--- title: Combatting the Demise of Paying Attention During Training Sessions description: Having trouble with participants paying attention during training? Here are some tips how using business simulations can help combat this problem. image: https://www.advantexe.com/hubfs/Blogs/pay-attention-business-simulations.jpg --- [![logo-advantexe-150.png](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-advantexe-150.png?width=150&height=123&name=logo-advantexe-150.png "logo-advantexe-150.png")](https://www.advantexe.com) ![blog-banner-2022](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-banner-2022.png?width=973&name=blog-banner-2022.png "blog-banner-2022") ### The Advantexe Advisor Blog - providing a deep and applicable understanding of the system of business. # Combatting the Demise of Paying Attention During Training Sessions By Robert Brodo | Dec 8, 2016 8:35:17 AM | [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Combatting%20the%20Demise%20of%20Paying%20Attention%20During%20Training%20Sessions) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcombatting-paying-attention-during-live-training-sessions-business-simulations%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) **How Business Simulations Can Help Ensure that Participants Pay Attention** A decade ago when other professional trainers would share their horror stories about participants ![pay-attention-business-simulations.jpg](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/pay-attention-business-simulations.jpg?width=360&height=240&name=pay-attention-business-simulations.jpg)zoning out, falling asleep, doodling for 8 hours, or doing work on their computers during their live training sessions, I’d quietly smile and pat myself on the back for never having any issues with participants paying attention during *my* sessions.  At the time, I thought the primary reason why our participants were so engaged was the use of our [computer-based business simulations](https://www.advantexe.com/the-power-of-practice-business-simulations) that provided the chance for participants to learn-by-doing and to learn by competing in an interactive and dynamic learning environment.  I also used to think that a small part of the reason for them paying attention was my awesome facilitation skills and informative, interactive training style in presenting [business acumen](https://www.advantexe.com/business-acumen) related topics. Unfortunately, a few years ago it all started to change despite the obligatory setting of strong ground rules by asking participants to put all equipment away. These days, everyone is so busy and so under resourced that multitasking has become an unfortunate way of life.  At first, I could hear the cell phones vibrating in their bags and pockets just when I was about to make a critical point.  The hidden vibrating phones soon started to become visible in participants’ hands, laps, and underneath their workbooks.  You could see their eyes looking down and their fingers typing away when they thought I wasn’t watching.  And then there were the half-closed / half-opened computers that participants would nonchalantly open every few minutes to check their emails.  If nothing was said by me or the program sponsor, they would soon blatantly open the computers up and start doing “work” in front of everyone not caring one iota about anyone else or me, the instructor. Today, this is a common occurrence and has resulted in the demise of participants’ paying attention during live training sessions.  It’s rude, disruptive, and a waste of the client’s money. On several occasions I have stopped in the middle of a session to ask participants to put away their phones or computers and have regretted it for several similar reasons.  By publically embarrassing participants in front of their peers, I have noticed a pattern of the scolded participant becoming belligerent and disruptive in the class and subsequently causing even more issues.  Besides the conflict throwing off my rhythm, the scolded participants of course trashes the program in the evaluations which could result in a reduction or elimination of further programs.  It’s an unnecessary mess! In trying to find a solution, I once tried asking participants to drop off their phones in a basket in the back of the room but that caused a major uproar and a lot of backlash. In order to get the point across in a manner that doesn’t publically humiliate anyone, I have developed three techniques designed to combat the issue and restore attention to learning in the live environment: **Stop talking** This is a very strong, non-confrontational, and passive aggressive technique that is quite effective.  If a participant becomes disruptive, or is causing a distraction by playing with their equipment, I simply stop talking and look directly at the participant in question until he or she realizes what is going on.  Without saying a word, the point is made very quickly and typically that is the last time a participant openly diverts their attention away from the learning. **Simulation team fines** This is an effective technique that also adds an element of coaching and having hard conversations into the business simulation learning process.  In my introductions and ground rules, I share that I will be keeping count of the people who are on their phones or computers and their teams will be “fined” $1 million of net income per incident in the simulation for any infractions.  When the simulation workshop starts, I visit the teams and tell them of their fine without specifically naming names. The teams have to deal with figuring out who the offending party was and if they want to do anything about it. **Reduction of HCM productivity in the simulation software** This is similar to the team fines.  In this scenario, I tell participants up front that the overall human capital management effectiveness of the simulated people doing the work in their simulated companies will go down 1% for every infraction observed in the classroom.  I share the logic of the penalty… since their key leaders didn’t get the training, they can’t be productive.  Again in this instance, the teams are told that their HCM algorithms will be reduced in their team breakouts without naming names and they are left to figure out how to deal with the offending teammate(s). Since the business simulation is such a great learning tool – and participants are so competitive in the workshops – they don’t want to lose any valuable resources of profit that could prevent them from winning. As a result of these three simple and effective techniques, I have been able to significantly increase the attention span and increase the learning.  Another great reason for using simulations in the learning process! [![Why Business Acumen Matters ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1153922/ef562d5a-acb6-45df-86ae-098c09e7fcc0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1153922/ef562d5a-acb6-45df-86ae-098c09e7fcc0) ![Robert Brodo](https://www.advantexe.com/hubfs/Blogs/rob-brodo-author.png) **About The Author** Robert Brodo is co-founder of Advantexe. He has more than 20 years of training and business simulation experience. 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