Eyes Up, Phones Down: Mastering the Art of Reading the Room

Ewan Laing
Apr 23
3 min read

You’re mid-session, delivering what you think is a brilliant point, but then you notice it—glazed-over eyes, quiet side conversations, or learners sneaking glances at their phones. Uh-oh.

The best trainers don’t just stick to the plan; they read the room and adjust in real time. Energy levels shift, engagement fluctuates, and your ability to pivot can make or break your session.

At Team BrightSpark, we call this the Trainer’s Sixth Sense—the ability to spot when an audience is slipping and pull them back in without derailing the session. Here’s how to master it.

🚦 Step 1: Spot the Warning Signs

How do you know if you’re losing the room? Here are the red flags:

❌ Low Energy: People are slumping in their chairs, avoiding eye contact, or sitting in silence when you ask a question.

❌ Side Conversations: Learners whispering or getting distracted usually means they’ve checked out.

❌ The “Phone Glance” Epidemic: If more than one person is checking their phone, you’ve lost them.

❌ Minimal Participation: When responses to questions become one-word answers, engagement is slipping.

✅ Quick Fix: The moment you spot one of these signs, pause and reset. Call for a quick stretch break, switch up the activity, or simply ask the room a question to pull focus back.

🎭 Step 2: Adjust Your Approach in Real Time

Once you know the energy is dipping, how do you fix it without derailing your session?

1️⃣ Flip the Script

Instead of pushing through slides, throw a question to the group. 🔹 Example: “Let’s hit pause. What’s one challenge you’ve faced with this topic?” Now, the focus shifts, and engagement comes back.

2️⃣ Change the Format

If you’ve been talking for more than 10 minutes straight, break it up. 🔹 Try:

A quick partner discussion (“Turn to the person next to you and share one insight.”)
A hands-on activity (“Let’s test this concept right now.”)
A movement-based reset (“Stand up if you agree with this statement.”)

3️⃣ Lighten the Mood

Humor is a powerful reset button. If things feel tense or sluggish, inject a little fun. 🔹 Example: “I promise we’re almost at the good part—no more death-by-PowerPoint.”

📊 Step 3: Use Mid-Session Pulse Checks

Great facilitators don’t wait until the end of a session to check engagement—they course-correct in the moment.

📌 Quick Pulse-Check Tactics:

✅ Fist-to-Five: Ask learners to rate their understanding on a scale from 0 (lost) to 5 (got it!).

✅ One-Word Check-In: “Describe how you’re feeling about this topic in one word.”

✅ Live Polling Tools: Use tools like Vevox or Mentimeter for instant feedback.

🚀 Pro Tip: If feedback shows confusion, don’t just repeat yourself. Reframe, simplify, or illustrate the point in a new way.

🍌 Bonus Step: The Wild Card Reset

Sometimes, when all else fails, you need a big, unexpected moment to pull your audience back in. Ever found yourself in a session where the energy is so low you could hear a pin drop? This is where the art of surprise comes in! Sometimes you just need to shout “BANANAS!” and see what happens to the energy in the room!

❓No idea what we’re talking about? Well before screaming about random fruits, take a read of our "Mastering Audience Engagement: Hook, Hold, and Wow Your Learners” blog from earlier in the series and all will be revealed!

🎯 Your Challenge: Try a mid-session pulse check and adjust based on the feedback you get. Notice how small shifts can re-energize your session.

Ready to Take Your Training Skills to the Next Level?

Our ‘Training Trailblazers’ program is designed to turn great trainers into extraordinary facilitators. Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching to refine your own facilitation skills or want to train an entire team to become top-notch trainers, we’ve got you covered. Book a discovery call today and become the trainer your learners remember!

💡 Let’s build your confidence, your skills, and your impact—one session at a time.