Connect with Us: Call Us Today: 1-800-807-8030

SmartBlog

How To Handle Training Difficult & Disruptive Participants

President Of TrainSmart, Inc.

The participants were going around the room sharing a 30-second introduction of themselves. About halfway through, it was “Jim’s* turn.” With arms folded, he said deadpan, “237 days.” As it turns out, Jim had been with the company for 30 years, with less than a year to retire, and the last place he wanted to be was in a training program for new managers.

Why his manager decided it was a good idea to send Jim to this training is anyone’s guess. Maybe it was a requirement of his job, regardless of the retirement date. Maybe the manager thought this would be good information that Jim could use in case he decided on a second career after retirement.

Regardless of how and why Jim ended up in an entry-level manager’s course, he and I were stuck with each other for the week. For that matter, so were the 30 other participants in that class.

No one wants to have a participant who is clearly miserable – not just because it makes your work more difficult, but it also can be toxic for the other participants. One angry, miserable, belligerent participant can thwart the learning experience of all the others.

In a survey of TrainSmart facilitators, dealing with the “Jims” of the world is probably the most challenging of the challenging situations facilitators face. Here’s how a couple of our facilitators faced their own Jim.

Anna Filas shared, “As a participant walked into the classroom, with others already seated and ready to begin, he verbally expressed his dismay at being there. He finally sat in his seat, crossed his arms and sternly told me, ‘I don’t know why I am here. My manager told me to show up. This is stupid.’”

I smiled and said, “Your manager must have seen some potential in you to become a trainer. It’s a hard job, and he must have felt that you were up for the challenge.”

He looked at me, smiled, and then said, “Looks like I am making your job hard today.”

I laughed and replied, “I love a challenge. I bet you do too. Listen, give this a chance today. I have a feeling that you will learn new skills and be very successful as a trainer. At the end of the day, let me know how it’s going and if you still feel that you are in the wrong class.”

He was one of my favorite participants. He did a great job in class and was a real leader.”

When Anne Harlow is faced with a difficult participant who doesn’t want to be in the training she says, “that’s when we have to put on our sales hat and figure out what will have meaning to that individual. By asking lots of questions and then pointing out the benefits of the training, this will sometimes turn them around. If that doesn’t work: have a conversation with them during the first break to address this issue. Let them know that you understand that they don’t want to be here and that they don’t think this is of value to them but ask them to at least not disrupt the rest of the group.

Regardless of the approach you take, the key is to take an approach and deal with the situation immediately before one person’s unhappiness blankets the entire session.

* ”Jim” is a pseudonym. This is a real situation.

Start Your Journey Of Becoming Great At Delivering & Developing Training

Download TrainSMART’s Train-the-Trainer Program Information

2023
3-Day Train-the-Trainer
Course Dates

 

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course In San Diego, CA

San Diego, CA
February 1 – 3, 2023
April 19 – 21, 2023
July 11 – 13, 2023
September 6 – 8, 2023

Register

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course In Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL
November 8 – 10, 2022
January 18 – 20, 2023
June 14 – 16, 2023
October 4 – 6, 2023
November 8 – 10, 2023

Register

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course In Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis, MN
October 25 – 27, 2022
March 28 – 30, 2023
May 17 – 19, 2023
September 19 – 21, 2023
November 1 – 3, 2023

Register

 

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course In Austin, TX

Austin, TX
February 22 – 24, 2023
May 24 – 26, 2023
July 19 – 21, 2023
October 25 – 27, 2023

Register

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course in Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA
December 6 – 8, 2022
February 7 – 9, 2023
April 12 – 14, 2023
July 10 – 12, 2023
December 13 – 15, 2023

Register

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course In Nashville, TN. Learn how to deliver and design training.

Nashville, TN
October 18 – 20, 2022
February 15 – 17, 2023
April 19 – 21, 2023
July 26 – 28, 2023
October 18 – 20, 2023

Register

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course In Nashville, TN. Learn how to deliver and design training.

Virginia Beach, VA
October 11 – 13, 2022
February 1 – 3, 2023
May 9 – 11, 2023
July 19 – 21, 2023
October 11 – 13, 2023

Register

Chicago, IL
October 12 – 14, 2022
March 14 – March 16, 2023
May 3 – 5, 2023
August 2 – 4, 2023
November 28 – 30, 2023

Register

Enroll In TrainSMART's 3-Day Train-the-Trainer Course + Certification In Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
December 6 – 8, 2022
January 23 – 25, 2023
October 18 – 20, 2023

Register

Miami, FL
December 6 – 8, 2022
March 1 – 3, 2023
August 9 – 11, 2023
November 15 – 17, 2023
December 6 – 8, 2023

Register

 

Charlotte, NC
April 3- 5, 2023
June 21 – 23, 2023
September 26 – 28, 2023
November 1 – 3, 2023

Register

The following two tabs change content below.
Leslie has over 25 years experience in the training industry. Her responsibilities have included sales, hands on management and software training, curriculum development, needs analysis, usability testing, and project management. Her strong training background, organizational skills, and exceptional development expertise, augment her extensive sales and marketing abilities.