The end of your presentation is one of the most important moments in training because participants usually remember what you said last and it’s the way you create the closing that defines their future attitude. Nervously smiling and stating, “Well, that’s it” will turn out to be a mistake and a missed opportunity to reinforce the key message of your training.
Therefore, try using one of the following techniques:
1. Ball Learning Toss
At the end of the session, bring out a toy ball that will be tossed from one participant to the other. The participants should be seated, and as they receive the toy ball, they should share one or more things they have learned during the training.
2. Future Steps
Ask each participant to commit to one action that he/she will implement immediately, that reflects the essence of the training. For example, after a training on Time Management, one of the participants may want to commit to acquiring an agenda and setting daily priorities.
3. Q&A the Expert
Before the training begins, ask the participants to write down a question that he/she would like to be answered through this training. At the end, mix the questions around and make participants answer each other’s questions.
4. Quiz Competition
Divide the participants in teams. Create prior the training a crossword puzzle that contains key messages and main ideas of the training you are about to deliver. Provide one copy to each team and award the team that finishes first.
5. Future Me
Give participants a paper to write a letter. Each participant must write at least one objective they want to achieve in the month to come, along with their full name and email address. The trainer will gather these letters and email them to the participants after a month to see if they have achieved their goal.
6. Group Mural
Tape to a wall approximately four flipcharts, depending on how many participants you have for the training. At the end of the training, ask everyone to draw one element they have learned during the course of the presentation. Ask participants to interpret each other’s drawing.
7. Star Shine
At the end of the activities, ask each member of the team to mention one “star moment” they saw in another member. A “star moment” is referred to as a talent, gift or contribution a participant had towards the group. Make sure every member of the team gets a star moment. The trainer may suggest some star shines he/she has observed during the training.
8. Thank you
In order for the participants to understand that learning is a complex process that may come through different sources, ask the participants to thank someone else in the group, except the trainer. One may thank another if one has helped him/her understand an aspect better, or through his/her questions and comment has given more insight into an issue. One may just say “Thank you!” and the answer should be a simple, “You’re welcome!”