Virtual training preparation checklist

When it comes to virtual training preparation, who doesn’t love a list? There’s something incredibly satisfying about crossing things off it, or putting a nice neat tick next to it, if that’s more your thing.

A VTT team member recently shared with us that they purposefully put items on their to-do list that are really simple, so that they can get the pleasure of marking them as complete really quickly. It brings them a sense of achievement which motivates them further as their list shrinks easily.

When preparing to deliver a successful virtual training workshop, a checklist is incredibly useful to ensure nothing is forgotten.

Here’s our virtual training preparation checklist, which includes 5 items that are vital to excel as a virtual trainer:

5 items that should be on your virtual training preparation checklist

Here are the 5 key items that you should add to your checklist:

Prepare your participant pre-communications.
Create a coach pack.
Create a briefing document.
Check your equipment.
Bring your best self to the session.

Read on to explore each of these items in detail.

1. Prepare your participant pre-communications

It’s important that your participants are prepared for your virtual training session.

Do they know what the topic is and why they are attending it? Do the participants have clear instructions as to when the session(s) are and how they join? Are there any expectations you have of them, such as pre-reading or a short exercise, or that they need to have their cameras on?

Our coaches often record a short video for the participants to introduce themselves and share any information that would be helpful. Prepared participants makes for a better experience for the trainer too.

2. Create a coach pack

Do you have everything you need as a coach, trainer, or facilitator? We recommend creating a coach pack for you to keep everything you need. Think about including the following:

•   Dates & times
•   Platform & links
•   Slide deck for delivery
•   Documents to be shared with participants
•   Contact details of client
•   Participant list including job title, country & time zone
•   A feedback form/survey link
•   Briefing document (see next point)

3. Create a briefing document

Everything you need to know about your participants and the client so that you can position your training session perfectly. Who is the client and why do they need this training? Who are the participants and what do they want to get from the session? Is there anything you should know such as language barriers, cultural sensitivities, disabilities?

The more information you have available before your session, the more relevant you can make the content resulting in a better experience for your participants.

4. Check your equipment

Check your equipment works before every session. Just because your microphone worked yesterday doesn’t mean it will work today.

One of our coaches has a habit of spilling their drink over their desk, thankfully she has spare of everything so is able to replace keyboards, webcams, and even monitors nice and quickly.

If you are clumsy, I recommend you make your spillages at least 30 minutes before you are due to deliver!

5. Bring your best self to the session

What do you need to make your experience as a trainer a positive one?

Think about your environment, is it a positive place with plenty of light, is the room temperature ok? Have you slept ok and eaten well? Prepare a drink or two and ensure your mug isn’t one that could get you into trouble!

It’s easy to think we don’t have to prepare much now that we aren’t leaving the house to deliver classroom training, but we just need to prepare differently, not less.