Editor’s note: This blog post was originally published in April 2018 and was updated in 2022 to incorporate the latest training giveaways and trends.
More than 70 percent of Canadians would like their employers to provide more training to help them reskill, upskill or ready themselves for a promotion.
Show your team that your company prioritizes their desire to learn and make training fun with meaningful learning opportunities coupled with training giveaways and games.
Make presentations fun and memorable
A successful presentation that is both fun and interesting relies on audience engagement. So, the focus of the presentation should be on the audience, not the presenter.
Change the focus of a presentation with a surefire way to get everyone involved: games. Using training giveaways as a participation incentive will increase employee engagement. Once the fun begins, everyone will forget that they’re learning. Try one of these ideas for incorporating games into any learning presentation.
Scavenger hunt
Begin your presentation by handing out lists of words or ideas that will appear in your presentation. Ask the audience to note when they hear each word or phrase on the list. For example, a safety training may include phrases such as “bend at the knees” and “watch for wet floors.” When listeners hear or see these phrases, they can make a note, tallying up their total at the end. Keep them on their toes by including a few trick answers that don’t actually appear in the presentation.
Scavenger hunts are not only engaging; they also help employees retain what they are learning. You can add a team-building aspect by dividing the audience into groups. At the end of the game, the team with the most correct answers receives a training gift. Tech products, such as power banks or phone stands that can be used at home or the office, are popular choices. The Bolt Power Bank is a charger in a pinch, making it useful if the power is out. The Cell Phone Cradle keeps devices at the perfect angle for propping up on a smartphone.
Rely on the classics
Two truths and a lie is a classic ice-breaker. In the game, participants say two things about themselves that are true and one that is a lie. The other players have to guess which statement isn’t true. Turn this into an engaging presentation game by providing two truths and a lie about the content being taught. Set a timer to ring every 10 minutes during your presentation. When the buzzer rings, ask participants to guess the lie. The presented truths and lie can be related to the material taught in the previous 10 minutes.
Like the scavenger hunt, two truths and a lie is a fun way to ensure that participants stay engaged throughout the presentation. It can also give them something to look forward to, as they know every 10 minutes—or whatever interval you choose—there will be a fun break.
You can motivate listeners to participate by entering them into a prize draw for training giveaways. Choose a prize that can be used outside of the office, such as the 4 Person Rolling Picnic Set. This kit comes with a large cooler, service ware for four, a wine cooler and salt and pepper shakers. Your training will be fondly remembered at every picnic. Another exciting giveaway option is the Refresh 28-Can Large Cooler. Use this to unwind in the backyard after a long day or take on the go to relax anywhere.
A twist on trivia
Everyone loves a good game of trivia! Keep all eyes on the trainer by including interesting trivia questions during the presentation. The questions can be related to your learning material or be random facts. Either way, be sure to choose a theme, such as movies, music, sports, food or more. You could even come with options for several themes and ask the audience which one they would most enjoy. Just make sure you wait until the end of the presentation to reveal the answers.
Hand out journals and pens that can be used to write down trivia answers. The Lodge Notebook Combo includes an 80-page notebook and a sleek pen. Thanks to the stylish design and business card slot, recipients will want to use this notebook long after your presentation is over. With a pen, bookmark and notepad, the Inspired Notebook with Pen is another practical training gift. The journal has faux-leather covers that protect it from wear and tear.
Become everyone’s favorite presenter with training games and giveaways
These games, along with training giveaways, will make any presentation more enjoyable. Not only will participants be more engaged, but they will also look forward to any future opportunities to participate in your learning sessions. Let the games begin!