Agree the outcome before designing the session

Bring together the workshop objective, expected outcome, audience, group size, proposed date and sponsor. Record the budget if it is known, or mark it 'to be agreed'. This gives the consultant a basis for questions and a working scope.

A draft scope is not an accepted engagement. Confirm the deliverables, price and timing through the people authorised to make those decisions.

Use anonymous pre-work to plan exercises

Where participants have supplied appropriately anonymous responses, group relevant themes against the agreed objective and note questions for the facilitator. Leave out names, identifiable examples, sensitive details and client secrets.

A small or unsuitable set of responses may not support meaningful grouping. In that case, show the limitation and let the trainer decide what further input is useful rather than presenting a confident pattern.

Review evaluations, course completion and extra requests

An evaluation summary should identify the number of responses, the questions and scales used, and the limits of the evidence. Keep the observed results separate from a trainer's interpretation, and do not expose comments that could identify a participant.

A course completion report is a different record: check that completion tracking was enabled and the correct course, criteria and date are represented. If a client later asks for an extra deliverable, compare it with the agreed scope before estimating the change.

Work you can get help with

Illustrative scenario using sample information.

Clarify a workshop brief

Organise a client's request around the outcome, audience, timing and budget so the consultant can identify what still needs a decision.

What you provide
Workshop objective and expected outcome, audience and size, date, budget status and sponsor role.
The useful result
A brief with confirmed details, open questions and a working scope for review.
When the task is complete
The authorised people have confirmed the scope, price and timing, or the unresolved points remain explicitly open.
What still needs checking
The draft does not commit the consultant to a price, date or deliverable.

Turn anonymous pre-work into exercise ideas

Group suitable anonymous responses against the agreed workshop goal and prepare questions for the facilitator.

What you provide
Agreed objective, appropriately anonymous responses, response count and exercise constraints.
The useful result
Relevant themes, possible exercise topics and questions that need a trainer's judgment.
When the task is complete
The facilitator has reviewed the themes and chosen the exercise material, or recorded that more suitable input is needed.
What still needs checking
Do not use identifying or confidential responses, or infer a pattern from an inadequate set.

Prepare an evaluation summary

Organise non-identifying responses under the agreed questions and scales, with the response count and any limitations.

What you provide
Anonymous evaluation responses, questions, scales, response count, training objective and intended recipient.
The useful result
A draft summary of counts or aggregates, with limitations separated from interpretation.
When the task is complete
The trainer has checked the calculations and suitability for the authorised recipient before deciding whether to share it.
What still needs checking
A small or identifiable set of responses may be unsuitable for sharing or drawing conclusions.

Check a course completion report

Compare the available completion record with the correct course, date and stated completion criteria.

What you provide
Course identifier, completion criteria, tracking status, completion records and authorised sponsor.
The useful result
A report draft showing the available completion statuses and dates, or the reason they cannot be confirmed.
When the task is complete
The provider has confirmed tracking and the underlying records, and the authorised recipient and sharing decision are established.
What still needs checking
Do not mark someone complete from informal information or share the report with an unauthorised recipient.

Frame a request for extra consulting work

Set a new request against the agreed deliverables and exclusions, then prepare the proposed effect on price and timing.

What you provide
Client request, agreed scope, pricing basis, schedule impact and authorised decision-maker.
The useful result
A change record and a draft proposal for review.
When the task is complete
The authorised parties have agreed the change or the additional work remains on hold.
What still needs checking
An unclear or disputed scope needs a person to resolve it before work begins.

Questions you may have

Can I use named participant responses?

Use responses suitable for the agreed workshop purpose. In a small group, even unnamed comments can identify someone, so leave out sensitive details and client secrets before sharing a summary.

Is a completion report the same as an evaluation report?

No. Completion records show a learner's status against course criteria, while evaluations reflect responses to questions about the training. Check and present each for its intended purpose.

What if a client wants another deliverable midway through a project?

Compare the request with the agreed scope and prepare a proposed effect on cost and timing. The authorised parties decide whether to change the engagement.

Can I try this with our training records?

The demo uses sample company data. Ask whether the records and the preparation workflow you need can be used before bringing in live material.

Sources and further reading

Related reading

The demo uses sample company data. Access may need to be arranged.

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