5.6. Respond competently to defiant behaviour

5.6. Respond competently to defiant behaviour

Sometimes you have to deal with resistance, from one or a few participants or even from the entire group. Here are some tips on how to deal with it.

PREVENTION: START INDIRECTLY AND FRIENDLY

● Start with a good introduction, adapting your approach to the style of the group. ● Start with a fun, enjoyable series of exercises that is interesting and engaging for everyone in the group. ● Take on the role of a supporter rather than that of a captain: show that you understand the resistance and opposition of the rebellious participants. ● Unambiguously set boundaries if participants are bothering eachother, but also make it clear that you do not want to pressure them to participate. ● Reward the participants –in the beginning especially the rebellious one(s) –when they perform an exercise well, but don't do it too conspicuously or too exaggeratedly, or you will get the opposite effect.

THE VOLUNTARY SEPARATION

When the preventive approach doesn't work, you will eventually have to discuss it in some way. You can use the following guidelines for this: ● Show understanding for the resistance/angerof the participants involved ● Don't label them as a nuisance ● Say you don't like this situation either and you want a solution ● Suggest lookingfor a way out together ● You can propose or ask them the following: o you can give the participants the choice whether or not to participate in an activity (but also ask them not to disturb those who want to do the activity). o let the group select from the activities they do and do not want to do. With this approach, you create a situation in which the participants involved are given the freedom of choice to leave the group, which eliminates the power struggle they fought with you and gives the others the chance to continue working without their influence.

A SEPARATE SUPERVISOR/TRAINER

Another possibility is that a separate supervisor/trainer makes himself available to search for and work on activities that do make sense to the rebellious participants. The activities may or may not be an extension of the original objectives.

EXCLUSION

In certain circumstances, you will have no choice but to let go of disruptive participants. However, if you have made yourself clear and expendedefforts to resolve the conflict, there is a real chance that the group will not experience this radical intervention as an infringement of their freedom. On the contrary.

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TRANSVERSAL 1: DIVERSIFYING

● Reinforcing more and less ● Imitation but also freedom ● Insight but also the possibility to take a side road ● Structure as a safe framework, but also a sanctuary ● More and less complexity ● Provide for the preparation, apply during the activity ● Be careful with: losing sight of silent participants, focusing too much on the slowest

TRANSVERSAL 2: FLEXIBILITY

● Dare to deviate from your original training plan if the situation calls for it ● Dealing with unforeseen circumstances ● Learn to switch and improvise ● Learn to measure progress against the premise of the participants ● Be careful with: too much flexibility, frustration

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