Disappointed in Training

[deedeeb]

I recently attended a 3-day course in Interpersonal Communications at the recommendation of my director.  I was actually flattered that he recommended me, since I would have to be away 3 days, and this course wasn't cheap.  I had high expectations for it since the training firm is well-known (is it OK to give names here?).  I have attended other session offered by the company in question and they are always valuable.   At any rate, I think my perceptions of the training were colored by the instructor's approach.  For example, instead of introducing ourselves and briefly talking about what we hoped to get from class, she started right in asking everyone to offer their reactions to the events of September 11!  I was very surprised and to judge from the others' reactions, they were, too.  This continued in various forms for the entire 3 days, ending with the instructor rounding us up for a separate, 2-hour session titled "Working Through the Emotional Aftermath of September 11, 2001".  Now I agree that having such a discussion can help with communicating, but this was not what we had paid for and I felt coerced into attending the separate session.  



My problem is, when filling out the course evaluation, I indicated my dissatisfaction with that aspect of the course.  The instructor actually told us to mark down "Excellent" as much as possible--I got the impression she was an independent contractor who hoped to be invited back.  Her background was as a counselor and coach, and she has a PhD, so maybe it was her approach I found lacking.  In any case, she read my evaluation out loud as soon as I handed it in which I found not only embarrassing personally (I wasn't the only person who was disappointed with the training), but quite unprofessional.  



So do you think I am justified in asking to audit (for one morning, possibly) the course when it is in session with a different instructor?  This cost $1500, not to mention my absence for 3 days, and I feel a need to decide if this is only my own perception, a personal style difference with the instructor, or an actual bias on the instructor's part.  I could use another perspective!  

[radaro]

She asked you to put down "excellent" and then read your evaluations out loud.  This is totally unprofessional.



The company should be happy you are only asking to audit a course, you should ask for your money back.  PhD or not, presentation was not what you asked for.

[whitesatin]

I would say you have every right to be disappointed. Not only that, you have every right to be angry.  You obviously did not get what you paid for.  Maybe you should discuss these events with your immediate supervisor and someone from your HR department to see how they would advise you to proceed.



She should not be telling you to mark "excellent" as much as possible.  This is SUPPOSED to be YOU evaluating her, not her dictating to you what you should put down.  Also, her reading your evaluation to the entire class was beyond unprofessional, rude and demeaning.



If I were you, I would do everything in my power to appeal to her supervisor/s.  Let them know just exactly what transpired.  $1,500.00 is nothing to sneeze at.  I'm sure your company would agree that they and you were robbed by this person who is passing herself off as someone she is not, providing a service for pay that she is not.



Good luck and please let us know what happens.



WhiteSatin

[laundryhater]

Yes, you are very justified in requesting an audit. Your instructor sounds very unprofessional. Your company did not pay money so you could discuss current events. They paid so you could gain valuable skills and tools. Your company did not pay money so you could be embarrassed in front of the whole class. The instructor is the one who should feel embarrassed. She did not conduct herself in a classy manner. She did not fulfill your contract in that you did not receive the skills and knowledge you anticipated.

[Katie G]

Unbelievable!



I've never had an experience like that but if it were me, I'd compose a formal letter of complaint to the company.  She sounds like a real "loose cannon" and they might not even know it!   Even if the presentation had been excellent, trying to influence the evaluation is downright unethical.  Add to that the fact that the presentation was NOT what was advertised, and I'd think you might have a cause for getting the money back.  What was her PhD in? Did she think it was her place to analyze everybody?!?  



 

[deedeeb]

Thanks for the input - I called the training company and was told that their training is 100% guaranteed and not only can I audit one morning, I can re-take the entire course if I wish, with another instructor.  I also asked to be called by a representative to express my disappointment in the instructor's unprofessionalism, and they were very receptive.  Understand, my point is not to trash the instructor, but I want to give them some honest feedback about my experience.  I can only hope the others in the class do the same, since from talking with them at meals and breaks, their experience was similar to mine.  You know, I do believe the instructor was trying to analyze us!  So maybe her background in counseling got in her way and she needs to hear that and learn to present the material the way it is intended.  Now to get bossie to agree to let me go away again for 3 whole days!!  

[whitesatin]

Good for you Deedeeb.  Believe me, we understand that you are not trying to trash the teacher.  You were led to believe you were there to learn one thing, but instead became this PhD's lab rat. (She's probably writing a research paper or article and was using this class as her control group.) Shame on her.  I hope your boss sees the value in letting you re-do this seminar.



WS  

[diamondlady0102]

deedeeb, sounds like you did the right thing. You have every right to check into getting either an audit of the course done, or retake the course to get out of it what you are supposed to.



diamondlady0102