Planning Your First Staff Training Session

  • Meeting Structure: How exactly do you intend to run your first staff training session? Consider the following:
    • Duration: How long will the meeting be?
    • Morale: How will you boost the morale of the participants?
    • Engagement: How can you encourage your staff to fully engage in the meeting?

A Proven Meeting Format

After holding somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 staff meetings over the years, I’ve found a format that works effectively for staff-training sessions:

1. Prior to the Meeting

  • Spend 10 to 30 minutes preparing for the meeting. This preparation time is crucial for ensuring that the meeting is focused and productive.

2. The General Meeting

  • Performance Review (10 minutes): Start with a brief performance review, focusing on the positive aspects. Allow staff members to share what went right during the previous night or week. This is also the time to get updates on any small projects the staff is working on.
  • Staff Training (10 minutes): Conduct training on a specific subject, followed by a Q&A session or feedback. This segment is essential for skill development and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
  • Daily Review: Go over what’s happening that night in classes, in the office, and behind the scenes. This ensures everyone is aware of their responsibilities and the overall plan for the evening.

3. After the General Meeting

  • Instructor Review (5 to 7 minutes): Meet with instructors to discuss their plans for running Level 10 classes that evening. Then, bring in the sales staff for a person-by-person review of pending sales.
  • Private Guidance: Any staff members who need additional guidance or help can meet with you privately. This allows for personalized support and ensures that any issues are addressed immediately.

Enhancing Your Meeting Skills

This is just one example of how to conduct an effective staff training session. The topic is broad enough to warrant an entire report or book, and indeed, there are plenty of books and training materials available on how to conduct excellent meetings and staff training sessions.

The question is, how many of these resources are currently in your library? How many have you studied? If the answer is “none” or “few,” then your next course of action is clear.

Within the next 7 days, make it your mission to absorb at least two books or video training sessions on the subject of conducting excellent training sessions and meetings. 

This investment in your skills will pay dividends in the effectiveness of your staff meetings.