Leading Difficult TrainingLeading Difficult TrainingSessionsSessions

By:By:Rohan BhattRohan Bhatt

IntroductionIntroduction

Training sessions should be Training sessions should be enjoyable for both the participants enjoyable for both the participants and the trainerand the trainer

– – Participants learn new skills and Participants learn new skills and gain knowledgegain knowledge

– – The trainer should feel a sense of The trainer should feel a sense of satisfaction that through their able satisfaction that through their able facilitation the participants are facilitation the participants are developingdeveloping

Difficult Training SessionsDifficult Training Sessions

• • Sometimes the training session may Sometimes the training session may become derailed by the behaviour of become derailed by the behaviour of individuals in the session individuals in the session

– – Dominating individuals in the groupDominating individuals in the group

– – Quiet members of the group etcQuiet members of the group etc

• • This presentation suggests tools and This presentation suggests tools and techniques the trainer can use to techniques the trainer can use to deal with these difficult situationsdeal with these difficult situations

Dominating Dominating thethe

SessionSession

Small Group ExerciseSmall Group Exercise

• • A participant is dominating, doing all theA participant is dominating, doing all thetalking, answering the trainer all the time,talking, answering the trainer all the time,and monopolizing the group's time.and monopolizing the group's time.

– – If participant has a worthwhile contribution this If participant has a worthwhile contribution this may not be a problemmay not be a problem– – It becomes a problem is other people are It becomes a problem is other people are getting annoyed. You want everyone to getting annoyed. You want everyone to participate and share their input.participate and share their input.

Working in your groups identify:Working in your groups identify:• • What can be done?What can be done?• • What not to do?What not to do?

What can be done?What can be done?– – Ask the rest of the group for their reactionAsk the rest of the group for their reaction

" How do the rest of you feel about that?"" How do the rest of you feel about that?"– – Use other means of eliciting responses " Use other means of eliciting responses " I'dI'd

like you to discuss this in three personlike you to discuss this in three persongroupsgroups" . Then assign the groups." . Then assign the groups.

– – Avoid eye contact with dominating Avoid eye contact with dominating participant. When you pose a question look participant. When you pose a question look at other people. If the dominator continues at other people. If the dominator continues to talk, interrupt by rephrasing “I'd like to to talk, interrupt by rephrasing “I'd like to hear from some others this time.”hear from some others this time.”

What not to do…What not to do…

– – Attack the dominating participant Attack the dominating participant withwith

jibes “What a surprise, Harry has his jibes “What a surprise, Harry has his handhand

up again”up again”

– – Tell them to stop contributingTell them to stop contributing

Quiet Quiet IndividualsIndividuals

Small Group ExerciseSmall Group Exercise

• • One or two people have not spoken orOne or two people have not spoken orcontributed during the training session.contributed during the training session.

– – We cannot assume from this that they areWe cannot assume from this that they arebored, confused or anything else.bored, confused or anything else.

– – The only problem we have is that we aren'tThe only problem we have is that we aren'tgetting any responses to know whether theygetting any responses to know whether theyare following the discussion.are following the discussion.Working in your groups identify:Working in your groups identify:• • What can be done?What can be done?• • What not to do?What not to do?

What Can be Done?What Can be Done?

– – Try and ease the silent ones into theTry and ease the silent ones into the

group without embarrassing themgroup without embarrassing them

– – Pose an assignment and break thePose an assignment and break the

group into subgroups of 3-4 persons.group into subgroups of 3-4 persons.

As you circulate amongst the groupsAs you circulate amongst the groups

pay attention to the silent ones.pay attention to the silent ones.

What not to do?What not to do?

– – Call the silent participants by name,Call the silent participants by name,

unless you are inviting them to share unless you are inviting them to share withwith

an experience in which they feelan experience in which they feel

comfortable.comfortable.

– – Put pressure on the silent one such Put pressure on the silent one such asas

““How about this one, Janet...."How about this one, Janet...."

Talking During Talking During the Sessionsthe Sessions

Small Group ExerciseSmall Group Exercise

• • Two or three people who sit together areTwo or three people who sit together aretalking softly among themselves and nottalking softly among themselves and notpaying attention to the trainer. This haspaying attention to the trainer. This hasbeen going on for five minutes.been going on for five minutes.

• • On the surface it may appear that they are notOn the surface it may appear that they are notpaying attention. However they might be sharing anpaying attention. However they might be sharing aninsight on how to apply a new idea that they haveinsight on how to apply a new idea that they havejust picked up.just picked up.

