Improve the quality of your seminar

Please take a few ideas from this sample list of Seminar Tips.

• Meeting rooms should be bright, chairs should be comfortable and distractions should be kept to a minimum. If the room has a view of the pool, curtains should be closed during the session and opened at breaks.

• Meetings on an outdoor porch or deck can provide an added spark in the audience's creative thinking and interaction.

• When providing several days of lecturing, consider varying locations. One outdoor session is recommended.

• Meetings should be kept cozy. Minimize the space between the speaker and the audience and keep aisles narrow, but in compliance to all local regulations.

• Review the subject(s) of the seminars and suggest a variety of room setups and dialog considerations that will improve delivery and encourage audience reaction.

• Creative formatting is essential. Try methods like Buzz Groups, Colloquium Teams, Debate, Fishbowl Discussions or Interview formats to encourage attendance, excitement, interaction and learning.

• Encourage the audience to speakup. Provide many openings for questions and discussions. Attendees often value the input of their peers more that of the expert. Encourage audience interaction and learning by providing question cards to the audience. Collect the suggestions during the event. Then, have the speaker answer the questions

• Meetings should be decentralized. When dealing with a large group, provide time for them to break into smaller groups. This encourages interaction and provides a more comfortable setting for shy attendees. The definition of large can start at groups of 30. Invoking role playing, case problem solving or a combination of each will add excitement and increase attendee learning.

• Meetings should avoid the use of tables, lecterns and podiums. Provide attendees lap boards to write on and permit the speaker to move around the audience. Keep the distance between speaker and attendees at a minimum and avoid barriers such as tables.

• Make sure that your speaker is active and animated. Avoid the talking head syndrome.

• Supply food for thought. During breaks serve fruit, yogurts and juices. Stay away from caffeinated beverages - this will keep your group alert longer.

• Wait until the end of the seminar to distribute handouts so attendees aren't tempted to read them during the sessions. This does not include handouts necessary for interaction.

• Develop your own style of handling meetings. Be willing to invoke change to instill heightened interest in the presentations that you provide throughout the series of lectures.

• Keep the door to your seminar room(s) closed until the last minute. This creates excitement from the attendees. It will also stir conversation and interest, and discourages them from pre-positioning themselves in the seat of their choice.