4 Signs Your Programs are NAILING IT!!

We’ve all seen those blog posts that promise “3 Steps to 5 Star Reviews Every Time!!!” But when “Step 1” is just “Give a great tour",” the real question becomes - how do you know when you’ve nailed it?

Today’s new audiences want more than a lecture, they want your programs to be actively engaging. They look for interaction, immersion and involvement.  Already working towards this? Look for these four signs to know you are NAILING IT!

1. You lead with the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the experience not ‘you will learn.’ 
   Think about your own experiences in life and ask yourself, which is more fun - having a moment of your own discovery, or sitting silently in a lecture trying to absorb new facts? People don’t want guides to treat them as sponges waiting to absorb guide-wisdom. Your role is to be an idea-matchmaker highlighting connections between your subject and what matters in their lives.

2. Your audience asks you questions throughout the program. 
   You’ve made them feel comfortable, and welcome to participate. Traditional audiences have been conditioned over the years to stay silent when the guide is talking. You may need to help them realize that you honestly want them to ask questions real-time rather than waiting until the end. Try having a few starter questions at the ready if the group is silent. “Is anyone curious about this XXX here?” “Have you ever wondered…?” As you see the audience getting into the spirit of conversation, try ‘what are you curious about?’ rather than ‘any questions?’

3. Your audience spontaneously reframes what you share.
   When visitors restate ideas in their own words, it shows they’re actively connecting the dots. Statements that begin “oh you mean it’s like…” are evidence that they are making their own connections and discoveries. Ask guests to restate something in language that is meaningful to them, and watch how it deepens engagement.

4. They share personal stories. 
   When you’ve made your content relatable, people will naturally draw from their own memories to connect with it. You may need to set the stage for visitors to be comfortable sharing personal memories. Start with an ice breaker or something to get the group feeling comfortable talking in front of a group of strangers. And consider asking people to share memories or personal qualities that are really low stakes at first. For example, in a talk about the history of medicine you could start with, “what is the first thing you do when you feel a cold coming on”?

Once upon a time the public expected guides to be teachers - interesting and entertaining teachers, but still teachers. Many organizations house interpretive staff and initiatives under a Education banner - and yours may be one of them. We do educate so that does make sense, but at its core, our work isn’t just about teaching—it’s about sparking connections between your subject and your audience’s values, hopes, and dreams. Research done by Wilkening Consulting and others is suggesting that part of the reason we are experiencing declining attendance, is that significant sectors of our potential visitors don’t want to be taught even if they are interested in learning. They want things they learn to be a launch pad transformation, self-discovery and social evolution.

If this new visitor walks in the door and doesn’t find what they are looking for they don’t come back. So ask yourself - are you ready for what the new guest wants? Are you NAILING IT?