Page 356 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 09 11/20/02 1:03 PM Page 345
PREVENTING RESISTANCE Keeping the Communication Flowing 345

In any session you are likely to encounter people who for one reason or another do not
want to be there or who feel they must compete for attention. Either type can create a
challenge by interfering with planned activities, annoying people, and disrupting the
learning process. Here are some things you can do that I find help reduce the amount
of disruption encountered in training programs.

• Be Approachable—smile!
You have already read about the power of smiles. Use them freely.
• Use solid “people” skills.
Continually strive to improve your interpersonal communication skills such as
the ones you read about earlier in this chapter.
• Encourage questions and honest challenges.
People learn by questioning and processing ideas. Provide as many opportunities
as possible in your session for doing this.
• Set an environment of trust.
Take positive actions to ensure that participants feel safe and psychologically
comfortable in your sessions.
• Stress a safe environment.
Eliminate threats, intimidation, and put downs, and ensure that learners feel pro-
tected from unwarranted judgmental criticisms when voicing ideas, questions, or
thoughts.
• Facilitate, rather than direct learning.
Apply techniques such as the ones found in this book and others to engage and
stimulate learners through active involvement.
• Plan and practice.
Being ready for any situation helps ensure that instructions and activities will flow
well and that your material delivery will appear seamless to learners.
• Seize opportunities to recognize.
Develop a reward system and look for opportunities to compliment and honor
achievement. Outline the system to learners at the beginning of the session and
use it during the session.
• Use attentive silence.
You do not have to talk all the time. Pause regularly to allow thinking and
questioning. As participants talk, listen actively and react appropriately to their
comments.
• Provide appropriate feedback.
As Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager series, says in his book,
“Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Take the time to recognize positive be-
havior (e.g., correct responses, contributions, or volunteerism) and give feedback.
This encourages all participants to duplicate the action or behavior so as to receive
their own positive stroking.