THELASTLAUGH
By Tim Sosbe and LTEN Members
Here’s a universal truth — anything and everything can happen during training. Sometimes things go wrong in a Murphy’s Law kind of way: Equipment doesn’t perform, technology tests the limits of our abilities, or perhaps we have learners who think they’re ready to be the trainers. The specific possible problems are limitless, but there’s one truth running through every unexpected training situation:
Sometimes, you just have to laugh. What’s happened may or may not be funny in the stand-up comic kind of way, but there’s always a way to find a lighthearted perspective. It lifts moods, it eases tension and it makes everything OK.
With all that in mind, welcome to The Last Laugh, the newest feature in LTEN Focus on Training magazine. We’re starting this new column to give you a place to vent, to share a laugh, to find the silver lining in whatever cloud you face. At least quarterly, we’ll collect your humorously horrible stories, enjoyable anecdotes and “you shoulda been there” moments. The idea is to leave you with a smile on your face and maybe even a story to share around the proverbial water cooler.
Have a story to share for The Last Laugh? Reach out to us at
lastlaugh@L-TEN.org and we’ll help you lighten up someone’s day.
It can be something funny you or one of your learners said or did. I remember a speech class once when a student spent his three minutes talking about how wonderful golf is, ending with “In short, there’s nothing like golf.” To which the teacher immediately responded, “Except sports.”
It can be a fun (if not funny) quote. Consider Mark Twain’s take on active learning: “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.” Ouch.
It can be a joke. Like the time the drill sergeant yelled at the recruit: “I didn’t see you at camouflage training this morning!” and the recruit said, “Thank you, sir!”
It can be whatever you want to share. No example on this one – you show me.
If you want to get involved, please do. Our jobs are stressful with very high stakes, so the more enjoyable we can make our moments together, the better.
To that end, a couple of our good friends are getting us started.
Iain Boomer, head of corporate learning and development for AbbVie Canada, shared a great story illustrating his transition from super-shy introvert to experienced learning leader:
It all started for me in area and global brand teams. My role was to be an emcee and event lead and run learning workshops and the full conference in front of hundreds of participants for yearly or brand launch events.
Before I developed my facilitation and leadership skills, the only way I could muster the energy to get up on stage (though I loved being on stage) was to down three Red Bulls in a row, along with some candy. This was so consistent and habitual that no matter what country or event we were doing, the audiovisual and logistics teams would find fun and interesting ways to always have a special “Boomer” Red Bull package ready for me:
I used to pick out the Laffy Taffy for myself. Some responsibilities need a personal touch.
Seriously, they all had a good laugh with me, but behind it all, they supported and encouraged me in the way that I needed. We had a great team environment and wonderful respect for each other.
Lori Klipp, market access learning advisor for Syneos Health, stepped up to share as well. First, she shared a quote, from essayist Agnes Repplier: “Too much rigidity on the part of teachers should be followed by a brisk spirit of insubordination on part of the taught.”
Then Lori illustrated it quite nicely with a story of her own:
In one of my early stints as a pharmaceutical rep, my manager jokingly asked me to do something he wanted me to do, and I said “no.” He then proceeded to open my field ride report, “I’m going to have to say you were insubordinate.”
As he started to type, he stopped. “Lori,” he said, “how do you spell insubordinate?”
Needless to say, I didn’t spell it starting with the letter “I.” I used a letter earlier in the alphabet.
He laughed and told me I was a jerk. He was fun.
I hope this gives you an idea, and I encourage you to get involved. You don’t even have to be a writer; if that’s not your thing, just reach out, tell us your story, and we’ll capture and share it for you.
Can you share anonymously, to protect the (mostly) innocent? You sure can. We don’t want to embarrass anyone – we just want to share the fun parts of classroom life.
Like that time I was in high school in the ’70s, and the teacher kept repeating, over and over and over, “Wednesday is test day,” to the point where we couldn’t help but understand. “One more time,” he finally said, pointing at a student. “Miss Orange, what is Wednesday?”
We all laughed uproariously as she jokingly referenced a then-current commercial, “Prince Spaghetti day?”
Tim Sosbe is editorial director for LTEN. Email Tim at
tsosbe@L-TEN.org or connect through LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/timsosbe.
