Great Smart Boards, Go Green for 2011

Whether you are a solo entrepreneur, manager or educator in a global corporation or non-profit agency, interactive whiteboards are on the rise. If you've got whiteboards in your facility, but they are gathering dust…now is the time to make friends.

Interactive whiteboards are popular purchases. Facilities managers, training directors and HR managers know that interactive meetings are the quick and easy way to 'stay smart and go green.'

But there are a few obstacles in the way. Here's the snapshot of why your cool boards may be going unused.

1. Presentation Anxiety
Most people are nervous about presenting. But, now they need to present and show up in front of a group–at a whiteboard. The nervousness just escalated to terror.

2. Poor Penmanship
Most professionals have illegible writing. In addition to presentation jitters, presenters need to write on a board. Let's face it. Most people have not worked on penmanship since grammar school. And that was a long time ago!

Many smart, well-educated people have difficulty writing well with a marker or stylus.

3. Lack of Training in Visual Impact
Most professionals do not have training in visual frameworks and graphic organizers. The whiteboard technology enables drawing and writing–but people don't have the basics of how to organize verbal meetings into visual-and-verbal notes.

If you have whiteboards in your conference rooms that are gathering dust, it's time to rethink your strategy.

These 3-obstacles can be easily overcome, with targeted expert training. Your organization has made a substantial investment in providing the right technology. Now, it's time to provide the training to increase comfort and confidence using the tools.

What's the fastest way to get the training you need?
The answer is easy!

Look for training that is fast, fun and convenient. Options include:

Webinars
Look for targeted training in professional skills. This includes webinars on visual storytelling, whiteboard skills and professional presentation skills. Check out the listing of webinars to find the best starting place for you and your team.

Onsite Bootcamps
Consider hosting an onsite bootcamp for your team of professionals. This is one of the quickest ways to encourage diverse teams within your organization to use interactive whiteboards. Focus on groups who have frequent meetings, as well as those who give presentations for clients and prospects.

Public Bootcamps
If you are part of a small training team or don't want to wait for the organizational wheels to turn, join a public presentation training in San Francisco. You'll work in a small group with people from diverse agencies and organizations. This is a great way to take charge of your skills and grow your career.

Expert Coaching
Can't wait? Get expert coaching on presenting your ideas with whiteboard stories. Find out how to structure your message, attract attention, connect with your audience and guide to action. Working with an expert presentation coach, you'll get the personal attention you deserve.

More and more organizations opt for training that combines onsite instruction with virtual follow-up. This kind of blended approach helps professionals quickly get up to speed and provides a safety net for further learning and development.

Whether you choose webinars, bootcamps or coaching, you won't have to watch your whiteboards gather dust! Get the training you need and get in the driver's seat with smart skills to go green in 2011.