UPPOPR: The Xerox Way!

Early in my career I had a manager that taught me the Xerox way of running a training session.

To give you some background, I was training groups of 30 phone bank staff on a legislative issue and teaching them how grassroots works on Capitol Hill. These trainings were happening on a daily or weekly basis.

We were running “patch through” or phone campaigns for Fortune 500 clients and following up with email confirmations.

I've taken this tip and instilled it in many presentations I’ve given over the last 20+ years since my days in the grassroots business.

It’s amazing!

The following training tip keeps you focused while at the save time laying out the goals and expectations you have for the attendees, on the subject manner at hand and succinctly tells them what you want them to know before they leave the session.

It’s very simple:

  • Utility – explain the overall project. 
  • Product – explain how each fit into the plan of action. 
  • Process – go over the agenda for the day. 
  • Objective – set the expectation of what you want them to know. 
  • Proof of Ability – explain past successes and this project is no different. 
  • Review – go over the process and objective again.

Attached please find a template you can use, just fill in your content. Do yourself a favor and start using this technique today.

Good Luck!

Sample template of a UPPOPR.

Box Stores: How Do I Get Them To Join?

As stated in a recent chamber educational session I attended with box store executives on a panel, they said it’s all about advocacy.

The big box stores are dealing with business issues at the local, state and national level as it relates to running their business.

It can be as simple as a street light or street sign or as complicated as a new road project or a new regulation that will affect the entire company.

Are you helping them before the city council, the local planning and zoning committee, or at the state capitol?  Even Capitol Hill in Washington, DC could be the place where they need your help.

If you are, it’s highly likely they’re members of your chamber.  If you’re not involved in the advocacy business at those levels, they’re probably not members or they’ve got an excuse why they are not members.

The days of the big box stores joining the local chamber for the sake of joining are over.  It’s all about what you can do for them.

Remember, we all listen to the same radio station WIIFM - what’s in it for me.

Dial them in to your chamber radio station and get them on board as members today!