Unforgettable Experiential Activities: An Active Training Resource

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Foreword xv

Introduction 1

Chapter One: Getting Acquainted 11

1. Alphabetical Circle: A Fun Way to Learn Names and a Lot More 12

2. Group Résumé: Who We Are Collectively 14

3. Things We Have in Common: Getting to Know You 16

4. Predictions: Making Guesses About Co-Participants 18

5. Introductory Go-Arounds: Brief Self-Disclosures 20

6. What’s in a Name? My Story 22

Chapter Two: Communication 25

7. Communication Tokens: An Awareness Exercise 26

8. Direct Communication: You Write the Scripts 28

9. Explaining Something Complicated: Avoiding Information Dumps 30

10. Obtaining Participation: Using Different Formats 34

Chapter Three: Assertive Behavior 41

11. Concerns About Confronting Employees: Overcoming the Anxiety 42

12. Assertive Starters: Ways to Begin an Assertive Message 46

13. Non-Verbal Persuasion: Assessing Its Impact 50

14. Refusing Unwanted Requests: Practicing Saying No 52

15. Stating Complaints and Requesting Change: Skill Practice 56

Chapter Four: Influencing Others 59

16. Alligator River: Looking at People with Different Glasses 60

17. Question First: The Best Way to Overcome Resistance 65

18. Influencing Others: Four Role-Play Scenarios 68

19. Getting Your Foot in the Door: Avoiding Rejection 72

Chapter Five: Conflict and Negotiation 75

20. Views of Conflict: A Word Association Game 76

21. What You Bring to Conflict Situations: Experiencing Different Styles 79

22. The Ten-Thousand-Dollar Challenge: Working Through a Conflict 85

23. Role Reversal: Arguing the Flip Side 89

24. Rating Methods to Deal with Conflict: Yours and Theirs 92

25. Breaking a Stalemate: Steps to Move Forward 95

Chapter Six: Creativity and Problem Solving 99

26. Getting Ready for Brainstorming: Creative Warm-Ups 100

27. Part Changing: Demonstrating a Technique to Increase Creativity 105

28. Brainwriting: An Alternative to Generating Ideas Verbally 108

29. Inspired Cut-Outs: Freeing the Mind 110

30. Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes: Taking a Different Perspective 113

31. Making Decisions After Brainstorming: Narrowing the Options 116

Chapter Seven: Diversity 119

32. Being in the Minority: Simulating an Everyday Reality 120

33. I’ve Been Curious: Questions I Have Been Afraid to Ask 124

34. Setting the Record Straight: Things About Me and Others Like Me 127

35. Unlocking Memories: Self-Disclosures in a Diverse Group 130

Chapter Eight: Facilitating Teams 133

36. Multi-Voting: A Constructive Way to Make Decisions 134

37. Rotating Facilitators: Practicing Effective Facilitation 137

38. Card Exchange: A Unique Way to Stimulate Discussion 142

39. The Problem with Majority Voting: A Double Whammy 145

40. Changing the Rules: Altering Group Process 148

41. Removing Egos: A Tool for Team Facilitators 151

Chapter Nine: Exchanging Feedback 155

42. Animal Metaphors: An Exercise in Obtaining Honest Feedback 156

43. Giving Effective Feedback: Wheaties Over Donuts 163

44. Judging the Impact of Words: Applications to Giving Feedback 168

45. When Asking for or Giving Feedback Is Challenging: Your Advice 173

Chapter Ten: Leadership 177

46. The Window Shade: Depicting Different Approaches to Decision Making 178

47. Mirroring: Experiencing the Joys and Tribulations of Being a Leader 181

48. Going Outside Comfort Zones: Brief Exercises in Change 185

49. Changes You Would Make: Dreaming Beyond the Status Quo 190

Chapter Eleven: Teaching and Coaching Employees 195

50. Making Butterflies: It’s Not What You Say That Counts 196

51. Brain-Friendly Teaching: Using Four Key Principles 202

52. Building Skills Through Role Plays: You Have Options 208

53. The Components of Effective Coaching: Observing the Process 218

54. Show But Not Tell: Upping the Stakes 218

Chapter Twelve: Understanding Others 221

55. Avoiding Labels: Interpreting Behavior Objectively 222

56. Be Curious, Not Furious: Five Ways to Understand Others 227

57. Comparing Yourself to Others: Looking for Differences and Similarities 231

58. The Three C’s: What Makes People Difficult 234

Chapter Thirteen: Sales and Customer Service 239

59. A Convincing Sales Presentation: Warm-up Practice 240

60. Dissatisfied Customers: How to Win Them Over 243

61. To Consult or Not Consult: Assessing Your Selling Style 248

62. Your Company’s Sales Philosophy: How Do You Treat Customers? 251

Chapter Fourteen: Team Building 255

63. The Stages of Team Development: A Card Sorting Activity 256

64. Television Commercial: An Unusual Team-Building Activity 262

65. Creative House Building: An Exercise in Teamwork 264

66. Fishbowl Meeting: Observing Group Process 266

67. Making Paper Cups: Simulating a Learning Organization 269

68. Are You a Team Player? Things Team Players Do 274

69. Paper Airplanes: The Power of Collaboration 278

Chapter Fifteen: Train the Trainer 281

70. Active Vacations: Topics Versus Objectives 282

71. Design Challenges: Planning How to Achieve Training Objectives 286

72. Energizers: Ways to Wake Up or Relax a Training Group 289

73. Has This Ever Happened to You? Making Team Learning Work 292

74. Training Styles: Three Continua 296

75. You Have Many Options: Increasing Your Training Repertoire 298

About the Author 301