Are you new to designing corporate training? If so, there are common complaints from workshop and conference participants that you need to consider in your design.

Book Time Off For Training

A common complaint is that training participants feel that they can not focus on the training because of distractions such as the phone ringing, other people interrupting with questions or concerns, or simply no one there to cover while they are in a training session. Participants suggest solutions such as arranging training off site or at least in a location that is far removed from their regular location so that they are out of site and won’t be interrupted.

Feed Us and Feed Us Well

If you are planning a training event that is a full day or more, you will need to think about training event catering. Feeding participants well will have a huge impact on how they feel about the training. Remember that food is fuel and for them to learn, their brain needs good fuel. Consider dietary restrictions and lifestyles when making meal and snack choices. If possible, arrange for more that you’ll need of things like beverages in cans or bottles – what you don’t use can be credited back to your catering bill. The most common complaints are not enough variety and not enough food i.e. the food ran out. Avoid the variety complaint by offering more of a buffet or, if budget allows, a build your own omelette, salad, sandwich or pasta dish and have a chef there to cook it fresh.

Give Us a Room to Breathe

Training room layout is a critical component to the learning environment. Proper lighting, temperature and the comfort of chairs are paramount to a general comfort level conducive to learning. Arrange the tables and chairs to allow for as much personal space per participant as possible. Over crowding can turn a great session into a stressful one as participants struggle for the space they need.

Make the Content Relevant

There is nothing that creates more frustration that putting busy people in a room and offering them training that doesn’t meet their needs, does not have a practical application or is out of date with the changes in the industry. Participants will vote with their feet and leave early or not show up for day two. They will also be vocal about their dissatisfaction and cause others to boycott the training. The bottom line is – know your audience. Make sure that you know exactly where the training gap is and how to fill it with practicality. Remember that these are people wanting solutions to problems in the work place. They want to take their training and apply it on the job immediately.

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