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Foreword

      I'm the first to admit that I thought that in-person training was the only real way to teach people. I never imagined that I'd be delivering hundreds of hours of virtual training to audiences around the world from my virtual training studio on my farm in New Jersey.

      But, as Jeb will share with you, our organization was forced to pivot fast in the spring of 2020 as the global pandemic raced around the globe. Our survival rested on my training team quickly embracing and mastering virtual training delivery.

      It was not easy. Some of our trainers were in a momentary state of denial. But Jeb challenged us to adopt a new set of beliefs and think differently about virtual training. He pushed us out of our personal comfort zones. He demanded that we elevate our craft and deliver a legendary virtual learning experience.

      My training team implemented and executed the exact techniques and tactics laid out in this book, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. Mastering virtual instructor-led training has allowed us to scale faster, deliver more training, and make a massive and lasting impact on our clients' learners and their organizations.

More importantly, these techniques have made our master trainers better than they ever were before. We now seamlessly blend classroom-based training, virtual instructor-led training, and self-paced e-learning, in ways we never thought possible, to deliver a far higher ROI for our stakeholders.

      An important and undeniable truth is that the organizations that continually train and develop their people build an unassailable competitive edge. These organizations are more agile, attract and retain top talent, and win. Within these “learning organizations,” learning and development professionals are under constant pressure to source, develop, and deliver impactful training that is relevant, engaging, and sticks over the long haul. But you already know this, which is why you are reading this book.

      It's likely that you picked this book up because you are seeking answers to the same pressing questions being asked by the leaders of forward-thinking organizations:

      In Virtual Training, Jeb Blount, who is one of the most celebrated trainers of our generation, answers these questions and delivers a blueprint for leveraging virtual instructor-led training to accelerate the velocity of learning initiatives and make training stick.

He gives you step-by-step instruction for leveraging technology, building virtual training sets, designing, and delivering engaging high-quality virtual training that learners and their leaders will embrace. You will learn the keys to future-proofing both yourself and your organization. Most importantly, you will learn how to elevate your craft and deliver a legendary virtual learning experience. I can tell you from first-hand experience that when you adopt and implement the techniques laid out in this book, you will begin making a far bigger impact than you ever thought possible, now and in the future.

      This book matters because now, more than ever, we must think differently about the value of virtual instructor-led training and where it fits into broader learning initiatives. Virtual Training is a rare, transformational book that will reshape the way you and your organization view and deliver virtual instructor-led training forever.

      —Keith Lubner,

      Executive Vice President and

      Head of Training & Consulting, Sales Gravy

Special Note: Free Virtual Training Resources

      Virtual Training covers the fundamentals, which will likely remain constant, but it's impossible to include everything you need. The tools, technology, and trends in virtual training are constantly changing, so I created a place to keep you updated on the techniques that will give you an edge as you grow your virtual training skills.

      The companion website to this book will keep you up to date and give you a place to dig into details about our favorite tools that we use at Sales Gravy, recommended apps, and other tips. As a special bonus to thank you for purchasing this book, you get free access to these resources.

      Book passages that connect to additional website content are marked with this icon:

      

You can visit the companion website using this special, exclusive code, which will give you free access. Go to the following website and follow the instructions:

      Web address: https://www.salesgravy.com/vt

      Access code: VTB2021X

PART I The Virtual Training Tsunami

       The only way you survive is you continuously transform into something else.

      —Gini Rometty, Executive Chairman of IBM

1 Just Like That, Everything Changed

      An instant wave of panic came over me as I grasped the gravity of the situation. The Covid-19 pandemic had made its way around the world.

      Two days earlier, I'd delivered a keynote to 6,000 people. I didn't know it then, but it would be the last time I'd walk onto a physical stage or into a physical classroom for almost a year.

      Before Covid, my training and consulting company, Sales Gravy, had been on a hyper-growth trajectory. Our master trainers were on the ground delivering training on every continent except Antarctica.

      The

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