FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHY 3 DAYS? 

We realize that 3 days seems like a long seminar. We have learned, after 25 years of experience, that 3 days is the amount of
time needed to guarantee the kind of return on investment our clients demand. It’s important to note that we are changing lifetime habits. Competitors will tell you they can do it in 2 days. Don’t believe it. They are caving in to the client’s wishes for a shorter session. We won’t. If you want to see demonstrable transformation in their ability to prepare, deliver and get the results you want from meetings, presentations and phone calls, you have to invest the time that’s needed. It won’t happen in a 2 day seminar.

2. WHY ONLY 6-8 PEOPLE?

We have found that in order for each participant to receive the personal attention and individual coaching they need, we need to limit the size of the group to 8 people. The session is done in a modular fashion. Each module has a discussion component and an exercise component. Some of these exercises are individual exercises and some are better suited as group exercises. After a certain number of modules, participants will be asked to prepare for and deliver a communication. People learn by doing, not listening, not watching, by experiencing. There is a lot of thinking, a lot of looking, a lot of exercises and a lot of practice delivering a variety of communications from phone calls and one-to-one conversations to meetings and large group presentations.
 

3. WHY HOMEWORK?

We are attempting to cover an entire semester of material in a very short period of time. In order to cover the amount of material in the session necessary to get the results our clients expect, we need to ask participants to prepare in advance for the following day. They will be preparing presentations using our proprietary process. The more times they use the process, the faster they can prepare. The time spent preparing in advance is time saved.
 

4. TRIVIUM?  IS THIS A ‘BASICS’ CLASS?

Triv”i*um\,n is a Latin term meaning “the three ways” or “the three roads” forming the foundation of a medieval liberal arts education, that being, logic –the art of thinking, grammar –the art of symbolizing, and rhetoric –the art or ability to communicate that which is thought, symbolized and persuade others; – being a triple way, as it were, to eloquence. Far from ‘basic,’ Trivium Performance is a highly respected corporate communications consulting and professional development firm that has ingeniously integrated the latest advances in contemporary behavioral modification with ancient wisdom handed down from Aristotle and Socrates.
 

5. CAN I ATTEND ONLY PART OF THE SESSION?

It is integral to the success of the program that all attendees are present for the entire session. Attendees should block the dates and times for the program and not schedule any meetings or phone calls during open sessions. Time is available during the lunch hour and breaks will occur about every hour and a half. Late arrivals, mid-class disruptions, unexpected or early departures will quickly serve to erode the effectiveness and tarnish the integrity of the program. All efforts should be made to avoid any and all conflicts during the session. Any known or anticipated absence from the session should be communicated to the facilitator in advance of the program.
 

6. WHY VIDEOTAPING?

Although watching ourselves on video can be uncomfortable, observing ourselves objectively can be extremely valuable. The video doesn’t lie. Seeing is believing. Participants review their presentations with their instructor and receive personal coaching. The use of videotaping is exclusively a teaching tool. After each presentation, the facilitator and participant will huddle together and watch a small portion of the video. This ‘personal’ coaching, this ‘private’ time is invaluable to the participant and critical to the success of the program. All seminar attendees will be sent a link to their personal folder on Dropbox.com, with all of their presentations following the program.