Presentation skills

Break the Ice! 10 ideas for warming up the group

/ Susan Hendrich / 2 Comments

Getting to Know You: Icebreaker Ideas

The point of networking is to get people past the initial discomfort and to really interact. Here are 10 interesting icebreakers to start off your next meeting session…

1. Story of My Life

You have just been given a contract to write your autobiography for a major publishing company. Your agent is anxious to get to press. She has decided to help you get started with a few questions.

Take a piece of flipchart paper (or 8 ½ x 11 paper) and fold it in half and then in half again to form a book.

Choose a popular song title for your book’s name. Write that title on the front cover.

On the inside of the front cover (page two), list a table of contents.

Name of the place where you were born

Description of your first job

Number of years you have been with the organization

On page three, draw a picture of your family.

On the back cover of the book, draw a picture of what you plan to do when you retire. Where will you go? Who will you go with? Etc.

Materials Needed: Paper, Markers

Time: Allow five to ten minutes for setup, and drawing. When all books are complete, have people tell their story, using the book as a visual aid. Depending on the size of the group, you may want to debrief in smaller groups. If possible, leave the books in a central location during your training to encourage further introductions and discussions.

Variation: Change the focus of the pages of the book. For instance, most exciting moment, favorite food, most exciting vacation, etc. Be careful not to make any of the questions too personal. The idea is to open people up, not shut them down.

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2. ABCs of Me

You have been hired by the Creative Classroom Company to illustrate a poster to help children learn their ABCs. By happy coincidence, you and your first name are the subject of the poster!

On flipchart paper, write your name vertically down the left side.

Next, choose a word that starts with each letter of your name. The word should describe something about you. Write those words horizontally across the paper, using the letters of your name as the first letter of each descriptive word.

After you have listed your words, draw an accompanying picture to illustrate each.

When you are finished, tape your poster to the wall.

Materials Needed: Paper, Markers, Tape

Time: Allow five to ten minutes for setup and drawing. When all posters are complete, have people introduce themselves using their name drawing.

Variation: Narrow the focus of the words. For instance, all words must be adjectives, nouns, or verbs related to work, related to foods you like, etc.

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3. I Remember

Tell the group, “We are about to revisit the past and take a trip down ‘Memory Lane’.”

First, get a coin and look at the year on the coin.

Take a minute to think about what you were doing when that coin was minted. Were you in school? Were you a child? Where did you work? Were you married? Where did you live? What was going on in your life at that time? What was the music of the day? (If you were not yet born or prefer not to discuss your life during the year selected, choose another coin.)

Each person shares their thoughts about their “moments in time.”

Materials Needed: Coins, Prize

Time: Allow five minutes for setup and three minutes per person for sharing

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4. Six Degrees of Separation

It happens all the time: we meet someone who knows someone we know. It’s a small world, that’s for sure. The object of this game is to see how small the world really is.

First, find a partner. Introduce yourselves and make a list of five to ten things that you have in common with each other: where you went to school, year you were born, number of years with the company, food likes, sports likes, etc.

Once you have completed your first list, you must find someone else in the room that also has one of those five to ten things in common with you. When you have found that person, repeat step one and develop a new list.

Repeat step two.

Continue until you have met five other people or time is called by the facilitator.

A prize will be given to the first person able to complete the game. When you are done, let the facilitator know that you have finished.

Materials Needed: Prize

Time: Allow 15 – 20 minutes for game. Once most people have finished, call time. Ask your winner to reveal his/her chain of separation by introducing those interviewed.

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5. Scavenger Hunt

You are about to begin a scavenger hunt with several members of this training group. The object of the game is to collect all of the items listed below as quickly as possible. You may talk with anyone in the group, but can’t leave the room. You must associate each item with the person who gave it to you. You may not get more than two items from any one person. Once the facilitator has assigned groups, you may begin play. When your team is finished, your team should loudly announce the phrase “hunt over” to the rest of the group. Be prepared to say where you got each item. Award a prize to the first team to finish.

