Finish With a Bang!
Now that you've led the training session, it's time to wrap things up in a way that leaves a strong final impression. Whether your session lasted an hour or took up most of the day, closing out with clarity and energy helps people remember the experience and take the learning seriously. Here's how you can guide the group through the final steps.
Finishing Steps
The closing section usually follows a few key points. Think of it as a chance to bring everything together, tie up loose ends, and send participants back to the workplace ready to apply what they learned.
- What? – Review what's been achieved: Take a few minutes to summarize what was covered. You might say, "Today we went over hazard recognition, lockout/tagout procedures, and how to safely work around forklifts." Ask participants to name one or two things that stood out to them or that they found most helpful.
- So what? – Restate why it matters: Reinforce why the training was important. You could say, "The steps we covered today are meant to protect you and your coworkers. Safety isn't just policy—it's about going home in one piece every day." Encourage the group to reflect:
- What part of today's training will help you the most on the job?
- Was there anything that made you see your work differently?
- What now? – Apply it to real life: Help participants connect the training to their daily routines. Ask, "How can you use what you learned when you're back on-site tomorrow?" Give examples such as:
- Checking PPE before starting a shift
- Recognizing and reporting an unsafe condition instead of ignoring it
- What's next? – Keep the learning going: Mention any follow-up training, future sessions, or next steps. For example, "Next month we'll go deeper into confined space safety, so make sure you're signed up." Remind them to complete any post-training assignments or surveys.
- Loose Ends – Address parked items: Throughout the session, you may have written down questions or topics that needed to be saved for later. Now is the time to revisit those. Say something like, "Earlier, someone asked about the policy for reporting near—misses—we'll go over that quickly now."
- Evaluate – Complete the training evaluation: Hand out evaluation forms and allow 10–15 minutes for participants to give honest feedback. Let them know you actually read it: "These evaluations help us improve each session—please let us know what worked and what didn't."
- Celebrate – Thank everyone: End on a high note. Say, "Thank you for your time and participation today. Safety training only works when people are involved—and you showed up ready to learn."
- Say Goodbye – Send them off safely: A quick farewell can make a difference. Try, "Thanks again, see you next time. Drive safe and take care out there."
- Reflect – Review your own performance: After the session is done and the group has left, take five to ten minutes to write down your own thoughts. Ask yourself:
- What went well?
- What should I change next time?
- Did I answer all their questions clearly?
Source: Bruce Klatt, The Ultimate Training Workshop Handbook, McGraw-Hill Pub
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-6. According to Bruce Klatt which of the following is a way to finish training "with a bang?"
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