This is an excerpt from my book, "Get Engaged".  You can buy your very own copy here.   

Great trainers know how to work a room. Literally. They use anchors to make connections to material stronger. Their movements are almost choreographed.

What is an anchor? To get an idea, think about your favourite song. How did you come to have that favourite song? Maybe it was playing when you were at an event, having a great time, or with a special person.

Now, when you hear that song, you feel good, or are reminded of that event. That’s an example of an auditory anchor. The same can be said for movies, pictures, and photographs. These are visual anchors. It’s why you take photographs in the first place, so you can look at them later and be reminded of the great experience.

Spatial anchors are a bit trickier. From a training perspective, they are where the trainer stands in the room or how they move around the room. They work by eliciting an action or state from that position. For example, my personal spatial anchors are (from the perspective of the participants):

(A) Standing on the left: for beginning any kind of material, content or section 

(B) At the flipchart: for the explanation of the steps or process

(C) On the right: in my own space at a table with my notes and pens, where I retreat when the participants are engaged in activities  

(D) At the front: sitting in a chair at the front of the room for debriefing an activity

After repeated demonstrations of spatial anchors, the group will begin to respond automatically. For example, as I move to the left, their attention comes back. As I move to the flipchart stand, they pick up their pens and begin to make notes. 

After I move to my own space at the desk, they engage in the activities.

When I move the chair to the front of the room and sit down, their attention returns to me.

One of my former teachers used a single clap to indicate the start of a break. To this day, I do the same thing. I say ‘Let’s take a break’, then do one loud clap. I actually don’t know how to turn off this auditory anchor.

Three things to keep in mind:

1. Be deliberate about where you stand and why.

2. Use visuals to create anchors to your content. Simple icons will do the trick.

3. Think about what music you play and why. Don’t just have random music. Have it link to your material or have some other meaning or connection.

This is an excerpt from my book, "Get Engaged".  You can buy your very own copy here.