A Driver’s License

A Family Photo

A Store Receipt

A pre-1979 Penny

A Piece of Candy

A Ballpoint Pen

A Lipstick

A Calendar

A Drink

A Marker

A Piece of Candy

A Store Credit Card

A Pair of Glasses

A Magazine or Book

The list of hunt items should be reviewed by the facilitator before the game begins in order to make sure that all items are available.

Materials Needed: Several Small Prizes for the Winning Team

Time: Allow 10 – 12 minutes for the game. Once a team calls “hunt over,” have them review each of the items, where they got them, and from whom.

Variation: Instead of using actual items, list activities and facts as the items to find. For instance, “plays piano.” The object of the game is to find someone who plays the piano and associate the person’s name with that item.

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6. Tattoo

You have just arrived at Tony’s Tattoo Parlor for a tattoo. Tony is competing for “Tattoo King of the Year,” a contest sponsored by Needle Knows magazine. Every design is a potential entry, and Tony wants each of his tattoos to say something about the person wearing them. From you, he needs a little inspiration and a design before he can start his work. Tony is excellent at lettering, animals, characters, band logos, maps, etc.

On your piece of paper, you are to design a rough tattoo that reveals something about yourself, your work, your hobbies, or your family, in order to help get Tony’s creative juices flowing.

You must also make a note about how big the tattoo should be and where you will have it applied.

Materials Needed: Paper, Tape, Markers

Time: Allow five to ten minutes for setup, drawing, and posting designs on the wall. Depending on the size of the group, you may want to debrief in smaller groups. If possible, leave the designs posted throughout your training to encourage further introductions and discussions.

Variation: Narrow the scope of the tattoo design: what you do at work, an animal most like you, favorite song, favorite band, adjective that best describes you, etc.

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7. Storyteller

You are about to stretch your storytelling skills with the help of others in the group designated by the facilitator. You will incorporate facts about yourself into a story that could just go anywhere. First, write down the name of …

something you would see in a store.

something you would buy as a gift for your mother.

your favorite sport.

your favorite celebrity.

a crime.

your favorite restaurant.

a tourist attraction.

a profession.

the name of someone in the room.

The facilitator will begin the story with, “Once upon a time, I found the most unusual thing.” The next person is to fill in the next piece of the story. The object of the game is to incorporate as many of the items as you can from those listed above. No one can say more the two sentences at a time. Turns must be taken in order. To win, you must incorporate all of your words and then conclude the story. Everyone must get an opportunity to “write” from their imagination at least twice before the story can end.

Materials Needed: Prize

Time: Allow ten to 20 minutes for the game. If the group is large, consider breaking into smaller subgroups or reducing the number of incorporated words required to win. For instance, you must work in five words from those listed in part one.

Variation: You can easily tailor this game by changing the questions in part one to better match your industry, company, etc.

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8. Candy Confessions

You have just taken a job as a candy tester in the Candy Confessions factory. What makes this candy different from other candy is that each flavor is associated with a fact about you. Your job is to select and “test” four different candies from a bowl/box that will circulate among all testers.

Choose four candies from the bowl without looking. In a moment, a key code will be revealed, indicating which truths you should tell.

Once the code has been revealed you may begin your confession.

Materials Needed

Basket of Candy

Key Code (e.g. Kit Kats = Favorite Movie, Favorite Magazine, Favorite Song, or Favorite Book, Krackle = Favorite Vacation Spot, Place You Would Like To Visit, Place You Would Least Like To Visit, or Worst Vacation, Lollipop =Number of Years in Current Position, Where You Work, What You Do, or Brief Description of First Job, Gum Drops = Something About Where You Live, Something About Where You Grew Up, Something About Your Family, Something About Your Town/City, Kisses = Wildcard [tell us anything])

Time: Allow ten to 20 minutes for the entire process.

Variations

Allow people to take as many candies as they like from the basket and reveal something random about themselves for each candy they take.

