Management Games and Icebreakers: Communication

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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Break and Make

(Refer for the most authentic articles on Building Leadership and Management: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

Break and Make

You are a workshop/seminar leader and if you are looking out for a game/exercise that does not ask participants to use pencil and paper, "Break and Make" is the answer. You can gainfully use it in your training sessions or modules on communication, leadership, motivation, team work, team building, strategy and problem solving. It also works as good energizer. It can be played in-door as well as out-door.

Divide your workshop participants into groups of around ten participants each. Administer this game as a competition among these groups. The group that finishes the game the fastest will be the winner. If you like, you may announce a prize for the winning group.

Direct each group the way it is described in the following paragraphs.

Ask the members of each group to form a circle. Now a person in the circle will move towards the center of the circle. Simultaneously the person opposite him in the circle will also start moving towards the center. As both of them meet at the center of the circle they will clasp each others' hands. This act will be repeated by the set of two other members standing opposite each other in the circle. They too will clasp hands such that their hands are place over and above the clasped hands of the other pair. This way all the remaining members will also clasp hands by reaching the center and get entangled with the rest of the pairs. By now they would have knotted themselves with each other in a complex manner.

Now ask the members of the knotted group to disentangle themselves and return the circle to its original shape. Put a condition that in forming the circle they should not release the hands tied as pairs. They will be allowed to communicate and discuss with each other.

Observe how they demonstrate their strategy formulation, communication, leadership, motivation, team work/team building and problem solving skills.

Based on such observations, start a discussion among the participants after they have completed the "Break and Make" exercise. Let participants start talking group by group. Fill them in with your observations and comments.

Wrap up the game by giving any additional inputs that you wish to impart.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Line Up by Birth Dates

(Refer for the most authentic articles on Building Leadership and Management: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

Line Up by Birth Dates

You as seminar facilitator or workshop leader will find in this management game the elements of an excellent group exercise, energizer and icebreaker. As a participative game you can administer it as an icebreaker at the start of your program or you can use it for your sessions/modules on strategy formulation, leadership, team work, coordination, communication and discipline.

After all the participants of the program have come in, tell them to stand up from their seats if they are sitting and line them up in a straight line.

Now instruct them to rearrange themselves in the line in the order of their birth dates as per the conditions you will specify soon.

The conditions are:

The person born on 1st January should be heading the line and the person born on 31st December should stand at the other end of the straight line. Others should arrange in between these two persons in order of their birth dates.
In carrying out the re-arrangement no one will speak with each other at all.
In carrying out the re-arrangement no one will write down anything anywhere.

Allow them 15 minutes to carry out this exercise.

If they fail to complete the group task in the allotted time, extend the time by five more minutes.

If they declare that they have now lined up by their birth dates, check it out by asking them to declare their birth dates loudly. If they have lined up correctly, congratulate them and let them tell you how they achieved such a perfect result.

If they have not been able to carry out the task or they carried out the task incorrectly, let them tell you what went wrong. What they could have done to achieve the desired result?

Wrap up the game by sharing your observations and comments with them. In case they have not been able to figure out how the task could have been accomplished, fill them up with your suggestions.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Follow Instructions

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

This is a real fun exercise that can be used by you as the seminar or workshop leader in your programs on communication, communication skills, pitfalls of communication etc. This exercise is an excellent icebreaker and energizer.

Distribute to the participants of your program a handout containing the 20 instructions given below. Each participant will have to read the instruction one by one, follow the instruction, do the activities as specified by these instructions and thus complete all the instructions.

Instruct them to carry out the instructions as fast as possible since you wish to see the person(s) who can do them in the fastest way. Tell them that you will declare the winner(s) at the end of the exercise.

Exercise Instructions:

1. Read every thing before doing anything, but work as rapidly as you can.

2. Put your name in the upper right hand corner of this paper, last name first.

3. Circle the word “name” in sentence 2.

4. Underline the words “upper right hand” in sentence 2.

5. Now draw a circle around the title of this page.

6. Sign your name under the title.

7. In sentence 5, draw a circle around the title of this paper.

8. Write the name of India’s capital.___________________________________

9. Underline all of sentence 7.

10. Draw an “X” in the lower left hand corner of this paper.

11. Draw a circle around the “X” just you drew.

12. Write the name of your city/town/village.

13. Draw a circle around the phrase “capital city” in sentence 8.

14. Speak out loud your name when you get to this point.

15. If you think you have followed instructions to this point, call out loudly “I have”.

16. Close your eyes and raise your left hand over your head.

17. Write your designation. ___________________________________

18. Count out loud in your normal speaking voice backward from 10 to 1.

19. Now that you have read the instructions carefully, do only what sentence 1 and 3 ask you to do. Ignore all other instructions.

