The Best Things I learned in Training - Sticky Notes

In the training room how do you encourage participation from the group?

Over head questions - asking a question to the whole room and waiting for answers - are a key technique for getting participant response without spotlighting any particular person

And I've used it countless times. What I have found there are many places where this technique works brilliantly, but there are times where it can fall flat...

• Introverted groups

• When delivering training in a language other that the native language to the participants

• Groups with low levels of psychological safety

And that is where a little adaptation - and sticky notes come in handy

1. Distribute sticky notes to each table

2. Request each person to take a few notes for their self

3. Ask your overhead question and have the participants put their answers on a note while sitting at their table: Specifying one idea / answer per note

4. Give the group time to write their answers and;

5. Ask the group to place their notes on a flipchart / whiteboard

6. You lead the debrief by reading out the notes and inviting commentary from the group

Variation: At step 4, have the group discuss their answers on their tables before step 5 - helping them build their talk track / comfort around the topic