• • Working in your groups identify:Working in your groups identify:– – What can be done?What can be done?– – What not to do?What not to do?

What can be Done?What can be Done?

– – If the participants are seated around U shaped tables or in a If the participants are seated around U shaped tables or in a circle, the trainer might walk slowly toward the talking circle, the trainer might walk slowly toward the talking participants, while looking at the rest of the group. If their participants, while looking at the rest of the group. If their comments are relevant they will have no guilt finishing comments are relevant they will have no guilt finishing their comments.their comments.

–– The trainer might pose a question to the group, and then The trainer might pose a question to the group, and then split the group into subgroups. This allows the trainer to split the group into subgroups. This allows the trainer to split up the two people talking.split up the two people talking.

– – The trainer might call on the person next to the two people The trainer might call on the person next to the two people speaking. This is likely to get them to return to the main speaking. This is likely to get them to return to the main discussions.discussions.

– – Finally you might decide to be more directive and say " Finally you might decide to be more directive and say " Excuse me, but I wonder if you two could rejoin the groups. Excuse me, but I wonder if you two could rejoin the groups. Some of us are having trouble hearing."Some of us are having trouble hearing."

What not to doWhat not to do

– – Resort to treating them as children.Resort to treating them as children.

– – Scold the two people talking.Scold the two people talking.

– – Lower your voice to catch the talkers Lower your voice to catch the talkers outout

AntagonistsAntagonists

Small Group ExerciseSmall Group Exercise

• • Several participants are making their Several participants are making their negative attitude known to others - negative attitude known to others - by their side comments, scoffs, folded by their side comments, scoffs, folded arms and un- cooperative or arms and un- cooperative or antagonistic attitude. This is creating antagonistic attitude. This is creating

an unhealthy climate and makingan unhealthy climate and makingthings unpleasant for others.things unpleasant for others.

• • Working in your groups identify:Working in your groups identify:– – What can be done?What can be done?– – What not to do?What not to do?

What can be Done?What can be Done?

• • As soon as you get negative feedback from some As soon as you get negative feedback from some of the group ask the others " how do the rest of of the group ask the others " how do the rest of you feel?” The rest of the group will feedback if you feel?” The rest of the group will feedback if they feel the others are being negative.they feel the others are being negative.

• • Put the antagonists to work for example, ask the Put the antagonists to work for example, ask the antagonists to take notes, or elect them to write antagonists to take notes, or elect them to write up on the flipup on the flip

• • Talk to the antagonists during a break " I have Talk to the antagonists during a break " I have the feeling that these sessions are not meeting the feeling that these sessions are not meeting your expectations, or aren't relevant to your your expectations, or aren't relevant to your needs, I wanted to discuss it with you as I needs, I wanted to discuss it with you as I certainly don't want you wasting your time here.”certainly don't want you wasting your time here.”

What not to doWhat not to do

– – Take the antagonist on, you may Take the antagonist on, you may lose.lose.

– – Reinforce their behaviour by grantingReinforce their behaviour by granting

them the stage.them the stage.

– – Insult the antagonist as this may add Insult the antagonist as this may add toto

the negative feelings in the group.the negative feelings in the group.

Other Important things that we Other Important things that we forgetforget

Science proves that an average adult has a Science proves that an average adult has a brain of about 1,400 grams which means brain of about 1,400 grams which means that we all are born equalthat we all are born equal

It is also well known that there are 24 hours It is also well known that there are 24 hours in a day. Again common for all.in a day. Again common for all.

This proves that no one is lesser or more in This proves that no one is lesser or more in terms of potential or talent.terms of potential or talent.

Any Industry depends on the most Any Industry depends on the most important and crucial resource in the World: important and crucial resource in the World: Human ResourcesHuman Resources

Remember these pointsRemember these points

And try being a better trainer or a And try being a better trainer or a speaker. speaker.

The above all… The job of a good The above all… The job of a good trainer is that he/she should always trainer is that he/she should always be the most enthusiastic and co-be the most enthusiastic and co-operative person at all times. operative person at all times.

This presentation will hopefully give This presentation will hopefully give you a better understandingyou a better understanding

Thanks and RegardsThanks and Regards

Rohan BhattRohan Bhatt[SQuare Consulting and Management [SQuare Consulting and Management

Services]Services]