20. Please do not give this test paper to any colleague, make no comments or explanations. If you have read this so far, pretend that you are still writing. Let us see how many persons really follow instructions carefully.

End of exercise instructions

After about 10 to 15 minutes, you will be in a position to start a discussion among the participants about what all happened in undertaking this exercise. Let the participants share their experiences.

Also, share your observations with them. Draw out the relevant conclusions related to communication skills and pitfalls of communication. Wrap up the exercise.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Additional Reading Opportunities

Alphabetic List of of Management Topics and Their Site URLs
(The term "management" here does not limit itself to just about business management but it encompasses management of all kinds of things like life management, home management, family management, health management, travel management, food management and so on).

Home Pages for All the Topics

1. (Home Pages for Brief Introduction to All the Business Management Topics) http://management-universe.blogspot.com/, http://management-universe-enotes.blogspot.com/ and http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

2. (Home Page for All General and Psychological Counseling) http://counselingfamily.blogspot.com/

3. (Home Page for All Home Tips: Home and Family Management) http://home-tips-tricks.blogspot.com/

4. (Home Page for All Products: Products Knowledge Management) http://products-all.blogspot.com/

Topics Starting with Numbers

(5S Housekeeping) http://5s-housekeeping.blogspot.com/
(5S Housekeeping at Home: Home Management) http://5s-housekeeping-home.blogspot.com/

Topics Starting with Alphabets

A
(ABC Analysis or Pareto Analysis or 80/20 Rule) http://abc-pareto-analysis.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.net/index.php/2011/07/20/abc-analysis-or-pareto-analysis/
(Activity Based Costing- ABC) http://activitybased-costing.blogspot.com/
(Advertising) http://advertising-mass-communication.blogspot.com/
(Anecdotes in Management) http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
(Anger Management) http://controlling-anger.blogspot.com/
(Articles, blogs and knols of Shyam Bhatawdekar: Home Page) http://writings-of-shyam.blogspot.com/
(Assertiveness) http://assertiveness-skill.blogspot.com/
(Assessment Centers) http://assessment-centers.blogspot.com/
(Authentic and Free Management Notes) http://authentic-management-notes.blogspot.com/
(A to Z of Management Systems) http://a-z-management-systems.blogspot.com/
(A to Z of Quality Techniques) http://a-z-quality-techniques.blogspot.com/

B
(Balanced Scorecard) http://balanced-scorecard-system.blogspot.com/
(Basic Statistics) http://statistics-basic.blogspot.com/
(Behavioral Safety) http://behavioral-safety.blogspot.com/
(Benchmarking) http://benchmarking-system.blogspot.com/
(Body Language or Non-verbal Communication) http://body-language-communication.blogspot.com/
(Books- Best Books) http://best-book-list.blogspot.com/
(Books- Best Management Books) http://best-management-books.blogspot.com/
(Boundaryless) http://shyambhatawdekar.blogspot.com/
(Brainstorming) http://brainstorming-technique.blogspot.com/
(Branding- Personal/Professional Branding http://professional-branding.blogspot.com/ or http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/
(Business Ethics and Ethics in Management) http://business-management-ethics.blogspot.com/
(Business Plan) http://business-plan-preparation.blogspot.com/
(Business Process Reengineering- BPR) http://business-process-reengineering-bpr.blogspot.com/

