Dr Jason Cressey writes...
I have been teaching in one form or another for more than 15 years, specialising in individual and small group work as well as lectures to hundreds. In this time, I have learned a great deal about learning!
Remembering my own university days, I always vowed that I would never inflict on an audience the kind of dull, dry delivery that I often encountered in lectures! The key to success in any workshop or coaching is effective communication. The building blocks to such communication form the basis of all the Motivation In Mind presentations and coaching:
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Relevant, current research from a variety of fields, delivered in a way that is both easy to digest and valuable to apply.
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An interactive approach. A presenter or coach is only as good as the feedback he or she can offer when questioned or challenged. Questions are invited - indeed, they're encouraged...Motivation In Mind workshops and coaching are certainly not lectures or monologues!
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A natural, fluid attitude. While structure is important, the Motivation In Mind approach (to a group of several hundred or just one person) is that the audience should call the shots. If a topic or issue emerges which needs extra time for questions or exploring ideas and strategies, the most valuable contribution that any workshop can make is to stay with and deal with the issue - not to rush ahead, dictated by an agenda.
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Humour and a selection of relevant anecdotes. A very important component of any presentation is that the audience remain interested, and can relate to the presenter. Life skills of the kind presented in these workshops and coaching sessions are very valuable, but not always easy to immediately understand or implement. Learning to accept minor setbacks with grace, even humour, is much easier when you hear some amusing stories from a presenter who, by virtue of being human, has made his fair share of mistakes!
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Private time and space. Every workshop raises questions and thoughts in the audience, though sometimes the issues raised may be personal ones that an audience member may not feel comfortable discussing in front of others. In all cases, the Motivation In Mind workshops allow time for personal discussion and reflection during breaks in the program. In the case of personal coaching, the entire exercise is devoted to personal feedback and individual growth.