How to Captivate Learners with Your Opening Lines - cont'd

Before you write your opening you have to consider the purpose of your training, in this case Karl’s problem is that his audience gets bored when he’s presenting financials.  So, you’ll determine first:

• The problem that the Modlette helps solve for your idea learner; in this case, Karl’s problem is that his audience gets bored when he presents financials.
• The happy destination that aligns with your learners’ wishes; in this case, Vickie can promise Karl that he’ll learn how to engage and entertain his listeners . . . even with financial information.

After defining the problem and the happy destination, Vickie has written a new opening:

We’ve all been there. You’ve worked hours over your presentation.

You’ve carefully selected the highlights of the annual report.  You’ve kept your slides simple.

But when presenting your colleagues look bored.  One is even yawning.

You are so frustrated.  And you can’t help wondering how the hell you can engage an audience of line managers with a financial presentation.  How can you engage them?  And get them to understand the impact of their actions?

You are starting to think it’s impossible. But it doesn’t have to be so difficult.  Use these tips and you will be the star presenter of financial results.

Let’s Analyse Vickie’s Opening

• The first sentence is short and makes Karl wonder, where have we all been?

Karl reads on because he wants to know where we’ve all been.  The sentence has aroused curiosity.  The first sentence is an invitation for learners to start the Modlette, it’s like opening the door and inviting the learner into your home.

• Vickie has written the second paragraph by thinking of Karl, her ideal learner, and picturing him preparing his presentation.  You’ve worked hours over your presentation.  You’ve carefully selected the highlights of the annual report.  You’ve kept your slides simple.

Karl recognises this scene that Vickie has sketched.  He always works for hours to try and perfect his presentations and does his best to create simple slides.

• In the third and fourth paragraphs, Vickie empthysis with Karl.  She shows that she understands his frustrations about boring his colleagues and his doubts about whether he’ll ever be able to engage his audiences:  But when presenting, your colleagues look bored.  One is even yawning.

You are so frustrated.  And you can’t help wondering how the hell you can engage an audience of line managers with a financial presentation.  How can you engage them?  And get them to understand the impact of their actions?

You are starting to think it’s impossible, Karl recognises this description of his struggle with engaging audiences.  This is gold.  He feels understood, and that’s why he continues the Modlette.

• In the last paragraph of the opening, Vickie promises Karl that she can teach him how to engage his audience . . . this is the happy destination.

But it doesn’t have to be so difficult, next week I’ll share with you the seven tips you can follow to captivate your audience. .. even if they are not really interested in finance. Earlier articles about writing for eLearning can be found