Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tip #280: Getting Past Embarrassing Training Moments #4

Here are two funny moments that happened to trainers whose behavior epitomized the saying: The show must go on!

Deb Johnson, who is a Training Specialist for Allina Hospitals and Clinics, wrote in about her experience:

One of my embarrassing moments happened last year. During the opening introductions of a training class, almost immediately after my intro, I felt something slide down the front of my dress. I slapped my hand to my chest and made some kind of sound of surprise. Needless to say, at this point all eyes were on me.

With my one hand still holding my chest, I used my other hand to reach down. I pulled out a long large necklace that had come undone and that I caught before it fell out the bottom of my dress or got hung up.

Their momentarily stunned faces were priceless- and quickly turned into loud laughter. I said that was the only trick I had up my sleeve or down my dress for the day.

We all laughed and joked, and it set a lighthearted tone to the beginning of the class that carried through the rest of our time together.It left me thinking about the challenge of intentionally creating a positive mood and setting a lighter tone that instantly connects everyone in the room without the embarrassment of the unexpected.

Deb, thanks so much for sending this in! You handled a very ticklish situation beautifully! Yes, it is certainly nicer for us if we can set that comfortable tone without the embarrassment of the unexpected.

Now see what you think about the aplomb of the trainer in this situation!

Another trainer (who shall remain nameless) told me that her most embarrassing moment occurred when she was giving a presentation to a large group of cadets. She was standing on a stage and really struggling to connect with the group. Her struggle to engage and interest them continued for a long time. Then suddenly, everyone sat up on the edge of their chairs and started listening intently to her presentation.

She was very gratified by this change in their demeanor- and enthusiastically continued to speak until she went to move and discovered that her pantyhose had fallen down! [I have no idea why she didn't feel the pantyhose slipping down! She must really concentrate on her presentation to the exclusion of everything else!]

I asked her how she handled the situation and her response was very simple and to the point. I just stepped out of them and then I had their full attention for the rest of the presentation. They kept waiting to see what else would drop!

Isn't that marvelous? I think she really used the situation to her advantage, while many of us would have probably have been devastated and hurried out of there as fast as we could!

Next week, I plan to tell you about my current training crusade. However, if you have ever been embarrassed as a trainer and lived to train another day, please send in your stories and we'll publish them in the following week's Tip!



Friday, June 12, 2009

Tip #279: Getting Past Embarrassing Training Moments #3

One of my own most embarrassing moments happened a number of years ago- so long it ago, in fact, that it occurred before there was even PowerPoint!

I had facilitated an all-day training program, taught a different program that evening, then hit the road very late to drive to the city where I was going to conduct a strategic planning session the next day. I had my materials and colored overheads in a bag with my ever-present bottle of diet Coke- and the bottle spilled, getting sticky Coke all over everything.

I spent the entire night washing, blow-drying, and recoloring the overheads! Exhausted in the morning after my stressful and sleepless night, I had no time for breakfast. I dressed and dabbed cover-up under my eyes so I wouldn't look like a tired raccoon. Then I put on a smile and went to meet the gentlemen on the board of a national corporation who had come from around the country for a day of strategic planning. This was to be my very first experience with them.

Everything went fine as I entered the room and was introduced to the group. Then I took one more step and tripped, landing in the lap of a very surprised CEO!

Well, after the frustrating night I had endured, I can't tell you how tempted I was to simply struggle out of his lap and run for the hills (or at least my hotel room)!

Instead, I got out of his lap, stood up with as much dignity as I could manage, and told the astonished group: If we do a good job with the strategic planning today, I will sit in EACH of your laps!

Everyone laughed with me (much better than at me!) and the session proceeded very well. (And no, I did NOT sit in any more laps- either accidentally or on purpose.)

I learned a number of things from this experience:

Do not travel with a bottle of soda in the same bag as your materials or overheads!

Everyone is human, including me, and so mistakes will happen.

You have to see the humor in embarrassing situations and be able to laugh at yourself.

People are very forgiving and relax if you don't take the embarrassing moment too seriously.

Next week, I'll share a funny moment that happened to another trainer whose behavior epitomized the saying: The show must go on!



Thursday, June 4, 2009

Tip #278: Getting Past Embarrassing Training Moments #2

ince this is a holiday week, today's Tip will be a quick read.` Here is a classic situation shared by Lois Walton, MORE Trainer at Hazelden Springbrook:

I think my most embarrassing moment as a trainer was when I had to leave while my clients (fellow employees) were doing a small group activity so that I could use the restroom. I forgot to turn off my lapel mike, so everyone heard the toilet flush. They were all laughing when I returned to the training room and the story was all over the organization by later that day.

Enough time has gone by that I laugh at the embarrassment now, but it was only funny to the group, not to me at the time. I was mortified!

Thank you, Lois. I think that many trainers have probably had the very same experience when using a lapel mike for the first time- or remembered to turn it off just in time: myself included! When something like this happens, the best we can do is laugh along with the group.

When trainers are nervous about presenting in front of a group, one thing they are often told is to Imagine the audience in their underwear. Well, turn around is only fair, don't you think?

Next week, I'll tell you about one of my own most embarrassing moments and how I managed it!