C
(Career Planning within Organizations) http://organizational-career-planning.blogspot.com/
(Case Method) http://case-method.blogspot.com/
(Case Studies in Management) http://corporate-case-studies.blogspot.com/
(CEO Roles, Qualities and Competencies) http://ceo-qualities.blogspot.com/
(Change Management) http://manage-change.blogspot.com/
(Child Development: Stories for Children) http://stories-children.blogspot.com/
(Children’s Behavior Problems: Family Management) http://child-behavior-problems.blogspot.com/
(Coaching) http://coaching-skill.blogspot.com/
(Communication) http://communication-for-business.blogspot.com/
(Competencies- Life Management) http://shyam-bhatawdekar.blogspot.com/
(Competency Matrix/Competency Mapping: Success by Building Competencies/Skills) http://competency-matrix-mapping.blogspot.in/
(Competency Mapping) http://competency-map.blogspot.com/
(Competency Matrix) http://competency-matrix.blogspot.com/
(Conflict Management) http://manage-conflict.blogspot.com/
(Corporate Governance) http://corporate-governance-policy.blogspot.com/
(Cost Management) http://cost-management-control.blogspot.com/
(Cost of Quality- COQ) http://cost-of-quality.blogspot.com/
(Counseling at Workplace)http://counseling-skill.blogspot.com/
(Counseling: Psychological) http://counselingfamily.blogspot.com/
(Creativity- Out of Box Articles) http://wow-idea.blogspot.com/
(Creativity and Innovation) http://creativity-management.blogspot.com/
(Critical Thinking skills) http://critical-thinking-skills.blogspot.com/
(Cross Cultural Etiquette and Manners) http://cross-cultural-etiquette.blogspot.com/
(Customer Orientation) http://customer-orientation.blogspot.com/
(Customer Relationship management- CRM) http://customer-relationship-crm.blogspot.com/

D
(Daily Management) http://daily-management.blogspot.com/
(Decision Making) http://decision-making-role.blogspot.com/
(Delegation) http://delegation-skill.blogspot.com/

(Democracy) http://democracy-liberation.blogspot.com/
(Design for Manufacture) http://design-for-manufacture.blogspot.com/
(Dining Etiquette and Table Manners) http://dining-manners.blogspot.com/
(Discipline at Work) http://discipline-at-work.blogspot.com/

E
(Effectiveness and Efficiency) http://effectiveness-efficiency.blogspot.com/
(Effectiveness Management: HSoftware) http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/
(Efficiency Techniques: Work study: Motion and Time Study) http://work-study-measurement.blogspot.com/
(Efficient Work Methods or Practices) http://efficient-work-methods.blogspot.com/
(Email Etiquette) http://email-etiquette-manners.blogspot.com/
(Emotions) http://emotion-feeling.blogspot.com/
(Emotional Intelligence) http://emotional-quotient-intelligence.blogspot.com/
(Empowerment) http://employee-empowerment.blogspot.com/
(Enterprise Resource Planning- ERP) http://erp-management.blogspot.com/
(Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur) http://entrepreneurship-entrepreneur.blogspot.com/
(Entertainment Management- English Movies) http://popular-movies.blogspot.com/
(Entertainment Management- Hindi Movies) http://hindi-movies-choice.blogspot.com/
(Executive Etiquette and Manners) http://executive-manners.blogspot.com/
(Exit Interview) http://exit-interview.blogspot.com/

F
(Financial Ratios and Financial Ratio Analysis) http://financial-ratios.blogspot.com/
(Financial Services) http://finance-related-services.blogspot.com/
(Free and Authentic Notes on Management) http://authentic-management-notes.blogspot.com/
(Functions of Management) http://functions-of-management.blogspot.com/
(Food Management: Recipes, Easy to Cook) http://easytocook-recipes.blogspot.com/
(Food Management: Recipes, Exotic) http://tastetherecipes.blogspot.com/

G
(Games and Icebreakers for Trainers) http://training-games.blogspot.com/
(Gemba Kaizen) http://gemba-kaizen-improvement.blogspot.com/
(General Knowledge Management- GK) http://general-knowledge-gk.blogspot.com/
(General Knowledge Management- Top 5/Top 10 of Everything) http://top-five-everything.blogspot.com/
(Genuine Professional- Long Article) http://professional-genuine.blogspot.in/
(Global Mindset) http://global-mindset.blogspot.com/
(Goal/Target Setting) http://goal-target-setting.blogspot.com/
(Good Boss) http://good-boss.blogspot.com/
(Great Professional) http://professional-genuine.blogspot.in/
(Group Discussion) http://group-discussion-gd.blogspot.com/
(Group Discussion for Job Seekers and Students) http://group-discussion-gd.blogspot.com/
(Group Dynamics) http://group-dynamics-process.blogspot.com/

