Dealing with difficult training situations
Abstract
This effective practice from Mosaica's newsletter, Training Briefs: Dealing with Difficult Training Situations, suggests strategies for dealing with challenging group training conditions that arise from individual participant behavior.Issue
A trainer or facilitator's task is to guide participants through a set of learning objectives while maintaining group cohesion. Very often, however, they are faced with the delicate task of managing individual behavior while maintaining the group dynamic. When faced with this kind of circumstance, trainers and facilitators must think fast and on their feet.Action
Experienced technical assistance providers suggest these practices:- Address the behavior, not the person, when handling a challenge from one or more individuals.
- Be flexible in your training design to address unexpected questions.
- Find ways to rechannel energies of participants who dominate the group by encouraging cooperative roles and establishing ground rules for participation.
- Use diverse training techniques to engage participants who have different levels of experience and expertise.
- Establish and use ground rules for resolving inter-group conflicts.
- Maintain a positive attitude.
- Follow up with members of the group after the training session to determine any larger issues that require attention.
Context
Mosaica: The Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism, provides organizational assessments, strategic and resource development planning, fundraising capacity building, restructuring support, and assistance in financial management and oversight. Other services include board development, program design and delivery, personnel and systems management, volunteer activities, community involvement and community building, community organizing and advocacy, program evaluation, and coalition building.
The goal of Mosaica is to bring together individuals with diverse voices and experience to create an organization with a set of common values. Mosaica was established out of a commitment to social justice and a belief that within the United States and throughout the world, societies that strive for democracy, human rights, peace, individual opportunity, and pluralism must be built and maintained from the bottom up-community by community, group by group-with the active involvement of nonprofit organizations and a strong independent sector. Mosaica helps strengthen nonprofits so they can provide high quality services and advocacy in a sustainable, well-run fashion that supports communities.
Citation
Mosaica, the Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism."Dealing with Difficult Training Situations." Training Briefs. Washington, DC: Corporation for National and Community Service. no. 13 (April 1999).
*Training Briefs were produced by Mosaica under Cooperative Agreement #98CADC009 with the Corporation for National and Community Service during July of 1997 through October of 1999.
Posted On
May 11, 2000For More Information
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Mosaica: The Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism