Stuff goes sideways. Murphy’s Law loves training rooms. The good news: most “disasters” are predictable. Here’s a fast playbook you can use on the spot—and ways to reduce repeats next time.

1) People miss sessions

Situation: Two miss the first session; two will miss day two.

• Do now: Ask day‑two no‑shows to reschedule to a future cohort. Use breaks to brief day‑one late arrivals and hand them materials.
• Prevent next time: Share outcomes and the non‑negotiables with managers in advance (Working with HR to Create Outcomes). Offer a short pre‑work primer and a one‑page recap sheet.

2) Night‑shift attendee

Situation: One participant comes straight from a night shift.

• Do now: Seat near the door, add micro‑breaks, use pair work, and keep tasks active. If they fade, move them to a later run.
• Prevent next time: Ask schedulers to avoid back‑to‑back shifts for critical workshops; share a simple readiness check.

3) “I can’t use this on the job.”

Situation: Late in day two, someone questions relevance.

• Do now: Pause. Ask for a real scenario; run a 5‑minute case. Map the tool to their task, then capture two actions for their plan (Putting Training into Action).
• Prevent next time: Write job‑linked objectives (Writing Proper Training Objectives), and show “why now” up front.

4) Sudden noise outside

Situation: A mower or drill fires up beside your room.

• Do now: Take a quick break; ask venue to pause the noise. If not, move rooms or switch to a quiet activity (reading, written debrief). Backup: go analog—use a flipchart.
• Prevent next time: Confirm venue maintenance schedules; request a quieter room when booking.

5) Boss and direct report in the same class

• Do now: Set norms for psychological safety. Seat them apart. Avoid pairing them on sensitive topics. Offer anonymous question cards.
• Prevent next time: Ask HR to split cohorts by reporting lines where possible (HR partnership).

6) You forgot keys, markers, or eval forms

• Do now: Use room corners or hallway as break‑out spaces. Swap to highlighters/ballpoints on flipchart. Gather feedback with a short verbal or one‑page prompt (1–5 + one insight) (The Power of Assessment).
• Prevent next time: Pack a go‑bag and checklist in your Trainer’s Guide.

7) Your boss (and their boss) drop in

• Do now: Clarify: observer or participant? Thank them for attending; weave any comments into debriefs.
• Prevent next time: Ask leaders to attend the open and close, not mid‑flow. Share a one‑page outline beforehand.

8) A wheelchair user attends

• Do now: Check access routes, table height, and seating. Offer digital copies and adjust activities so movement isn’t required for participation.
• Prevent next time: Include accessibility checks in your venue brief and activity design.

9) “We’re here because the boss said so.”

• Do now: Acknowledge it. Ask each person to pick one skill worth improving. Use a quick self‑check to personalise goals: Are You a People Person? or VAK Learning Styles.
• Prevent next time: Align expectations with managers and share the WIIFM in the invite (Training Tough Participants tactics help here).

10) Fixed‑seat auditorium, but you planned group work

• Do now: Use dyads with the person next to each learner, then gather quick table reports. Use aisles, stage, back wall, or hallway for stand‑up tasks. Run jigsaw/teach‑backs.
• Prevent next time: Confirm room layout early and adapt timings (Full Day vs. Half Day). Have a no‑move version of each activity in your plan.