This Tip discusses that, when participants are frowning, it is important to avoid assuming and don’t take it personally.
You know how you work hard to engage every participant when you are training? I certainly do! And I used to focus all of my energy on the ones who did NOT seem engaged.
Unhappy Faces
I was conducting a training program. A woman, sitting right smack in the middle of the class (isn’t that always the case!), was continually making unhappy faces at me. So I did everything I could to draw her into the session. I was charming and informative and entertaining as possible. Nothing I did made a dent in her negative demeanor.
When the break came, I walked behind her because I was planning to ask her what the problem was. Then I overheard her explaining to another participant that she was in great pain because she needed an operation on her leg. Her unhappy non-verbals had absolutely NOTHING to do with me or the training session!!! So I asked her if she would be more comfortable resting her leg on a chair. Then I adjusted the seating arrangement to enable her to do just that.
Don’t Take It Personally
I learned a very important lesson from that experience. When someone has to leave a session, or falls asleep even sitting in the front of the room, or makes unhappy faces, I do my best NOT to take it personally. Even more, I do my best not to notice and have the behavior affect me. I know that my training sessions are engaging and entertaining. They incorporate ample participation and application of new learning. The one time a person actually did fall asleep, I knew he had to be incredibly tired. Later, I found out that he had been up all night with a sick family member.