H
(Health and Safety Management) http://safety-health-management.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Cholesterol Control) http://controlling-cholesterol.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Homeopathy) http://homeopathy-medicines.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Exercises) http://exercises-plan.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Quit Smoking) http://quit-smoking-plan.blogspot.com/
(Health management- Swine Flu and Its Prevention) http://swine-flu-precaution.blogspot.com/
(Health Management- Walking) http://walking-plan.blogspot.com/
(How to Be a Good Boss?) http://good-boss.blogspot.com/
(How to Get Promoted?) http://get-promoted.blogspot.com/
(How to Save Money?) http://save-money-ideas.blogspot.com/
(How to Save Money?- Long Comprehensive Article) http://manage-moneysaving.blogspot.in/
(Home Management- Home Page for All Home Tips) http://home-tips-tricks.blogspot.com/
(HR Dynamics) http://hrm-dynamics.blogspot.com/
(HR Strategies and Functions) http://strategic-functions-hrm.blogspot.com/
(Human Capital Architecture) http://human-capital-architecture.blogspot.com/
(Human Relations) http://human-relations-aspect.blogspot.com/
(Human Resource Management- Comprehensive Coverage of HRM) http://human-resource-management-hrm.blogspot.com/
(Human Resource Planning) http://human-resource-planning.blogspot.com/
(Human Software- HSoftware) http://human-software-hsoftware.blogspot.com/

I
(I Am Liberated- Life Management) http://i-am-liberated.blogspot.in/
(I Am OK, You Are OK) http://life-positions.blogspot.com/
(Icebreakers and Energizers) http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/
(Internal Motivation or Self Motivation) http://internal-motivation.blogspot.com/
(Interpersonal Relations) http://interpersonal-relations.blogspot.com/
(Interview Skills) http://interviewing-skill.blogspot.com/
(Interview Preparation for Job Seekers) http://interview-preparation-jobs.blogspot.com/
(Interview Questions) http://interview-question-bank.blogspot.com/

J
(Johari Window) http://johari-window-model.blogspot.com/
(Just in Time Management- JIT) http://just-in-time-management.blogspot.com/

K
(Kaizen) http://kaizen-improvement.blogspot.com/
(Knowledge Management) http://knowledge-management-initiative.blogspot.com/

L
(Lead Time Management) http://lead-time-management.blogspot.com/
(Leadership) http://lead-max.blogspot.com/ and http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com
(Lean Enterprise) http://lean-organization.blogspot.com/
(Learning Organization) http://learning-organization-profile.blogspot.com/
(Life Management- Latest HSoftware Model) http://life-effectiveness.blogspot.in/
(Life Management- I Am Liberated; Freedom from Shackles and Burdens) http://i-am-liberated.blogspot.in/
(Life Management: Success in Life) http://success-complete.blogspot.in/
(Life Management: My Exotic Dream: World Peace and Other Good Things of Life)

http://exotic-dreaming.blogspot.in/

Friday, December 17, 2010

Ego States in Action

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

(It will be advisable to read some literature on “transaction analysis” and “ego states” in order to appreciate the management exercise given below. For this, you can refer our literature on the subjects published at: (Transaction Analysis- TA) http://transaction-analysis.blogspot.com/, (Life Positions and OKness) http://life-positions.blogspot.com/ and (Positive Strokes) http://positive-strokes.blogspot.com/)
If you are a trainer or a workshop coordinator of programs or seminars on “transaction analysis (TA)” and more specifically on “ego states”, this is the management exercise or role play you can use very effectively in your workshops or seminars. This management exercise also works as an icebreaker in many situations. This can invoke a tremendous participation from the audience if carried out effectively.

You should use this role play subsequent to giving the participants of your program some ideas about what the ego states are; the way they are defined under the discipline of transaction analysis- what kind of words, facial expressions, body postures, tones etc are used by the persons in various ego states.

Then select out some seven volunteers from your audience who feel confident to enact each ego state or at least wish to give it a try.

Give them one sample sentence. It could be any sentence. For example, the sentence could be, “You are good in your job and I appreciate you.” Or it could be any other sentence (you may as well like to involve the participants in the deciding the choice of a sentence). Instruct the volunteers that each of them will enact one ego state by speaking this particular sentence by using the tone and body language appropriate to that particular ego state, Tell them that they can add some additional words or phrases from their side to this sentence as prefix or suffix or in between the sentence to bring out the correct sense of the particular ego states they will be enacting.

