How does a Productivity Consultant actually organize themselves?
In my day-to-day work as a workshop and seminar leader, I am often asked how I organize my work equipment for these events. I am often working in seminar rooms with varying types of equipment. Still, I find it important to use the full potential that visualization and interaction with the participants offer. After a few different analyses and optimizations, I found my perfect “tools”, which I now use with great success. First of all: I always prefer professional equipment. However, I have found that sometimes products produced specifically for consultants and trainers simply cost more than similar products from other fields. In this article, I would like to introduce some of my out-of-the-box solutions in a Q&A format and present my product recommendations.
It’s one thing to carry around loads of presentation material. But being able to find all these little things again quickly is another thing. Purchasing presentation cases and similar equipment is often a major investment. How did I solve this?
Transporting lots of small “tools” and making sure they are properly organized and ready for use on site is something that other professional groups also have to do. So I had a look around at trades, make-up artists and hairdressers, for example. I found what I was looking for in the latter. A high-quality, large bag with a trolley strap and plenty of space for all my things: Presentation materials, pens, charging cable. Spare batteries. Everything has a spot… Even my laptop or A4 folders fit in well.
My facilitation bag * actually a make-up organizer bag
Traveling by train and carrying a suitcase, a presentation bag, possibly rolls for a flip chart and a handbag – sounds difficult? Can you imagine me doing this?
I want to be able to get on and off the train easily, even if I’m traveling for several days and have a large suitcase, and above all I want to be able to get through the aisles of the train easily. Since there always seems to be someone sticking their foot out, a stroller or a suitcase sticking out into the aisle, I have had bad experiences when what I roll through the aisles across the floor is wide and/or heavy. I’ve also had problems with elevators and escalators not working very often…
So I looked for a suitcase that I could carry like a backpack. I came across a great travel backpack that has served me well ever since.
Typically, I have my presentation bag on the hand truck and put my travel backpack on top with its trolley strap. When I get to stairs, have to get on the train or walk through the train corridors, the backpack goes on my back and I only have the smaller, more manageable bag on wheels. This makes traveling much more relaxing.
If I have more than one event on a trip, do I avoid/minimize the number of flip charts or how do I transport several rolls?
Since many events are virtual after Covid, I make sure that my face-to-face events have as little PPT as possible. So I carry several rolls at a time. Again, I thought about which professional groups have to transport similar formats and came up with photography, for example, where tripods have to be transported. I now have a bag that is the perfect size for what I need and has comfortable handles.
The bag is lined and quite sturdy for a fabric bag, but I have also inserted two (flip chart mailing) boxes, which makes the bag even sturdier. I roll up the individual flip chart sets around a cardboard roll (like from used wrapping paper). It’s important that the roll is slightly longer than the width of the flip chart so that the edges of the charts don’t bump into the bag and buckle during the journey.
My multiple flipchart-rolles bag * actually a photo/tripod bag
Do I always take everything out of my presentation bag on site? Or what does my material/tool setup look like?
I actually like to use boxes on the table, where certain things can be gathered together for me or the participants. But now you have to pack boxes and carry them with you when you travel…?
Here, too, I found a good solution: Lightweight folding baskets that can be folded up when not in use.
👉 My organization helpers from IKEA 👈
This lets me place presentation cards in a basket in the middle of the circle of chairs, prepare the material for several groups in the boxes for exercises and distribute it to the group rooms, and so on.
I also always have a felt box for empty pens. I ask my participants to separate empty pens from the others and put them in my “refill box”.
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