Introduction
In the world of corporate training, preparation is key to success. 🚀 However, even the most well-planned training sessions can suffer from low attendance and underprepared participants. If you’ve faced this issue, you’re not alone. 🤔 Traditional communication methods often fall short, leaving you with the question of how to engage participants effectively before they step into the room.
When it comes to communicating upcoming training, one email with a calendar invitation just isn’t enough. 📧 Borrowed and repurposed from marketing is the “Seven Times, Seven Different Ways” approach. This method leverages AI to increase signups, set clear expectations, prepare participants, and boost engagement levels.
In this post, we’ll start by exploring how to leverage AI to identify seven different communication channels you can utilize. 💡 Then, we will cover how you can leverage AI to use those channels to communicate upcoming sessions more effectively.
The 7×7 Communication Strategy: Maximize Training Reach
The core concept of this approach is simple. ✅ Communicate your training message across as many channels as possible and do so repeatedly. Ideally, your goal is to communicate the message through seven different outlets at seven different times. 🎯 At least once per outlet. 7×7 is maximizing exposure, driving repetition, and increasing buy-in and understanding.
Some of the various channels might be:
– Digital Channels: Teams, Slack, other inner-office communicators, intraweb, email, calendar invites, videos, and SharePoint.
– Traditional Methods: Posters in unexpected locations (yes, even bathroom stalls!) and QR codes around the office.
Although hitting a full “seven by seven” isn’t always feasible with virtual trainings, strive to cover as many bases as possible for optimal reach.
Putting AI to Work for Effective Training Communication
Currently, AI tools such as Perplexity, Chat GPT, and Claude offer an easy-to-use approach to developing communication strategies. 🤖 These tools can help you brainstorm and conversationally identify effective communication channels. Then they can draft customized communications for each channel. ✍️ Finally, they can suggest when to send/post each one so that you can schedule them all at once. Here’s how it works:
1. Begin by asking for help in brainstorming internal communication channels for your training if you don’t already have a list. Using your voice instead of text, as with ChatGPT, is a great option. When using text, it’s best to ask the model to send three or fewer questions at a time. That way, you don’t get bombarded with what is effectively a form to fill out and send back.
2. AI will prompt you with questions to clarify your current communication landscape. This will help it pinpoint which channels will be most effective. Answer the questions as fully as possible. Be thoughtful about what you have experienced that works best for communications. You want to meet participants where they’re at.
3. Based on insights, refine your list of channels (e.g., Microsoft Teams for announcements, direct messaging, email campaigns) to ensure coverage. Don’t post anything from AI without proofreading it first. AI is prone to mistakes.
4. Develop Content: Use AI to draft communications tailored for each chosen channel. Walk through drafting communications one by one for each channel you identified. Again, don’t post anything from AI without proofreading it first.
Drafting Targeted Training Communications with AI
The AI tool helps in developing targeted messages tailored to each medium. 🎯 Start by providing details about your training session, and the tool will generate drafts for you to refine.
For example, suppose your training, “Leading Effective One-on-One Leadership,” is scheduled for November 20, 2025. In that case, AI can help draft announcements, direct messages, and even set expectations about having cameras on during training or pre-work. 🗓️ Although virtual settings limit the channels available to you, leveraging multiple touchpoints remains effective.
Conclusion: Elevate Training with AI & the 7×7 Approach
The seven times seven different ways communication strategy can help you drive engagement before participants ever step into the room. Utilizing AI can help you save a significant amount of time and enhance your results. ⏱️ From identifying the channels available to you to drafting communications, let AI do the heavy lifting. It will help you set better expectations, keep your sessions top of mind, and improve both attendance and engagement. 📈
If you would like me to send you the prompts I use to leverage the seven times seven different ways method, click here. 👈 You’ll fill out a form, and an automated email will be sent to you with the prompts.
Until next time.
When you’re ready, here are some ways I can help:
Corporate Trainer Workshops
Need to upskill your team on a specific live or virtual training topic? I’ll work with you to identify the needs of your team and facilitate a hands-on, workshop. Where you need it. When you need it. How you need it.
Consultation and Coaching
Need advice on a training project, your development process, or leading a training team? How about landing your next facilitator job? I’ll consult with you and help you be successful.
Custom Instructor-Led Training Development
Transforming your learning objectives into engaging and effective instructor-led trainings. Virtual or live, from development to train-the-trainers, we have your training needs covered.
