To hate training courses.

[brickinit]

So I have a course coming up that's compulsory. It's First Aid and I can't avoid it. I have mild social anxiety.
I absolutely HATE the introductions/tell me about you phase. I stumble, stutter, freeze, turn bright red. DIE.

Please give me some tips so that I can get through it.
Thanks.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I'm a facilitator and we had a great thread a while ago about how everyone HATES icebreakers. So bear in mind you will not be the only one. Top tip on that thread: just lie. Make something up! I would think about what your best friend would say, that's normally easier. For turning red; very deep breaths, in through your nose, out of your mouth. Try it. I'm a horrible blusher, but that actually works.

Us facilitators love icebreakers, sorry.

[brickinit]

Thanks. I think

Out of interest, why do you facilitators love icebreakers? Why would you want to start the session off with something that makes people feel so uncomfortable?
Nobody feels relaxed afterwards.

[florascotia]

A lot of these courses are just box-ticking exercises. Bear that in mind and, at first, just say something simple such as 'I'm here to see what I can learn to be helpful'. You might actually pick up some useful tips by listening and observing what follows. For instance, CPR is a useful skill and the guidelines have changed in the past few years.

Remember, a lot of these courses need you far more than you need them. On the last first-aid course I went on - cost a bomb - the leader spent far too much time telling us about his deeds of derring-do in remote places. I had previously learned rather more about these courses than I might. But remember, these people are actually there to help you. Share your concens. It's their jobe to dort them out for you.

[Pippidoeswhatshewants]

This is the old icebreaker thread, I think.

[AWholeLottaNosy]

It's hard to be on a course you don't actually want to be on. I used to be a trainer for a charity, training volunteers. They were a dream to train as they really wanted to be there! ( training police officers who had been told to come was a nightmare however...). I think the thing to do is to think about what you can get out of it? First aid is actually a really useful skill to have. A friend of mine did one a few years ago through work and actually saved someone's life a few weeks later when he collapsed at a party! The aim of icebreakers is really to begin the process of the group forming, so people get to know a bit about each other and hopefully relax with each other. As a facilitator I do understand how stressful it can feel as a participant and personally I hate doing it when I'm on a course. Remember most people will also be anxious and actually it doesn't matter what you say, people won't remember it anyway. Take a deep breath, smile and just say something lighthearted. Courses can also be a great way to meet people and make friends. Try to enjoy it and remember, you never know when you might need those skills...Good luck!

[brickinit]

Thankyou, pippidoes. I did see that thread but didn't want to revive a zombie thread.

[brickinit]

thankyou AwholelottaNosy.

I am going to do my best. But it is not easy when you have social anxiety.
My job depends on it. If I don't do this course, I lose my job. It seems so unfair.

[TiggieBoo]

I stick to the bare minimum, "my name is TiggieBoo, I'm a sommelier in training and I am on this course to learn how to deal with people who choke on their wine." That's it, my personal life is mine to disclose on a need to know basis.

[SwedishEdith]

Agree that no-one is really listening to what you're saying anyway as they're all thinking about what they're going to say. When/if they ask for a bit of a career background, just be really brief - no-one at all is interested in anyone else's career beyond "I did x for y years and then started at z in 2010".

[nornironrock]

I also train people as a large part of my job. Often there are people who don't want to be there, and in some cultures in some countries, they will not ask any kind of question at all in case they are seen as stupid!!!!

Just be honest. When it's your turn to introduce yourself, simply say "Hi, I'm brickinit and I'm pretty nervous". You'll get sympathetic smiles, and maybe a chuckle. Someone will certainly seek you out at coffee time and make sure you are ok.

Good luck - it'll be a great course, and you never know, it may turn out to be VERY useful at some point.

[SwedishEdith]

You'll pass a First Aid Course. I did one and no-one failed (that's because the trainers were good, not that they duds got through )

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I'll give you what we do... I run a course about housing and renting/rules/law etc. Our first icebreaker is about what your best housing was/is and why. It gives me an idea about; the group's experience; who is a talker and who isn't; what things are important to the group about housing. I take down all the responses and talk about them, which means people know I'm listening. I do give people a get out of jail free card and say, "you can just say 'the weather' if you like" so people who hate it can just say that.

I don't like mandatory training BTW not good for you or us. First Aid is pretty important though.

[brickinit]

Thanks everybody. I feel a little bit better about it now. I can't be the only one that hates these introductions.

I'm okay once the course is under way. It's just the introduction bit that freaks me out.

[bartfarst1a]

I agree that icebreakers etc. that are almost universally loathed, are a ridiculous 'welcome'. I don't know anyone who likes training courses and i'd question what you actually learn if you're not comfortable most of the time you're there. my position would be that you should not be coerced into doing anything you're substantially uncomfortable with. maybe refuse the silly games? if enough people let the trainers know how onerous an experience it is then they'd sooner or later have to make it less unpleasant for the individuals and stop telling us how much we're going to benefit from it and maybe listen to the honest attendees who just can't wait for the whole ordeal to be over