I was talking with one of my training clients the other day and she commented about how she was trying to send me a file but could not because her mailbox was too full. I realized after her comment that the cluttered inbox is a serious problem we face in each class as trainers. In training we impart people knowledge or skills that they clients use. The class participants cannot receive what we are giving until we breakthrough and remove the clutter of their inbox. It is imperative that this breakthrough happen from the start.

There are many great ways to open a class. One of the more effective methods of getting people to clear the inbox is to have a controlled meet and greet. My favorite meet and greet which relates to any course topic comes from the Bob Pike Group. It is called the Four Corners Name Tent. The participants take a piece of paper and fold it in three. In the middle of one of the sections they write their name. They then answer four questions that you have predetermined. Two of them are general introductory questions and then two of them relate more directly to the content of the class or their personal goals for the class. After writing the answers down on each corner they then get up and move around the room seeing what the other participants have written.

This gets people involved immediately in the learning process and builds familiarity among each participant. The two relatable questions also get people planning on what they can get out of the class. This searching is vital to get the inbox cleared out. Once the inbox is cleared out the person will be in a position to receive the knowledge and skills that are being taught that day. This excellent opening will help each of us as trainers make the a difference to our clients. By using this opening or a variation of it we are more effective at what we do making us masters of our craft.