When receiving content from a client, opening those files is a little bit like waiting for a magician to pull something out of their hat. You don’t know what it’s going to be, or how big, or how scary. All you know is you’re hoping it’s going to be a fluffy white rabbit that you can neaten up, train well and ride off into the sunset.
In truth, sometimes it’s a rabid rabbit.
There can be some pretty straight forward content that comes in one document, is already broken up into clear sections and it can just be a case of moving a couple of sections and making it sound ‘fun’.
What does the rabid rabbit of content look like?
- Multiple documents (including pages of policy!)
- Repetition
- Contradicting information
- Holes in the content
- Complex, overcrowded tables/diagrams/graphics
- Way more information than needed
Sometimes, things can get wild. Have you ever heard the saying – ‘you can’t polish a turd’? Well, sometimes it feels that way with content, whether it’s the state it’s currently in or the topic area.
Here’s the good news. When it comes to content… WE CAN POLISH A TURD!
It’s not always easy, but we do it, and we do it well – because we care.
Jokes aside, as long as you know what the key messages are, and we have the raw content, we can create something magical… no matter what it is!
Tips for delivering challenging and difficult content
Commit
Make sure you have a good understanding of the topic area and get your head around as much as you can in the time that you have. If you’re stressed for time, the chances are you haven’t budgeted enough or the client is providing too much content up front. Be sure to have a timeline in place and commit to having meetings with the project lead or even better – an SME.
Theme
Even if you understand the content, sometimes it can be drier than a bag of sand and at first, it might seem impossible to spruce it up. But it’s always possible and a good way to stir some creativity is through the theme. It might be that the company has a clear direction in terms of their theme and wants that to be carried over. But often, we can find an opportunity to step right outside the box and come up with an unrelated theme which ties in to create a learning experience to remember! Check with your client for expectations and budget, but don’t assume it’s just a case of ticking a box.
Interactivity
Content can seem overwhelming, but with some time and effort, there’s a way to break information up into sections and categories. This then gives us the opportunity to come up with interactive activities throughout the learning that challenges the learner to think. A simple drag and drop activity can even prompt the learner to organise content themselves. Don’t forget to think of creative and fun ways to incorporate these activities into the theme to create an unforgettable learning experience!
Rome wasn’t built in a day…
Like anything worthwhile, sometimes it can be a battle to turn content into something great. There are many ways that you can work with content to create something magical. And to our clients, it might look like we have a magic wand but in reality, it takes hard work and communication to ensure that your learning isn’t just about words, but about action, changes in behaviour and success in business.
Remember, DBLX are here for you and all of your content and digital training needs.
(No rabid rabbits, we promise).