Assign one volunteer to enact each of the following seven ego states:

Critical parent ego state
Nurturing parent ego state
Adult ego state
Free child ego state
Adapted child ego state
Rebellious child ego state
Little professor ego state

Now each volunteer will start enacting the ego state assigned to him. After each act, let the rest of the participants comment on it. You can even ask the enthusiastic participant(s) to enact that ego state any other way or by using some other sentence in some other situation.

Repeat this after every enactment of every ego state by each volunteer. By now there is likely to be lots of involvement from the audience and an increased understanding of the ego states among them.
Wrap up the session by giving additional inputs on the topic you may have to share with the participants of the program.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

How Well Do You Communicate?

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com/

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)This management exercise tests the communication abilities of the participants in the training programs on “communication”, “effective speaking”, “effective listening” and “team work”. The exercise tests the speaking, explaining, discussing, feedback and listening capabilities of the people. You are the workshop or seminar leader or coordinator and you will administer this exercise.

Divide the entire participants into pairs of two participants per pair. The two members of each such pair will be selected randomly. If there are 20 participants in the group, ask first 10 participants to count out their serial numbers from 1 to 10. Then ask the rest of the 10 participants of the group once again to count from 1 to 10. Then serial number 1 from the first half of the group will pair with serial number 1 of the second half of the group. Same way, serial number 2 of the first half of the group will make pair with serial number 2 of the second half of the group and so on. Thus, there will be total of 10 such pairs in a group size of 20 participants.

Now ask the members of each pair to sit back to back, meaning that the back of the first member of the pair will be towards the back of second member of the group. All the pairs will take such positions in the seminar hall.

Instruct the participants that the first member of each pair will communicate to the other member of the pair to duplicate the sketch and the labels on the sketch which he is drawing on his paper with his pen/pencil. He will describe the sketch and the labels step by step so that the second member will be able to duplicate it ditto on his own paper by his own pen/pencil. Both can discuss without looking at each other’s papers. At the end of 15 minutes, ask them to stop.

Now tell the first member of each pair to check the sketch and labels drawn by the second member of the pair and let him find by what percentage the second member could duplicate the instructions of the first member.

Now repeat the exercise by asking the second member of each pair to describe to the first member another sketch and labels which second member will draw and have his first member to duplicate it. At the end of 15 minutes let the second member check how well his first partner has duplicated his instructions. Let him work out the percentage.

Show all the percentages achieved by each person of the entire group for each pair. The percentages indicate the quality and level of communication in each pair.

Start up a sharing of experience session by allowing each pair to share its communication experiences with the rest of the pairs.

Fill them in with your observations and tips for better communication- speaking, explaining, discussions, feedback, listening and team work.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Closing the Store

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

It’s a beautifully simple yet very impactful management exercise. As a workshop facilitator or program leader, you can use this exercise in your sessions on communication and communication process to emphasize the need for absolute clarity of communication- an ambiguous communication can be severally interpreted by different people in the audience and obviously the people acting on one and same communication will understand it as per their own interpretations and act in different ways. Such a communication can kill effective implementation of any plan in any organization or society.

The exercise also leaves one with a surprise effect and therefore, the concept you wish to impart gets imprinted on the minds of the participants of the program permanently. It also acts as an energizer.

To begin with, give to each participant of your workshop the following exercise brief and ask them to read the brief carefully and to carry out the exercise as per the instructions given in the exercise brief.

Exercise brief starts now:The story: A businessman had just turned off the lights in the store when a man appeared and demanded money. The owner opened a cash register. The contents of the cash register were scooped up and the man sped away. A member of the police force was notified promptly.

Instructions: Read the statements below about the above story. Circle the appropriate answer to show if the statement is “True (T)”, “False (F)” or “Don’t know (?)”.

