Tuesday morning, nine-thirty. All participants are quietly waiting for you to start the training. You look around the group. Your gaze lingers on Frank. Frank is slouched, with his arms crossed and his chin up. He tries to look nonchalant, but you see tension in his eyes. You look again and know: Frank isn't looking forward to ‘another one of those little courses’.
Frank is, of course, fictional. But as a trainer, you'll probably recognize one of your previous participants. And to look back on a successful training, you want to reach and motivate everyone. Including Frank. How do you do that? We're sharing four great tips with you.
#1 Speak the language of the group
What is the composition of the group? What are their communication preferences? As a trainer, you know the goals of a training session. But how do you ensure that you present it in a way that everyone is and remains engaged? By speaking the language of the group and individual participants, the chance that they will hear what you have to say is much greater. How do you do that? By consciously pausing at the start of a training. One group needs introductory information at the beginning. Then you calmly go through the program. Is it a group that prefers more action? Then hold off on all the information and start immediately with an exercise. And then provide the information.
#2 Never just go through a program
Always adapt your program to the group. This alignment greatly contributes to how engaged and motivated the group is. For example, pushing people who dread role-playing into one doesn't work. Of course, you can try to get someone out of their comfort zone, but only if it's appropriate or desired, not just because it's on your agenda.
#3 Ensure a pleasant space and healthy food
We ourselves pay a lot of attention to the small details surrounding a training session. We call these sensory stimuli. For example, a good space with plenty of light. But also a healthy lunch, plenty of fruit, nuts, you name it. Seemingly small things with an unnoticed big impact, because they feel like gifts. Because as a trainer, you're essentially saying: I value you. I also care for you. And with that, your participants are more open to the content of your program.
#4 Is your own battery charged?
We've saved the most important tip for last: your own energy. Think back to our example with Frank. To reach and motivate him, you need to draw on your own energy. How energized do you start your day, and how much energy do you bring to the group? Make sure your battery is charged (we actually wrote a blog about this too). This will enable you to understand resistance and respond with resilience. After all, training is about learning and stepping out of your comfort zone, so it's understandable that not everyone is immediately enthusiastic.
Perhaps you're thinking now: That all sounds great. But how do I deal with Frank?
The answer, in fact, lies within all four tips. In any training, it's crucial for participants to feel socially and emotionally safe. You achieve this by connecting with them. And you connect by approaching your group with the right energy and preparation, considering their communication and motivation preferences. This reduces the likelihood of resistance and increases the chances of a successful, impactful training. The key is HOW you deliver the training; this ensures the content is received much better. It helps you build rapport and connect, even with someone like Frank. When you prepare thoroughly, you gain a clear understanding of where resistance originates. Armed with this knowledge, you can act effectively, and perhaps even learn to view resistance as a gift.
