Live and One-on-One interaction with the participants is what a trainer or a coach loves.
Ice-breaking activities, participants lively engagements, observing their facial expressions, their body language or the inquisitiveness of the learners are things that are underplayed in a virtual session.
In person sessions also have another advantage vis-a-vis the online breakout rooms. When we take a coffee break in between the sessions, we get to interact and network with other participants. Friendship, rapport building and professional bonds are created; overall the general mood and motivation is very good.
We often hear these days that virtual sessions are very effective. This is true. In fact, the potential of virtual interaction was never realised in the past. Deals are clinched, meetings are conducted efficiently and training sessions are completed successfully at the comfort of each other’s offices or even WFH- work from home.
However, it must be kept in mind that virtual interaction was a wise alternative that was forced upon people and businesses during COVID-19. The fact that it superseded everyone’s expectation is another matter.
Specifically in the case of training, the reality bucks the trend. Trainers and participants are overjoyed to return to in-person sessions even though maintaining the necessary protocols of wearing mask and maintaining safe distance of five feet apart, because of the perceived reduction in the severity of the pandemic.
Training activities that were postponed and work life balance which went for a toss due to lockdown and WFH- work from home are expected to be revived as business in general is gearing up to regular office work with small and steady steps of initially calling 50% employees to offices.
It will be some time before we are back to normal. However, with the pandemic showing a falling trend, it appears that, we will be back to our interactive and lively sessions again.
Though I am abreast with the New Normal of Online Sessions on Zoom but I am eagerly waiting for the day when we can have fun during training activities, laugh along with the participants and pose for a vibrant ‘Thank You’ photograph taken at the end of the Session.
