Organizing our Bootcamp is no small task, especially when it involves a large group of consultants and spans various trainings and activities. Stijn, TAG consultant and lead of the Training Academy, shared the planning and coordination that goes into making the Bootcamp a successful and enriching experience for all involved. Here’s a glimpse into the thought processes and strategies that drive this operation.
The planning for the Bootcamp kicks off early in the year, in March or April. This initial phase focuses heavily on the bigger picture: securing the hotel and the location. Given the substantial number of consultants, nailing down these logistics early is crucial. The first few months also involve defining the scope of the bootcamp, including the development of additional tracks such as the Triboot.
Once the scope is defined and the location secured, the next priority is to finalize accommodations and reserve meeting rooms in the Officenter. By summer, the focus shifts to fine-tuning all practical details, including scheduling trainings and confirming trainers. Activities, external trainers, and other logistical elements are also sorted out during these months to ensure a smooth run-up to the Bootcamp.
Choosing the right trainers is crucial to the Bootcamp's success. Trainers are selected based on their project experience, ensuring they are well-versed in the topic and capable of addressing any questions from participants. They often repeat training sessions, allowing them to refine their delivery and content over time.
The training content itself is determined through discussions with team managers. New training modules are built collaboratively. Through multiple iterations and dry-runs, the trainings are finalized.
During the Bootcamp, feedback is continuously gathered from participants to improve subsequent sessions. Each training module has feedback forms, and overall feedback is collected to evaluate the Bootcamp comprehensively. This feedback loop helps in tweaking and improving the Bootcamp year after year.
When introducing new elements like the Reboot and the Triboot, there are unique challenges. Initially, there is an exploratory phase before settling into a more standardized approach. Stijn notes that these new initiatives become easier to manage in subsequent years as the team gains more experience.
Due to increasing number of consultants, the Bootcamp’s scalability poses a slight challenge. Larger venues and more creative logistics solutions will be necessary moving forward. Continuous feedback and adaptation will ensure that the Bootcamp evolves to meet these demands while maintaining its quality and relevance.
In conclusion, organizing TAG’s Bootcamp, Reboot, and Triboot involves detailed planning, early and strategic booking of logistics, careful selection of trainers, rigorous feedback mechanisms, and always being ready to adapt and improve.
