Using a virtual environment for leadership and corporate sales training has a proven success rate, but some still question whether it adequately communicates the necessary leadership qualities. Making sure communication, trust, and management skills are properly taught is necessary to achieve success. If you think your company is ready to take negotiation training into a virtual environment, we have some tips and ideas to ensure you accomplish your goals:
Give information in chunks.
When a person opens a website or a training page that is stuffed with text, they are immediately intimidated. Even if the text is simple and refers to interesting concepts, the sheer volume of words on one page can discourage people. By presenting the information in smaller portions, a few topics per page, with slightly larger font and more white space, it makes readers more receptive.
Use images correctly.
Images are great for drawing the viewer’s attention and emphasizing a point. Too many images, however, cause a page to look crowded and make it difficult for the reader to not become distracted. When inserting images into a training document or slideshow, make certain they are tasteful and relevant instead of random images that only serve the purpose of breaking up text.
Make sure the speaker’s voice is audible.
One of the most insufferable parts of an online class or online training session is when the teacher or instructors voice is too hard to hear. It’s audible when all is quiet and still, but the slightest noise can cause you to miss an important piece of information. Often, the problem is not due to any sort of technological glitch but rather the volume of the speaker’s voice.
When this is the case, the simplicity of fixing the problem and the fact that it hasn’t been corrected are a mark against a company. It is important to ensure when conducting or preparing negotiation training that all technical volume issues are worked out and the speaker is projecting at an appropriate volume.
Ensure the speaker is understandable.
If the instructor giving the training has a hard to understand accent or speaks quickly or with any type of speech impediment, it causes numerous problems with negotiation training. As with volume control, making sure the audience can hear and understand what they are being told is imperative to successful virtual training. Clarity is one of the more important aspects of negotiation training.
The instructor should be an effective speaker.
Being an effective speaker and communicator is more than proper enunciation and speaking volume. It involves communicating a sense of authority and assurance to the audience. By lowering the pitch of his or her voice, a speaker impresses upon the listeners a sense of power and trustworthiness. Similarly, modulating the tone and pitch of one’s voice leads to a more engaging presentation.
By following these tips and being aware of feedback from audiences, your company will greatly improve the efficiency of its virtual negotiations training sessions.
