Description
Book SynopsisFrom training expert Mel Silberman (the father of the popular and effective active training method) comes Unforgettable Experiential Activities. Mel Silberman''s next-step resource is designed for facilitators who want to incorporate Impactful Activities into their trainings. As the author explains, Impactful Activities are at once concrete, dramatic, and unexpected.
Based on best-selling author Mel Silberman''s Active Training program, Unforgettable Experiential Activities contains 75 original activities developed and tested during his 40 year career as a training expert. All these dynamic activities have stood the test of time and will help any trainer (novice or well-seasoned professional) engage their learners in active, experiential learning.
As accessible as it is useful, each of the book''s activities includes an informative introduction and contains suggestions and techniques for implementing the activities that will ensure success every time. The activities ar
Table of Contents
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