1. A man appeared after the owner had turned off his store lights: T, F, ?
2. The robber was a man: T, F, ?3. The man who appeared did not demand money: T, F, ?4. The man who opened the cash register was the owner: T, F, ?5. The store owner scooped up the contents of the cash register and ran away: T, F, ?6. While the cash register contained money, the store does not state how much: T, F, ?
7. The robber demanded money of the owner: T, F, ?
8. After the man who demanded the money scooped up the contents of the cash register, he ran away: T, F, ?
9. The robber opened the cash register: T, F, ?
10. After the store lights were turned off a man approached: T, F, ?
11. The robber did not take the money with him: T, F, ?
12. The story concerns three persons: the owner of the store, a man who demanded the money and a member of the police force: T, F, ?

Exercise brief ends here.

After all the participants complete this exercise, read out each of the 12 statements one by one and ask the participants to raise their hands for answering “True (T)”, then for answering “False (F)” and after that for answering “Don’t know (?)” for that particular statement. Count the hands for “True”, “False” and “Don’t know” for each statement and also work out the percentages.

The audience will be surprised to see that participants picked up almost all the options for the answers to almost each statement meaning each one understood almost each statement in a different manner. Interesting, isn’t it?

Let the participants discuss why such a situation arose.

Share your observations and provide supplementary inputs on the topic.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Monday, August 30, 2010

Shapes

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

The management exercise “Shapes” is recommended as an effective exercise for sessions on strategy formulation, communication, giving and following instructions, leadership, motivation, team work and team building. It also works as an effective energizer and icebreaker.

The exercise is administered by you- the program leader or workshop facilitator.

Divide the participants in groups of 12 persons (or as you think appropriate) in each group. Follow the random group formation method given in the games described earlier. As a ready reference, you may refer the exercise called “Pass the Message” if you are forming more than two groups or the exercise “Arrange” if you are forming two groups.

After forming the groups, take all the participants to a hall adjacent to your regular seminar hall which should have enough open space without any furniture in it. If such an extra room is not available, adjust the furniture in your existing seminar hall in such a manner that you create adequate free space in the hall. The exercise can be carried out out-doors also on plain level ground.

Ask the participants to blindfold each other by using the handkerchiefs. Instruct them that each group’s task now is to arrange its members in such a manner that they form the shape of a square. Each group may appoint a coordinator if necessary. Before physically arranging themselves they can have an internal discussion about the strategies and methods they plan to follow to complete the given task. The participants will remain blindfolded throughout the exercise.

After each group declares that it has formed the shape of the square by positioning its members that way, ask the members to open the eyes and check how well they formed the shape of the square. Also note down the time taken by each group to accomplish the task.

The group(s) that made the correct shape within minimum time will be declared as the winner(s).

You may repeat this exercise by asking them to form other additional shapes like rectangle and triangle etc. You should ask them to use their experience of doing the previous exercise in carrying out the next exercise.

After the exercise is over, request the participants to give you their feedback of their experiences and learnings from this exercise.

Conclude your session by sharing your observations and analysis for each group and filling them with additional inputs as required.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Friday, August 27, 2010

Building Blocks

For everything you wanted to know on building leadership and management, refer Shyam Bhatawdekar’s website: http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com

(Refer our High Quality Management Encyclopedia “Management Universe” at: http://management-universe.blogspot.com/)

"Building Blocks" is an effective group and participative game. It can be used in the sessions on observation skills, memory effectiveness, leadership, followership, communication, giving effective instructions, motivation, time management, team work and team building. The game is also a good energizer and icebreaker.

You are the program leader or the workshop facilitator and you need to do some preparation before administering this game. To start with, you have to have one master set of many square, rectangular, triangular and such shapes of blocks made of wood or plastic or any other such solid material. The blocks should be of various colors. From these blocks you should be in a position to make stable structure of blocks. Next step is to make such 3 to 4 more sets depending upon the number of participants in your program or workshop and how many groups you wish to form. Each set will have identical combinations of blocks of various shapes and colors.

Before the session in which you plan to play this game, build up a stable structure using the various shaped and colored blocks of your mater set of blocks in a room adjacent to the conference or seminar hall in which you are conducting your session. In case a separate room is not available, cover this structure of blocks in such a manner in the same seminar room so that the participants can not see it.

By now you are pretty familiar with the method of random formation of the groups. To refresh on the methodology, you can refer the previous management games and exercises. Using this method divide the entire participants in the groups of around 6 to 7 persons in each group randomly.

The members of each group will sit together. Give one set of blocks that you had already prepared to each group. Ask each group to appoint a group coordinator.

