I was my in my car and ready to hit the road. As I fiddled around with the radio to find something to listen to, Led Zeppelin started singing to me through the speakers, and the lyrics couldn’t have been more perfect:
It’s been a long time, been a long time
Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Having been relegated to Zoom trainings during the pandemic, I couldn’t help but feel excited for something that once seemed so routine: commuting. As I eagerly envisioned what my return to in-person training might feel like, I unexpectedly felt a little bit nervous.
After building my Zoom facilitation chops over the previous months, I wondered if my in-person skills had become rusty. Would I be able to muster the energy and charm, the humor and the quick wit required to engage a classroom full of adult learners? It didn’t take me long to realize that facilitating live training is like riding a bicycle. You never really forget how to do it.
You may recall I wrote a piece about surviving an in-person workshop in the COVID era last August. In that article I offered several tips to ensure a safe, sanitized, and successful session. After my recent in-person workshop, I noted some similarities to my learnings from August, but I was also encouraged to find that our expectations and definition of “normal” had evolved.
What Was the Same?
COVID Rules – At the start of the session, I helped the group agree to respect everyone’s “COVID wishes” regarding social distancing and mask wearing.
COVID Protocols for Distancing and Eating – We had an outdoor barbecue for dinner. We still used a large ballroom to conduct the session for 16 people, which allowed people to be spread out during all of the exercises.
COVID Goodie Bags – Participants still liked getting the tools to keep them comfortable and safe.
What Was New?
COVID Bracelets – We gave attendees bracelets from Socialbandbands.com that signaled their comfort levels regarding COVID protocols. The bracelets were color coded and imprinted with the following messages:
Red: No Contact—6 Feet Apart—No Exceptions
Yellow: Elbows Only—Still Being Cautious
Green: Hi-Fives & Handshakes—Frequent Hand Washing
This new resource was very empowering to the participants and allowed them to communicate their position without being obtrusive. We also found that over the two-day workshop, some people felt more comfortable among this fully vaccinated group and changed their wristband colors.
Vaccinations Required – We discussed the client’s corporate policies for vaccinations well ahead of the session. Everyone had to be vaccinated and wait the mandatory two weeks from their last vaccine to attend the session. One person had to forgo attending since the timing didn’t work out. Knowing this provided much comfort not only to the attendees but also to me as their facilitator.
Masks Not Required – We didn’t require mask wearing, which made for a more interactive and relaxed atmosphere. It was easier to engage people in conversation and dialogue. Having an entirely vaccinated class made this possible.
At the end of the two days, everyone was appreciative of the learning experience and the opportunity to be together again. They also commented on how much they valued the way we managed the ever-changing landscape of COVID protocols in the classroom.
And on the car ride home, I quietly hummed to myself a James Brown classic, “I Feel Good.”
