How many slides do you have?

How many slides do you have? That's a common question in the office environment. After spending more than a decade away from official training and development roles, I'm back where I started, now developing training programs. Today, I want to share my ideology in training program development. But before we dive into that, let's address the slide count.

Determining Slide Count

When asked about the number of slides, my response varies. For a 3-hour session (excluding break time), I typically have around 30 slides. For a 6-hour session (excluding 2 break times and a 1-hour lunch break), it's closer to 50 slides. This allows for an average of 5 to 7 minutes per slide, a rule of thumb, is not set in stone.

Effectiveness Beyond Slides

However, the true effectiveness of a training program isn't measured by slide count alone. It depends on the effort participants put into extracting knowledge from the trainer, conductor, coach, and learning catalysts. I firmly believe in the 80/20 principle, with 80% of the success stemming from participants and 20% from the trainer. This is just a guide based on Pareto Optimum, and I welcome different opinions.

The shift in Training Paradigm

Looking back 30 years ago, before the internet era, training effectiveness leaned heavily toward the trainer, with participants contributing only 20%. Trainers were considered highly knowledgeable and experienced. Maybe you have a different opinion, please do share it with me. But times have changed.

Information Abundance and Training

Today, information is everywhere! Countless online platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram offer tons of knowledge. If you're hungry for information, you can easily search for it online or ask around. Attending training programs isn't the sole means of learning anymore. So, why still attend?

Training for Connections and Collaboration

While online resources are readily available, training programs offer something invaluable—building your social network. They connect you with like-minded individuals and expose you to diverse viewpoints. You may seek quick answers from people who share your situation and can't find them online. However, it's important to remember that trainers aren't there to spoon-feed information and solutions.

My Verdict

Personally, I'm passionate about social media marketing. The fusion of creativity and technology in this field fascinates me. Drawing from my 5 years of experience, I've developed a comprehensive program with three different levels. Whether this program will be a great success, no one knows for sure. However, I am confident that the number of slides in the program is not the most important factor.

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do ~ Steve Jobs"