Handling Bullies in Training: How I Turned a Tough Crowd into Engaged Learners

Importance of Attitude & Behavior for a Successful Life

Hi! It was a two-day training session on "Importance of Attitude & Behavior for a Successful Life" for workmen in a reputed industry in the area of Bhind Murena (India), which is known for dacoits — Chambal Ghati. Before starting the session, the HR manager suggested not indulging in any sort of arguments with participants because some of the participants have a bullying nature.

As a general practice, the company nominates a few participants who are notorious. When I started my session, they incited nuisance by asking baseless questions, queries, and commenting on replies, etc.

It was awkward; I thought for a moment and turned at a 180-degree angle. I asked them to come to the dais and say a few lines on Attitude & Behavior. They were all dazzled, as speaking within the group might be easy, but in front of a group is the most difficult part. They started looking at each other's faces and got frightened because of pinpointing.

Eventually, my session went smoothly, and even those bullies started to take interest in a positive manner.

So, I learned the lesson that tricks and tactics are important to deal with such bully participants.

Dear Aim Training & Consultancy,

Your presence of mind and savoir-faire in handling the unwieldy participants is laudable. If you had buckled under the wayward behavior of the participants, the training session might have failed, potentially emboldening them to repeat their behavior. Trainers, in general, are trained to handle urbane participants. However, occasionally, a few participants who are boorish or high-handed find their way into the classroom and derive sinister pleasure in derailing the session.

Even in normal circumstances, a few participants start unwanted arguments in the training, and handling such participants becomes a challenge. However, yours was a far more serious case than those types of participants. Still, you did not allow a few oddballs to hold the training session ransom.

You deserve additional appreciation for sharing your real-life experience. The training or consulting community does not necessarily use this forum to share their experiences. Rather, they use it to promote their business or seek advice from others. In contrast, what you have done is to reveal the actual sequence of events that took place. Kudos to you!

All the best!

Dinesh Divekar

Hi AIM Consultancy,

You have handled the situation very well. THROWING BACK THE QUESTION is certainly a proven ploy. Budding trainers would do well to emulate your action.

Thanks for sharing,

V. Raghunathan