Last updated on Sep 21, 2024

What are the best ways to handle learners who break the rules?

As a trainer, you want to create a positive and productive learning environment for your learners. But what do you do when some of them break the rules, disrupt the class, or challenge your authority? How do you handle these situations without losing your cool or compromising your professionalism? In this article, we will explore some of the best ways to deal with learners who break the rules, and how to prevent them from happening in the first place.

1 Set clear expectations

One of the most important steps to handle learners who break the rules is to set clear expectations from the start. Before the training begins, communicate the learning objectives, the agenda, the ground rules, and the consequences of violating them. Make sure everyone understands and agrees to follow them. You can also ask the learners to sign a code of conduct or a learning contract to reinforce their commitment.

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Missy Drury

Engagement & Change Management | Learning & Development Manager, Enterprise Data & AI
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I agree that setting clear expectations is a great start. One of the tools I find most effective is to get buy-in from leadership and people managers to help reinforce the importance of completing training. This is something I try to implement in any training deployment.

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Liza Ness

Americas Facilitator Excellence Leader at EY
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In my experience as a facilitator, shifting language from 'ground rules' to 'group agreements' is a subtle change but can have big impact. You are inviting people into an agreement that everyone can contribute to instead of telling everyone what the rules are and making them acknowledge them. Participants are more likely to adhere to agreements that they feel some ownership of versus rules that are being 'imposed upon them'.

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Chantal Foerster

I'm a motivating artist, certified behavior analyst, I teach piano lessons, and a writer,etc.
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There will always be some that break the rules. Always reinforce all that obey the rules first. When it is necessary, you can work 1on1 with those that believe that they don't need to obey the rules. Make sure that you reward them whenever they follow your lead in obeying the rules. As they're learning, assess their behavior so that you know when to take away any part of their learning that you find brings the intention to disobey the rules.

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2 Use positive reinforcement

Another effective way to handle learners who break the rules is to use positive reinforcement. This means rewarding and acknowledging the learners who follow the rules, participate actively, and show respect. You can use verbal praise, feedback, badges, certificates, or other incentives to motivate and encourage them. By doing this, you can create a culture of recognition and appreciation, and discourage negative behaviors.

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3 Address the issue promptly

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, some learners may still break the rules. In that case, you need to address the issue promptly and firmly. Don't ignore or tolerate the rule-breaking, as it may escalate or affect other learners. Instead, intervene as soon as possible, and use a calm and respectful tone. Explain why the behavior is unacceptable, and what the consequences are. If possible, try to understand the root cause of the problem, and offer support or guidance.

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Marc W. Halpert

LinkedIn™ laureate; 1:1 coach, group trainer, author, speaker, strategic marketing consultant, over 14+ years. I help serious professionals tell WHY they do what they do, making them "amazing-er" than their competitors!
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This really happened. I taught LinkedIn techniques to the public in a library meeting room and a woman entered late, after I started, and sat down in the front, noisily. Throughout my session, she shook her head, muttering, and after trying hard not to let her distract me, I stopped midsentence. I asked her point blank, "Is there something the matter?" to which she blurted "LinkedIn is a bunch of hogwash (actually a more graphic phrase). I gave her 2 reasons it is not, real success stories from clients, I moved on, but she still disrupted. I asked my host to escort her out. When she had left, the room erupted in applause, not only in relief that they could continue learning, but told me she had done this frequently to other speakers.

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4 Apply consistent consequences

When you address the issue, you also need to apply consistent consequences. This means following through with what you said you would do, and treating all learners equally. Don't make exceptions or favoritism, as it may undermine your credibility and authority. Also, don't use harsh or humiliating punishments, as they may damage the relationship and trust. Instead, use consequences that are fair, reasonable, and proportional to the offense.

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5 Involve other stakeholders

Sometimes, you may need to involve other stakeholders to handle learners who break the rules. This may include the learners' managers, peers, mentors, or HR representatives. You can consult them for advice, support, or intervention. For example, you can ask the managers to monitor the learners' progress, or provide feedback. You can also ask the peers or mentors to coach or mentor the learners, or provide peer pressure. However, make sure you respect the learners' privacy and confidentiality, and inform them of your actions.

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Liza Ness

Americas Facilitator Excellence Leader at EY
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Approaching a situation with empathy, in my experience, has produced the best results. Starting the conversation with 'This is what I'm seeing and how it is impacting the session, is everything OK?' makes the participant aware of their behavior(s) without being too confrontational. This can allow for an open and authentic conversation as you seek to understand the situation better and how best to address it or escalate it to appropriate stakeholders.

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6 Prevent future occurrences

Finally, you need to prevent future occurrences of learners breaking the rules. This means reflecting on what happened, and learning from it. You can evaluate your own performance, and identify areas for improvement. You can also solicit feedback from the learners, and find out what worked and what didn't. Based on that, you can adjust your training methods, materials, or strategies. You can also update or revise your expectations, rules, or consequences, and communicate them clearly.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best ways to handle learners who break the rules?

1

2

3

4

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1 Set clear expectations

2 Use positive reinforcement

3 Address the issue promptly

4 Apply consistent consequences

5 Involve other stakeholders

6 Prevent future occurrences

7 Here’s what else to consider

Training

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What are the best ways to handle learners who break the rules?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Set clear expectations

2 Use positive reinforcement

3 Address the issue promptly

4 Apply consistent consequences

5 Involve other stakeholders

6 Prevent future occurrences

7 Here’s what else to consider

Training

Rate this article

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