Yesterday, we talked about cake mixes and how by giving others the opportunity to personalize something off-the-shelf and make it their own, they are more likely to be convinced of its greatness.

How can you get those you work with, up and down the career ladder, to put their own touches on the finished product?

One way to create a personalized training class is to think of presenting something similar to a set menu you would see at a restaurant.  Pick one item from the appetizers section, one item from the main course offerings, two sides dishes and one of the dessert options. Of course all of the menu items are great but you get to personally put together your own perfect meal when you get to pick exactly what’s best for you. Here is an example of a menu you could present:

Of course this is completely flexible and you can choose from many more options in each section but this should give you some ideas. Like any balanced meal, you also wouldn’t want your training class to consist of 5 desserts and no main course so encourage selections from each area.

When it comes the images and illustrations in your training content, this is one of the easiest places to let others add their own touches, or even as a way for you as a safety trainer to use off the shelf materials and customize them for your needs If you buy prepared presentations, make sure you can edit them. Nothing will turn off a trainee faster than showing them something that doesn’t apply to their particular situation. (See the earlier post on “Real World training” for more information). Location names, photos, images, procedures and anything else specific to your place of work should be included and not just generic versions of those items. If you absolutely must use slides you cannot edit, consider adding a few customized slides to the beginning and end. (Kind of like being given the cake and using your skills and materials to customize it). If you must show an off-the-shelf video, stop the video at key points and either show corresponding slides specific to your workplace that help the trainees to make the connection with what they are seeing on the video to what actually occurs in their day to day job or open a discussion about what they just saw and how it applies to them.

Do you use off the shelf training materials? If so, how to you make them your own?