Now the game starts. The coordinators of each group are asked to go to the structure and observe it carefully. At one time the coordinator of each group can not stay near the structure for more than one minute. The coordinator will report back to his group about what he saw. He will describe the structure to them. He will give instructions to his group members on how to construct the replica of the master or model structure that he saw. The other members of the group can have a dialogue with the coordinator. However, the coordinator is not allowed to touch the blocks or physically demonstrate how the construction should be done. He can just about describe how the master structure looked like.

The group can send the coordinator to have a second look at the structure. In fact there is no restriction on the number of times a coordinator can visit the structure to observe it. But he can not spend more than one minute near the structure observing it during each of his visits. Groups are also free to change their coordinators during the game as many number of times as they want.

When all the groups declare the completion of their structures using their building blocks, their structures will be compared to the original or master structure.

Get the participants to start discussing their experiential learning from this game. How they would like to play the game if asked to do it again?

Give your observations and analysis on what went right and what went wrong and why. Provide additional inputs if necessary or planned and wrap up the session.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Air Crash

"Air Crash" is a highly loaded management exercise. It is very participative and is conducted as a group exercise. It also proves to be a good energizer and motivator.

You, the faculty member or the program facilitator or the workshop leader can use it for sessions on values, paradigms, perceptions, intra-group and inter-group communication and discussion, conflict resolution or conflict management, team work and team building, consensus building, effectiveness etc. This is best suited to emphasize that every human being is unique and this uniqueness is the result of not only the differing perceptions of the people but because of their entire integrated makeup- the concept and the term which Shyam Bhatawdekar uses to describe as people's HSoftware (Human Software). (You may like to read Shyam Bhatawdekar's articles on HSoftware at http://humansoftware.blogspot.com/). It also leads to show the correlation between the HSoftware of an individual and his effectiveness in personal, home, professional and social life.

To start conducting the "Air Crash" exercise, first distribute the printed exercise brief (given below) to all the participants of your program and request them to read it carefully. Draw their attention to the question given at the end of the write-up which each participant has to answer individually (in writing). Ask them not to discuss with anyone anything unless told by you.

Exercise Brief for "Air Crash" exercise:

Exercise brief starts here:

An airplane with 73 passengers on board developed engine trouble while flying over the jungles of Assam. The pilot managed to send out an S.O.S. message just before the plane crashed into the jungles. It was around 3 PM.

All members of the crew were killed except the pilot and there were in all seven survivors. You are one of them. There are two women survivors, one of them is badly injured and is losing blood fast.

The plane exploded shortly after crashing but some of the survivors had managed to retrieve some items before the explosion. They could not, however, retrieve any food or water. The pilot had taken a bearing just before the engine trouble developed. He reckons that the plane crashed about 100 kilometers from the nearest inhabited area. To reach it would mean marching through thick forest with heavy undergrowth, crossing streams and fending off wild animals that abound in these jungles.

After recovering from the shock, the survivors began discussing what to do. Should they stay put? Should they march towards the nearest civilization?

It soon became apparent that no agreement was being reached by the survivors. In fact there seemed to be a struggle for leadership, some friction was developing and the group realized this might jeopardize all of them.

Since you had remained the most calm and objective, the group agreed that it would abide by your decision as to who should be the leader. It was also agreed that you could not choose yourself as leader.

Given below are some details about your co-survivors. Read them and then decide whom you would choose as leader:

Captain Sunder: is the pilot of the crashed airplane. He had managed to retrieve some maps before the aircraft exploded. He is 44 years old and takes his duties very seriously. He feels that as a captain of the plane, the survivors are his responsibility and should listen to him. He hopes that his S.O.S. was heard and wants every one to remain near the aircraft wreckage till a rescue team arrives.

Miss Moses: is 22 years old, a botanist who had studied the flora of Assam. She is a gentle person, not comfortable with the friction being generated and a bit of a pacifist. She has managed to retrieve a first-aid kit and some tarpaulin from the aircraft. She has been a girl guide at school.

Raj Kumar: comes from an aristocratic family. He is 35 years old and kept himself very fit by playing polo. He has captained his polo team to many victories. He was going to Assam on a fishing trip and has managed to save his rods and fishing tackle from the flames. He is very sociable. He believes that “leaders are born” and assumes that the others will listen to him. He would like the group to march on to the nearest village under his guidance.

