Enough of this Training!
Ravinder Bhan
Management Consultant | 35 Yrs Corporate | Across 6 countries | CEO Turned Farmer | Curating Memorable Experiences| Building Your Life Style Assets | Pro bono advisor to the needy employees and entrepreneurs|
Why do people leave the room half way!
Many years back, I ran into a fellow delegate during the break of a training session which we both were attending. He wanted to know if I am really going back to the class. Surprisingly the question did not surprise me – even though I said I will be going back. But all through the session my mind was on his question.
Do you also sometimes like to abandon a training class mid way?
Don’t be shy – tell me yes, if yes is the honest answer.
Many people leave, or want to leave, a training session mid, way not because they don’t want to learn but because they feel they are not learning what need or want.
As a trainer, are you aware of those who left or didn’t leave physically but switched off? How do you handle this? At the next live event of #TPSKnowledgeHub – I shall be sharing my experiences on that and guide you on how to be the Star Trainer who commands a 100% attention – even without games and jokes:)
In the mean time – here are the four important reasons why people leave the room half way
Session is not Relevant
Many times a trainer falls in love with what they are training. Its no doubt a good thing to love what you do. But if what you do is not of enough relevance to your participants, no matter how good you are – they will leave half way. Ask yourself can participants use the knowledge directly in their current roles or job functions? The best way to know that they don’t think so, is to look those that are staring at you with blank looks on their faces. They may not leave but that will be only out of respect for you not because of their desire to stay. And the desire to stay is directly proportional to the relevance they find in the session. If nothing else, try to change the subject to something that’s bothering them at work TODAY.
Session has outlived the interest limit.
Like they in sales – when you have sold – shut up and go!
Many times, trainers get in to a habit of repeating a point more than whats required, with a view to what they perceive as a way to drive the point home. Keep in mind, that once you have made the point, repeating it will only drive them, or their mid, out of the class. And you will know when they will start to just nod their heads.
Some of them will indulge in a short side chat or exchange of small bits of papers with funny notes on these. See these signs and move on to the next subject. If you would like to take time to fathom what that next subject could be – give a break. They will love it.
Excess Time
It is not always possible for a trainer to estimate the exact time a session will take in the actual class. Sometimes you will land up with a situation when you finished the earlier topic and still have some time before starting the next one. Now giving a break is the best solution that could come to your mind. No, it may not work – because it could mean too many breaks. Other options is indulging in some physical exercises – not a good option always because the smarter ones in the class will know.
My best use of that time is to invite one of the delegates from the last row and ask him / her to tell the class ” How I can apply this in my work” or “why I will not be able to use it in my work” I then get the some one from the front row to answer / interact with them. It makes the subject relevant to their work.
Short of Time
The converse of the above situation is when you are short of time to complete the session – perhaps because the earlier one took too much time. This is where I would rather give a break because doing some half way is worse than not doing it at all. Plan your schedules to avoid such situations – but if forced into one, it may be batter not to do that session at all. More training is not always the best training. Use the little time you to reinforce what you taught in one of the previous (not immediate last) sessions and check the retention. If it needs to be done again, don’t fear. Ultimately its enough for the trainer to look good,: what comes before that is the delegates have learnt 100% of what you delivered. Nothing will be learnt in a hurry!
These are just four most common reasons from my experience. There are others. If you are chosen to be a speaker at the next live event of #TPSKnowledgeHub , I will be guiding you in how to be a Star Trainer!
Ravinder Bhan