​The Most Important Thing I Learned from a Dandruff Commercial

In the 1990s, Head and Shoulders Dandruff Shampoo’s motto was

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

For trainers and presenters, these words of wisdom remind us of the importance of what our audience experiences as they enter the room. 
 
Picture your last training event. What did participants see, hear and feel as they arrived? What tone was set before they ever met you? These first moments are powerful and can set you up for a more successful session.  
 
My proactive “dandruff shampoo” list includes the following five prep steps:

1. Bright signs leading into the room.
2. A rotating slideshow with a title slide and trivia questions about the topic.
3. Instrumental music playing through the sound system.
4. Interactive items such as sticky notes, dots and arrows on each table.
5. Colored signs on the walls (QR Codes, Content Stations, ABCD, ? Parking Lot.)

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What would you add to this list? 
 
For more ideas on designing and implementing an effective adult learning environment, check out my book Caffeinated Learning. 
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