By Patrick | Title Advisory Group

Every time I begin a training session, I start with the same two questions.

They’re simple, but incredibly telling. Within seconds, the answers give me a clear read on the room and help forecast whether we’re about to enjoy a smooth, engaged session—or if we’ll need to do a little extra work to bring people on board.

The questions?

1. Why are you here?
2. What are you expecting?

It’s right after the polite introductions and the icebreaker—then I drop those two. And what I often get in return is… silence. A few blank stares. Eventually, someone, usually with a smile, will say:

“Well, my manager told me to be here.”

And they’re not wrong. Their manager did ask them to attend. But what’s striking is how little clarity they often have beyond that. It’s revealing—and it’s also a missed opportunity.

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Why These Two Questions Matter

I ask “Why are you here?” and “What are you expecting?” for three key reasons:

1. Mindset Check:
   Their responses tell me what kind of headspace they’re in. Are they open? Defensive? Curious? Distracted?
2. Transparency Insight:
   I get a window into what management communicated. Was the purpose of this training clearly explained? Does the team know why this matters and how it connects to broader goals?
3. Expectation Setting:
   I get to see what they think this session will deliver. That’s gold. It helps me align their hopes with the outcomes we’ve designed.

There’s a classic saying in the training world:

Every session has three types of people—prisoners, vacationers, and learners.

If expectations weren’t set ahead of time, you’ll get more prisoners (those who feel forced to be there) and vacationers (those just along for the ride). And it takes a lot more time to turn them into active learners.

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A Message to Leaders: Your Role Is Pivotal

If you’re a leader sending your team to a training session, your impact doesn’t begin at the session—it starts before it.

Your team is far more likely to get value—real, sticky, transformative value—from training if you take just a few moments ahead of time to:

• Explain why they’re attending.
• Connect the session to their role and growth.
• Share what you hope they get out of it.

These don’t have to be long conversations. A short, clear message can go a long way. But it changes everything when people show up not just because they were told to, but with a clear sense of purpose.

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Training That Sticks

Great training isn’t just about content—it’s about clarity and connection.

So, before the next session you send someone to, help them answer these two questions in advance:
What’s this about? and Why does it matter—to me?

Set them up for success, and the results will speak for themselves.

— Patrick, Title Advisory Group
At Title Advisory Group, we meet you on your journey.