Stop Killing Your SKO's Energy
We all know this familiar scenario...
It is 2 PM on day two of SKO. The lights are dimmed for the PowerPoint presentation, and three sales reps simultaneously nod off. Another "discreetly" checks email under the table. The once-energetic room has flatlined.
This happens at nearly every SKO. And it is maddening!
You spend months planning these events. You invest thousands per person to get everyone together. You have critical messages to deliver and essential skills to build. Yet so many companies sabotage themselves with the same energy-killing habits year after year.
Here's what's wild: fixing this doesn't require a bigger budget or a celebrity keynote speaker. It just requires you to stop doing dumb things that drain energy.
First, stop with the PowerPoint marathons
Consider the sales leader who transformed his dreaded three-hour product update into the highest-rated session of their SKO. His secret? He threw out the 80-slide deck and instead ran 20-minute rotations between quick content bursts, small group discussions, and hands-on practice.
No one fell asleep. No one checked their phone. Everyone was engaged.
Next, work with energy patterns, not against them
Your team isn't going to maintain peak energy for 8 straight hours. Stop pretending they will.
Schedule your heavy-lifting sessions for the morning when people are fresh. Use the post-lunch slot for interactive work. Save your inspirational content for the end of the day when people need a boost.
It's not rocket science. It's just common sense.
Then, build in movement
Our bodies aren't designed to sit still for hours. So stop forcing it.
Have people stand up for quick discussions. Create space for movement between sessions. Run problem-solving relay races. Get creative with team competitions.
Finally, give your team permission to engage
Kill the fluorescent lights. Arrange seats so people can actually see each other. Put some fidget toys on the tables.
Small changes signal that this isn't going to be another sit-still-and-suffer SKO.
Here's your homework
Pull out your draft SKO agenda right now. Circle every session longer than 45 minutes. Those are your energy danger zones.
Now, for each one, ask yourself: "How could I break this up? Where could I add interaction? What would make this more engaging?"
Your answers might surprise you.
Remember, an SKO doesn't have to be exciting and entertaining every minute to be effective. But it absolutely must keep people engaged if you want your message to stick.
So stop killing your SKO's energy with bad habits. Your team – and your results – will thank you.
P.S. - Want some specific ways to boost energy? Here are some go-to moves:
- Success Story Speed Dating: Rotate pairs sharing their best wins
- Customer Challenge Relay: Solve real customer problems in rapid succession
- Territory Trade Show: Teams create quick pitches for different regions
- Live Polling: Get real-time feedback and spark discussions
Try one. They work.
Feel free to schedule some time with our team to flesh out some of your ideas.
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