How to Run Seminars and Workshops, 4th Edition

Chapter 8Thirty Tips on Maintaining Interest

One of the hottest issues in training involves the topic of this chapter. How do you maintain interest? Whether your program is 10 minutes, 10 hours, or 10 days, the reality most presenters face is that a great deal of their success or failure will most likely be judged by how well they keep their trainees interested. Through my years in the pit, I have tried many creative, and sometimes bizarre, ideas to maintain interest throughout my presentations. Over the years, I have developed a fascination with this topic.

Do not forget the intended message behind this topic—maintaining interest. It is my hope that two key points have already stuck from your readings thus far. First, no presenter is immediately interesting when he or she appears in front of a seminar for the first time. Oh yes, I must admit that I have walked into new classes that have neither seen nor heard of me and have been greeted by thunderous applause. Unfortunately, that is about the exact moment the alarm clock goes off and it is time to start a new day. The art of creating interest is employed gradually and, at least early on, subtly. The second point from the preceding chapters is that the UPPOPPR overview is designed to initiate interest, not sustain it. My hopes are that once a group is properly prepared for a topic using the overview, the ideas in this chapter will keep the momentum going in your favor.

I think it is only fair to warn you that maintaining interest ...