A few weeks ago, I ran one of our Train the Trainer courses in London with eight students, four women and four men.
I had two ultra-focused senior managers, two public sector staff from HR, two software engineers, and two creatives. It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke.
Everyone was a rounded individual, and all were accomplished in their fields. Soon after the first break, ripe discussions bordered on heated conflict. It was unexpected but not surprising with four strong personality types in the room. There was a clash between the senior managers and the public sector staff - Ds opposed to the S pair. The Cs listened and reacted to the Is with disdain.
It only took me a few moments to resolve the issue diplomatically and rearrange the room (subtly) to prevent further negative discussion.
I provide a session on DISC personality profiles on the course, and I've made the decision to deliver it on the morning of day one so that bones of contention can be identified and reflected upon as part of the learning process.
If you're a trainer, either experienced or inexperienced in your field, have you ever had a day you went into class brimming with confidence? Why did you and your engagement exercises fail to connect with your audience?
If you're not familiar with personality profiles, it's a worthwhile investment in your time to do a little research. In every form of communication, having an inkling of a client/colleague's preferred behavioural style can save a lot of heartache and delays and possibly win you some new business or new friends. No trainer looks forward to a bad day in class. Still, when awkward situations arise, it's useful to recognize the underlying issues and resolve them in a way that doesn't disturb the learning rhythm of the class itself.
Vince Stevenson - Founder College of Public Speaking 2006 Ltd.
If you have a great attitude and look forward to making a difference in your life, I hope you consider joining one of our training the trainer courses or public speaking course soon. It's always possible to improve your skillset and take your work and achievements to a higher level. Three strong reasons to support training
