In Steven Presfield’s classic on writing Do the Work he recommends you put a post-it note on your computer that reads “What’s the theme?”. As we look to create compelling training videos, what would you put on your trusty laptop to keep you on track and heading for success?
I’d suggest that the most important post-it for creating training videos would read, “What’s the point?” If you can’t answer this fundamental question then your audience will more than likely be thinking that the answer might be, “to waste my time.” Why a video? Why an animation? Would a reference card work better? Is it a standalone video to motivate team members to support a company initiative? Is it one of many short videos explaining a complicated process? Whatever the answer, don’t move forward unless you have a clear vision nailed down. Below is a brief list of other dos and don’ts that will help you create training videos and animations that will lead to successful learning outcomes.