The worst way to start a training session. Ever. Part 2.

For anyone who didn’t see my first article in this series of two… you can read it here.

So, to recap then. I’m in a training room where the senior stakeholder has just dropped the ‘S’ bomb, rubbished the new system I am here to train people on and left me with a room of learners who look like they wish I would spontaneously combust so they can dance on my ashes, rifle through my personal effects and send rude text messages to the people in my address book.

After the senior person had left the room, I said, ‘My name is Jonathan and I’d like you to forget everything you’ve heard in the last three minutes.’ The tension had lifted, but where did I go from there?

A believe that honesty in these situations is always the best policy. There’s no point in trying to pull the wool over the eyes of your learners. As a trainer, you have a job to do, and nothing stands in the way of me doing my job.

It is my responsibility to deliver the course to the very best of my abilities so that each and every person leaves the room better off for the experience.

So what did I say?

I said this, ‘We’re here today because we all have to accomplish something. By the time you leave this room, you need to be able to demonstrate that you can use the new system, and it’s my job to help you get to that point.

We’re not here to discuss whether this system is the perfect system for this company.

We’re here to learn how to use it.

Many people have spent months assessing different systems, building our own version of the system and making sure that it’s the best that it can be. The good news is that with your input, it will get better. For that to happen though, you have to use it, and first you need to know how to use it.

I’ve done many of these sessions now. As we go through the training, you’ll start to understand why this new system is critical for our long-term prosperity as a business. You’ll appreciate that sticking with the old way of doing things, whilst comfortable, will leave us adrift of our competition. Most of all though, I promise that you’ll have an enjoyable day and you’ll learn about your colleagues and their individual areas of the business.

So, can we continue on that basis, with open minds and a willingness to learn?’

Everyone said yes, without exception. Looking back, it was one of the most rewarding training sessions I can remember.

If you’re ever in this situation, give this a try:

1. Distance the learners and yourself from the negativity
2. Create your training room as a ‘safe’ environment where people can speak freely
3. Remind them that you are all there to accomplish something specific
4. Get their agreement to continue on that basis
5. Deliver a great training session!