belief statements that are supportive of your learning process. Let me describe this 5-part activity as follows:

First Part

You will stand up, and gently close your eyes.

Second Part

You will repeat after me this statement: I now command my beloved subconscious mind to absorb the following ten statements.

Third Part

I will tell you ten positive belief statements about yourself. For every positive belief statement that I tell you about yourself, you need to repeat to me the said statement using the following procedure:

1. State the word ‘Yes’

2. State my nickname

3. State the phrase ‘you are absolutely correct that...’

4. Repeat the positive belief statement.

Let me demonstrate to you an example:

I will state: More and more, my left and right brain lobes are in perfect balance.

And you will respond to me: Yes..._____________ ( State your nickname ) you are absolutely correct that... more and more, my left and right brain lobes are in perfect balance.

Fourth Part,

You will repeat after me this statement: My beloved subconscious mind, thank you very much for absorbing these ten statements.

Fifth Part

You will gently open your eyes, and sit down.

Conduct the 5-part activity.

[Note: Here are the ten positive belief statements that you need to state to your trainees:

More and more, my left and right brain lobes are in perfect balance.

More and more, my frontal brain lobes are most active.

More and more, my worries are gone.

More and more, I find it easy to follow my eight expectations.

More and more, I am willing to learn new knowledge.

More and more, I am ready to learn new knowledge.

More and more, I am willing to gain new skills

More and more, I am ready to gain new skills.

More and more, I find it easy to learn new knowledge.

More and more, I find it easy to gain new skills.]

Step 29: Express Your Confidence

I wish to express that I have complete confidence in your ability to gain new and valuable knowledge and skills in ________. (State the title of the course. )

Step 30: Make The Transition To The Next Module

Let us now focus on the next module on _____________. (State the next module number, and title)

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm not advising you to use the complete 30-step protocol in your next course. But, you can select the steps you believe will substantially improve the effectiveness of your opening module.

[Note: Please read my related post (Why The Opening Module Is The Most Important Part Of Your Training Course)].

The photo is courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net