Are you preparing to teach an audio conference training session? Delivering training to attendees via telephone communication is very different from teaching in a face-to face setting or via a webinar. When you are leading an audio conference, you must engage and educate the participants whether they are listening in on the live session or they’ll be utilizing a recording of the class at some point in the future. Because of the unique nature of this type of training, there are several tips that anyone who teaches audio conferences should keep in mind when developing training that will be delivered in this manner.
3 Audio Conference Facilitator Tips
1. Create and Use Comprehensive Training Materials
Prepare a comprehensive outline for the material that you will be covering during the audio conference. Send it to the people, who are participating in the training session, prior to the event so they can review it ahead of time if they desire and so they’ll be able to use it to take notes and jot down questions while you are speaking. Be sure to follow the outline while you are teaching so that the participants can follow along easily and so you can be certain to cover everything.
2. Practice Your Presentation
Practice ahead of time so you are comfortable with the material and are certain that you can finish within the time allotment. You may want to record your practice session so that you can identify any pronunciation challenges or other factors associated with your ability to clearly communicate the information via telephone. Remember that the participants won’t be able to see you, so your voice will play a significant role in how effective the audio conference seminar is likely to be.
3. Set the Ground Rules Early
At the beginning of the audio conference, clearly define the ground rules for the session. Explain how the call will progress so that the callers are comfortable and know what to expect. Let the participants know if you’ll accept questions throughout the event or if they should save their inquiries until the end of the session. Additionally, make sure that the trainees know how to turn the mute function on and off.
Setting the Stage for Success
By following these three tips, you’ll be on your way to creating and delivering effective audio conference training that will deliver results.
About the Author
Mary Gormandy White, M.A., SPHR is the Director of Training and Consulting Services for Mobile Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions, where she specializes in human resources, management, and public relations training and consulting. She teaches business training seminars in Mobile, AL and provides on-site corporate training and conference presentations throughout the U.S., as well as human resource management and public relations consulting services. She is also the author of and in the LifeTips book series.