Shanti Lal: is 48 years old, a bit stout and likes his food and drinks. He has managed to
retrieve his bottle of brandy, cigars and lighter from the aircraft. He is a self-made businessman who had managed to gradually develop a vast business empire. He is humorous but can be also very tough. Being used to commanding and coordinating, he also tried to get the group listen to him.

Mahinder Singh: is a hunter by profession and has been asked by the Assam Government to track down a rogue elephant that was destroying crops. He is 28 years old, generally quiet but capable of losing his temper violently. He has managed to retrieve his rifle and some cartridges and wants the group to head for civilization.

Whom would you choose as leader?

Exercise brief ends here.

After everyone in the program has read this brief, ask them to choose their leader from among the possible candidates described in the exercise brief. Each participant should write down his own answer giving his choice for the leader on his note pad or against the question given in the brief.

Now divide the entire participants in groups of around 7 to 10 persons in each group. Select the members in a group randomly (the method for random selection of the participant in a group is given in the management exercise "Pass the Message" at http://management-games-icebreakers.blogspot.com/2010/08/pass-message.html ).

Ask members of each group to sit together in a circle or around a table and discuss together in the group to arrive at the consensus candidate for the leadership position. Each group will be given 20 minutes for this. If they request for additional time, you may decide to allot 5 to 10 minutes more.

Now bring all the groups together as one single group though the members of each group will keep sitting together as a group. They should discuss together now as one complete group to once again arrive at the new consensus candidate for leadership position.

Now, request the participants for their feedback, observations and experiential learning.

Wind up the exercise by giving you own dissection of what happened throughout the exercise. Fill them in with supplementary inputs. Explain the learning points.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Draw a Picture

You are the program or workshop leader and you wish the participants to have experiential learning on concepts like precision and clarity in communication, need for feedback and dialogue in communication, attentive or active listening etc. Then you can use this management exercise called "Draw a Picture" with lot of advantage. This exercise also works as a good icebreaker and energizer.

Only preparation on your part prior to starting the exercise is to draw out a picture- a sketch or some moderately complex geometric figure etc on a card sheet or on a plain paper.

As you start your session on communication and wish to introduce this exercise "Draw a Picture" to the participants of the workshop, request a volunteer from the participants who claims or thinks that he is a great communicator. Select out one person if more that one person raises the hand to volunteer.

Give the card sheet on which you have drawn the picture or the geometric figure to the volunteer. Tell him to communicate to the rest of the participants to draw that picture or figure without showing it to them. He should just give step by step instructions to his fellow participants and request them to follow each step and draw the picture or figure on their note pads. He should give one instruction at a time. When he thinks that his instruction has been translated by the audience in the form of part of the sketch or geometric figure, he should give the next instruction.

In this entire exercise, there will be no dialogue between the volunteer and the audience. There will be just one way communication i.e. from the volunteer to the audience. Audience will not give any feedback or ask any questions or seek any clarification.

When the volunteer tells you that he has finished giving all the instructions, request each of the rest of the participants to show the pictures or figures they have drawn on their note pads.

There will be a lot of fun and excitement by seeing the variety of funny pictures or figures drawn by them which may not have any or much semblance to the picture or figure the volunteer has on his card sheet.

Get the feedback from the volunteer as well as from the audience on what went wrong. What was necessary for them to draw correctly?

Sum up your session by giving your observations and by emphasizing the need for clarity, precision, dialogue, feedback and attentive or active listening for effective communication.

You may extend this exercise further by having another volunteer and get him to instruct the audience to draw a replica of the sketch or figure on the card sheet (change the picture or geometric figure on the card sheet this time). In this second part of the exercise, you will allow them a free flow of two way communication, dialogue, feedback, repetition of instructions etc.

This time you may find that a large number in audience has been able to draw correctly.

Wind up the exercise with some discussion among the participants and with you and your closing points.

Get Hold of the Related Books

You can order the following books on "management games and icebreakers" as printed books and eBooks from Amazon online:

Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers (Volume 2)
Classic Team Building Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers
101 Classic Management Games, Exercises, Energizers and Icebreakers

Related Reading: (Repository of a large number of articles in management and leadership): http://shyam.bhatawdekar.com and http://management-universe.blogspot.com

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