You encounter resistance many times in life, including in seminars. Sometimes, participants don't attend a seminar willingly. Some are sent by their employers, while others have heard the seminar topic countless times. Their motivation might be low or even nonexistent.

Participants who don't want to engage can quickly become disruptive. The sooner you address this disruption, the faster and better you can continue with the training. Trainers should prepare for such situations in advance and know how to handle resistance effectively.

Below, we describe common reasons for refusal and how to deal with them.

Possible meanings of this resistance are:

The participant truly can't because they lack necessary information. They are still in the phase of conscious incompetence.

The trainer should provide the participant with knowledge and skills. Through practice and training, the participant can achieve conscious competence.

The participant has already automated the knowledge/skill. They are in the phase of unconscious competence.

It's important to bring the participant back to the phase of conscious competence to enable further development. See also: Unconscious Competence in the Seminar Context

The participant can solve the problem/task in another way

Participants might tell the trainer they already know something. The trainer can show them new or different ways to solve a problem/task, changing their perspective. Participants gain new insights.

The participant wants to do something else.

The participant isn't interested in the seminar or the topic. Here, it's crucial for the trainer to show them the purpose and benefit of the seminar and coach them consciously. This can change the participant's attitude and ease their fears.

Sometimes, a participant claims they aren't allowed to do certain things in seminars. This can happen for reasons like:

• Religious reasons
• Ethical reasons
• Blockages
• Prohibitions

Give permission

The trainer should allow the participant to fail. Only through practice, making mistakes, and receiving feedback can a participant grow. Conscious coaching can help break down blockages.

Work systemically

A person's perspective is shaped and reinforced by external influences like their social environment. This leads to certain behavior patterns and ways of thinking they believe are right. Sometimes, this results in tunnel vision, where they see only their viewpoint as correct. Through systemic work, the trainer can change the participant's perspective and open their mind to new ways of thinking.