Yesterday morning I got the call that all trainers and facilitators have, in some way, been preparing for their whole careers.

A good friend and colleague called at 7.30am to say he was ill…..too ill to facilitate a 4 hour workshop and would I be able to step in for him.

One of the things I instill in my “trainers in training” is that in this line of work, there is no such thing as a sickie. In fact, you need to be on your death bed before you will call in sick.

Andrew was not on his death bed by any stretch, however his vertigo meant that he couldn’t stand without falling down! Not a good look front of room!

So, I bravely took the brief, dressed and headed out. I rationalised my position in the following way….I really couldn’t lose! I knew I wouldn’t stuff it up, I’m too experienced for that, yet I also knew that the audience would probably be particularly generous, knowing I had stepped in at the last minute.

Truth is, that’s pretty much how it went. AND … I stuck to the basics…using my engagement formula up front

(Tx3) +K + (Ux3) + S = Group on side!

(If you don’t know what that formula means….sorry - you’ll need to come to my training *grin*. )

Then, I followed a simple facilitation process - small group discussions, self managed synthesis and then a plenary capture. I must say, however, they were impressed with my capture! Not too many graphics, but a fairly neat result. I was keeping it simple, remember.

Then a future pace wrap up……(what’s this? Again - see you at my training!)

A check in with the client at the end revealed we had met her outcomes. Job well done!

I think it is a true test of skill (sorry for blowing my own trumpet here). In some respects, it now seems easy to get a brief 3 weeks before an event, spend several days preparing and having things under control at the front of the room. I feel like all my training for the past 15 years, experiences, skills and intentions were put to the test. And by all reports, I passed!