Are We Missing the Mark on Preparation?
Years ago, I watched a team walk into an SKO completely cold—no pre-work, no preparation. While the content was solid, engagement and retention were a struggle. The missing piece? A foundation that primes participants before the event.
This experience cemented my belief in the power of preparation, especially using podcasts.
The stats back it up: structured pre-work increases skill application by 15%, and teams using spaced learning retain 50-70% more information than from standalone sessions
Why podcasts are a game-changer for SKO pre-work:
🎧 Engagement Boost: Teaser episodes with leadership insights or success stories build excitement and signal the event’s importance.
🎧 Knowledge Activation: Bite-sized episodes help reps connect new concepts to what they already know, priming them for deeper learning during live sessions.
🎧 Efficiency Gains: Pre-work podcasts allow sessions to dive straight into high-value, interactive activities rather than covering the basics.
It’s not just about making SKO sessions smoother; it’s about creating a year-long learning experience. Teams that embrace pre-work see up to 15% higher skill application rates and better quota attainment.
The takeaway: Pre-work isn’t just nice to have, it’s the foundation for long-term impact.