2 Responses

1. Is it too simple to just ask them?
   One of the things I have found really useful is to start a session by asking groups to brainstorm everything they already know about a topic (be it Data Protection, Teamwork or other).

   What happens is that you get to find out who has alot of experience – and they in part start to teach those less experienced.

   Once you have spotted the inexperienced and the experienced, you can draw on that when asking questions, asking for anecdotes and so forth.

   You also have a clearer idea of where they are going right and where they need help and support.

   With letter writing, you could also get them in threes or pairs to critique a letter early on – this also helps find out what they know and don’t know.

   anyway, those are a few ideas that might help that I have found useful when working with a range of skills and experience.

   Emma

2. Legacy examples
   I can’t resist sharing an anecdote:

   In my very first job, I worked for a blanket manufacturer in the customer services department. One day I got a letter from a customer which said that they had received an order of 15 cartons of blankets “one of which was not visible from the outside”. Certainly my greatest ever business letter writing challenge was to frame a response to this that would (a) elicit a comprehensible response and (b) not offend my client by sounding as if I thought he was thick! Note: company policy stated that letters had to be answered in writing, so I couldn’t even phone…

   Anyhoo – back to your question. You might try asking them to bring in some examples – the worst they’ve ever read, the best they’ve ever read, the worst/best they’ve ever written, or a case study of the most challenging letter they’ve ever had to write, getting the delegates to work in small groups to come up with a collaborated suggestion.