What is Cover all Basics?

Cover all Basics consists of three steps. If you follow all three steps correctly, you increase your participants' motivation and willingness to engage. You can also effectively prevent trainer testing.

Trainer Testing - Trainer Bashing

Sometimes participants aren't convinced of your expertise as a trainer and subtly or openly challenge you. This is known as trainer testing. A wrong reaction can turn trainer testing into trainer bashing. In the worst case, participants lose respect and all motivation.

When to Use Cover all Basics?

Cover all Basics is essential at the start of a seminar and should be included before each new section and exercise. It may also be necessary to apply it in between.

What to Consider with Cover all Basics?

With Cover all Basics, all participants should feel equally addressed. Trainers can achieve this through alternative phrasing, such as:

• Some ... and others ...
• Both ... and ...

Step 1: Engage and Appreciate Participants

It's important to meet participants where they are to prevent future disruptions. By appreciating participants, they should feel good and eager to participate.

Some may have already encountered the topic. [...]

Step 2: Anticipate Objections

Objections that participants might raise during the seminar should be addressed by the trainer in advance. Possible objections include:

• I already know/can do this!
• What does this topic have to do with xy?
• What benefit does this bring in the context of xy?

It's useful to identify potential objections during seminar planning and decide how and when to address them.

Step 3: Demonstrate Competence

To be recognized by the group, participants must be continually convinced of your competence. By frequently sharing experiences with the topics or subtly incorporating them, you prevent participants from doubting your suitability or expressing it directly (disruption!).