The Book of Road-Tested Activities

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Your Highway to Success

Section I: Training Topics 1

Chapter 1: Communication: The Most Vital Skill 3

Story, Song, Poem, Saying 5
Barbara Carnes

Do You See What I See? 10
Sharon Dera

Perception Reflection 13
Rodger Adair

Tuscan Summer Evenings 16
Paul Signorelli

Go for the Win 19
Curtis D. Curry

Chapter 2: Listening: The Second Half of Communication 23

No Advice Please 25
Cyndi Maxey

I See You Listening 28
Jeannette Grace

Do You Know How to Listen? 32
Luciana Rodrigues

Yellow Ball 38
Rachel Stromberg Wical

Are You Smiling? 42
Barbara Murray

Chapter 3: Customer Service and Sales: Imperative for Organizations 45

Defining a Great Customer Experience 47
Andrew S. Cook

What’s in the News? 51
Steffi Paskow

Objection Resolution 54
Lori Spangler

Chapter 4: Creativity and Innovation: Most Important in a Complex World 57

The Penny Story 59
Rodger Adair

It’s Not What You Think 62
Karen S. Sieczka

Creative Storming 69
Sandi Ruther

Creative Word Toss 73
Paul Signorelli

Chapter 5: Diversity and Inclusion: Valuing Differences 77

We are All Different 79
Kathy Shurte

Diversity Quilt 83
Rob Denton

Are You This or That? 86
Marilyn Marles

Cultural Networking 89
Kenny Sturgeon and Randall LaBranche

Generation Genius 92
Jeanne Baer

Chapter 6: Teamwork: Get to Know Your Team 101

Conceptualization of You 103
Joni Goodman

Team Speed-Dating 105
Cynthia Solomon

Acquainted Antics 109
Jennifer Fetterhoff

Team Commercial 113
Tara Denton

Three Truths and a Lie 116
Luciana Rodrigues

Ties That Bind 119
Lisa Downs

Favorites Poker 121
Bob Zimel

Personality Polaroid 131
Laura Mendelow

Chapter 7: Teamwork: Working Together 137

A Cat and a Fridge 139
Meri Villane

Capital Team Building 141
Darrell B. Uselton

Picture Your Ideal Team 150
Lisa Hughes

People to People 154
Gale Mote

Pipe Dream 157
Rob Denton

Team Think-ING 160
Carolyn Nilson

Build a Bridge 162
Rob Denton

Planning with Spaghetti and Marshmallows 165
Patti Ulwelling

Straw Towers 169
Deborah Covin Wilson

Hula Hoop Challenge 172
Joseph Sanchez

From Seeing to Achieving 176
Jeanne Baer

Think on Your Feet 181
Sharon Dera

Chapter 8: Leadership: What It Takes to Make a Leader 185

The Great Leadership Debate 187
Lisa Rike

What a Difference a Goal Makes 19
Barbara Crockett

Create a Vision 193
Mel Schnapper

Power of Questions 196
Lisa Rike

Vote Trust with Your Feet 200
Cindy Phillips

You Be the Ethicist 204
Jeff Furman

Valuing the Values 208
P. Sethu Madhavan and Yehya M. Al Marzouqi

Chapter 9: Solving Problems: Find Practical Solutions 221

Dig It Up 222
Laurie Friedman

Consult the Experts 227
Pam Nintrup

Scenario Cards 230
Erin Miller

Through the Looking Glass 235
Jo Lynn Feinstein

Chapter 10: Professional Development: Skills for the Workplace 239

Activating Enthusiasm 241
Antoinette S. Webster

Stress Symphony 245
Sarah E. Hurst

Zoom! 248
Renie McClay

Puzzled Prospects 250
Jennifer Fetterhoff

Performance Graffiti Wall
Cynthia Solomon

Part of the Big Picture 257
Sharon Dera

Multitasking Stressors 261
Barbara Murray

Get Ready for Interviewing 263
Ruth Soskin

Section II: Training Tools and Techniques 267

Chapter 11: Icebreakers: Getting to Know You 269

What’s Under Your Bed? 271
Christi Gilchrist

Tell Me Something Good 274
Sharon Dera

Getting to Know You . . . Getting to Know All About You 277
Sharon Dera

What’s in a Name? 280
Lisa Downs

Roll of the Die 282
Davis M. Robinson

Guess What We Have in Common 285
Sharon Dera

Immodest Interview 287
J.T. Kostman

Whose Snowball? 290
Amanda Luster

Look What I Can Do! 292
Kenneth R. Stein

Spell It Out! 294
Emily Crouch

Chapter 12: Openings: Start with a BANG 297

Rapid Rate of Change 299
Paul Terlemezian

Focus Einstein Style 301
Paul Terlemezian

Learning is Valuable 304
Linda Kulp

Level the Playing Field 307
Patsi R. Turner

Make a Wish 310
Beverley Taylor

Great Expectations 312
Diana Hauman

Definition BINGO 315
Mark Boccia

I Said I Need to Learn 318
Lou Russell

Let Go of Your Fears 321
Sandi Ruther

Purging the Potholes 324
Antoinette S. Webster

Jazzed 329
Barbara Murray

Chapter 13: Reviewing: Make It Fun 331

PPT Board Game Review 332
Deborah Thomas

Throw Down Your Answer 336
Rebecca Judd

Learning Stations 339
Sarah Burke

Answer the Question and Keep the Card 342
Lori Spangler

I’ll Say It Myself 345
Sue Weller

Tweet! Key Learnings 348
Kella B. Price

Chapter 14: New Tools: Add a Twist to Your Techniques 353

Speedy SMEs 355
Laura Mendelow

Remember Me? 358
Sharon Dera

Product Knowledge Scramble 361
Sharon Dera

Key Ideas 365
Lori Spangler

Give Them the BlackBerries 367
Paul Terlemezian

Tell Me About Yourself 369
Kella B. Price

Deal with It 371
Tina Pressley

Blog and RE-Blog 374
Lisa Haneberg

Success Chain 377
J.T. Hostman

Take Action 380
Sandi Ruther

Dirty Training Room 382
Todd Whisenant

Chapter 15: Online Learning: Tools to Try 387

Twitter Introductions 389
Tara Denton

Virtual Warm-Up 39
Darlene Christopher

YouTube: A Human Touch 394
Joan McGrory

Virtual Role Plays 397
Darlene Christopher

Virtual Word Cloud 400
Joel Lamoreaux

Online Review Wheel 403
Paul Venderley

Chapter 16: Ideas for Your ASTD Chapter 409

A Gift to Use 410
Kenneth R. Stein

Between Meeting Meetings 412
Mary M. Rydesky

Activity GPS 414

About the Editor 421