Face to face workshop vs webinar
08 November 2023
‘What do you think about live webinars?
You could argue that these are the same reactions every other innovation has received, since the days workshops were delivered by a presenter armed with a flipchart – plus for the tec savvy an overhead and maybe a video featuring John Cleese’Innovations such as projectors, computer simulation, gamification, blended learning were arguably all met with the same reactions. So is a live webinar any different.
My view is definitely yes, for the simple reason that a live webinar is not a new learning aid that enhances a facilitator led workshop such as simulation or gamification.
A live webinar is a facilitator led workshop. Yes its delivered online, but thanks to the technical advances of ‘Zoom’ and ‘Teams’ most learning activities are easily integrated
So, which is the best option?
The answer is neither, it is about choosing the option that best meets the needs of the participants and clients.
I know many presenters, including colleagues, who will argue that the engagement, motivation and excitement that can be generated in a face to face workshop cannot be replicated online. Maybe they are right, but a live webinar, professionally structured and led by a facilitator with the right skills is a powerful learning experience.
Preparing to launch our Skill Accelerator brand I spend a lot of time attending webinars that covered a wide range of topics. What impressed me most was the breadth and diversity of subjects covered and it was clear that webinars work. Although I am not sure I will be developing my basic ‘coding’ skills!
What became clear is that to make a webinar a great learning experience certain things have to be right:
Participants: most training companies will run programmes with 6-12 people dependent of the complexity of the programme. A live webinar is not an excuse to increase that number to 30 plus just because it is online. It is fine for a presentation but not for a training webinar.
Facilitator: if the facilitator approaches a webinar in the same way as a face to face event, ensuring engagement, asking questions checking learning, adding humour – then it works. However, the facilitator must understand the software.
Delays because the facilitator cannot set up a break out room become frustrating
Live: the best webinars are led by a facilitator with the skills to deliver them. I found pre-recorded events soulless and much more aligned with eLearning. Recording a webinar so people can catch up or revisit content is great, but it does not compare with a live event
Timing: a one: two hour webinar with engaged participants will fly by. Keeping 30 plus people engaged in an online event for a full day is an impossible task. Plus, you lose ‘Manageability’ one of the key benefits a webinar should offer w
In creating the Skill-Accelerator brand of live webinars I integrated these things into what is now a suite of Sales Leadership, Sales Management, Account Management and Sales Skills webinars. A suite that can be used to address a specific training need or as a complete sales development curriculum. They offer some significant benefits
- Live: each webinar is live and managed by a skilled facilitator to ensure engagement
- Manageable: skill accelerator programmes feature between one and five webinars. Each webinar is two hours so they can easily be integrated inti the working day
- Personal: a maximum of 12 participants means the facilitator can engage properly with everyone
- Coaching: an integrated coaching webinar ensures each participant has the opportunity to discuss implementing the programme.
- Recorded: participants have the opportunity to revisit content and if they do miss a session they can easily catch up
Add to this project work, networking personal notes and a superb suite of take-away sales aids to support people in their personal roles.
So, which is better face to face workshop or online webinar?
The answer is neither, there is a place for both.
There will always be a need for face to face workshops, but online training is here to stay. The challenge is to get it right!
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about Skill-Accelerator demos join us to experience a free j module from:
Managing the Sales Team
A programme designed for first and second line managers responsible for leading sales teams.
Consultative Selling
Designed for sales people who want to be seen as business partners by their customers.
Join us for either, or both, of these events to see how Skill Accelerator webinars could benefit your business. Once you have booked a place you will receive a programme guide and all of the programme materials that support these modules.
