Perhaps this isn’t you, perhaps it’s only me. But there are times when I’m required to attend trainings that may be very essential, helpful, and informational for my work; however, I’m not interested (I should point out that I’m usually knowledgeable in the area so don’t need the specific training). But I have to be there.
I know you know how I feel.
What to Do When You Feel Sleepy
– Go make yourself a cup of coffee or tea. This gets the blood moving and gives you something to do once you’re seated again.
– Come with specific questions so you have a reason to pay attention until the moment where your question is relevant.
– Arrive with your laptop to take notes or maybe be working on other things simultaneously.
– At last resort, bite the inside of your cheek. Your colleagues may wonder why you’re bleeding out of the mouth, but at least you’re still awake.
What to Do When You Feel Others’ Questions Are Stupid
– Keep smiling. They’re asking because they honestly don’t know. Smiling may make you feel better, but make sure that you’re not looking too wolfish in your grin.
– Zone in to another train of thought and hold in any snorts that you feel coming on.
– Design a new child’s game in your head.
– Time to skim Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. Okay, scratch that (especially if you’re followed by your boss or coworkers…and you probably are). Maybe you can plan the itinerary of your next business meeting.
What to Do When Your Brain Is on Overload
– Take notes
– If you can’t even anymore, just bullet-point what things you’ll need to do research on your own when you’re back at your desk.
– Try smiling again. Make the trainer think you are the best listener that there ever was. They’re knowledgeable and wanting to share with people who care.
– Do a handstand in the back of the meeting room. It’s like a reset button for your body and your brain. But don’t expect to not be noticed.
Maintaining sanity in a group training can be difficult, especially when everyone is on varying levels of knowledge. You may know everything already, but the girl sitting next to you knows nothing at all.
Yeah, that’s frustrating. But that’s why we’re having the training to catch everyone up to speed.
Hold on to your sense of humor, and take yourself out to a fancy dinner to celebrate how kindly you handled that mandatory training. Buy yourself that new video game or a big bouquet of chocolates. You win. You attended the mandatory meeting and you were nice to everyone.
Leave a Reply