Use a ball of string. Allow each person to take as much as they like. For each inch, they must reveal something about themselves. (Additional material: string, scissors, and ruler)

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9. True or False

You have just entered a new society of truth-tellers and liars. You and the others sometimes tell the truth and sometimes lie. The key to this society is knowing when you are being lied to and when you are being told the truth. Partners must guess if a statement is the truth or a lie. If both players are correct, move on. If both are incorrect, move on. If one is correct and one is wrong, the wrong person is out.

First, flip a coin. If it reveals “heads,” you tell truth; if “tails,” you lie.

Find a partner, swap stories. Your partner must then guess if you told the truth or a lie. If both are correct, move on. If both are incorrect, move on. If one is correct and one wrong, the person who guessed incorrectly is out.

Repeat steps one and two until one person remains and is declared the winner.

Materials Needed: Prize, Extra Coins

Time: Allow ten to 20 minutes to play the game, depending on the size of the group. Award a prize to the person who remains standing.

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10. The Magic Lamp

You and your team have just found a lamp. You rub it, and surprise! A genie appears. The genie grants you three wishes. You are allowed to make three changes at work. You may change yourself, your boss, your job, the people around you, etc.

The facilitator will soon divide you into groups of three to five people and give your team a piece of flipchart paper and a marker.

Once you have your materials, design your wish list for your genie. When you are finished, post it on the wall.

Materials Needed: Flipchart Paper, Markers

Time: Allow five to ten minutes for setup, writing, and posting lists on the wall. Allow five minutes for debriefing. If possible, leave the lists posted throughout your training to encourage further introductions and discussions.

Learning Design That Makes You Shine

/ Susan Hendrich / 4 Comments

Tonight I read an online article that stopped me in my tracks. Rather than try to capture the essence of author Barbara Findlay Schenck’s brilliance by recapitulating it in my own words, I’m just going to re-publish the article.

It’s that good.

First, I’ll share my 6-word elevator speech with you: “Learning Design That Makes You Shine.” Now, on to the good stuff, then it’s your turn…

Want a Loan? A Sale? A Job?
By Barbara Findlay Schenck

When Brad Newman introduced himself as an actrepreneur, I was hooked. Everything about his title told me he had information I wanted to hear. Over a few additional seconds, I learned that this actor and entrepreneur is the founder of Zentainment, “a socially conscious media company committed to growing brands that encourage you to dream big and live a sustainable life.” From there, a longer conversation and a business relationship followed, all spurred by an attention-getting introduction that took just moments to deliver.

The elevator pitch rides into the speed-dating era
Today’s economic environment has turned job fairs, trade shows, networking events and even sidewalk sales into buyers’ markets where only those with quick, compelling pitches survive.

In the 1990s, high-tech entrepreneurs named these short spiels “elevator pitches” because they could be conveyed during an elevator ride. The tech bubble ballooned and burst (and ballooned again), but elevator pitches are here to stay. Everyone whether seeking employment, sales or profitable business associations needs one.

Is your introduction ready to roll?
“So, what do you do?”

Those five words are on the minds of everyone you meet, whether in person or online. Brad Newman’s introduction helps provide a formula that can assist you in preparing your answer and attracting attention from those you aim to impress:

Describe yourself in five words or less. Use a distinctive title or phrase that makes people think, “This sounds interesting” or “This is what I’m looking for.” Consider the difference between “I’m a copywriter” and “I turn browsers into buyers.” Or, in Newman’s case, between “social media entrepreneur” and “actrepreneur.”

Explain what you do in one sentence. After introducing yourself, introduce your offerings. “Our name combines the words Zen and entertainment, which stakes out our media space,” Newman says. “We’re a media company that focuses on socially conscious content. That definition tells what Zentainment is and rules out what it isn’t.” Work on a similarly specific description for your business.

Define your target audience. “Our market is comprised of 30- to 49-year-olds who care about socially conscious living,” Newman says. “By defining our market in that way, people immediately know whether our business is for them.” In other words, Zentainment isn’t trying to be all things to all people. It’s focused on a specific target audience, which is a key to success in today’s crowded business environment.

Communicate your vision. “We’re committed to growing brands that encourage you to dream big and live a sustainable life, whether they’re our own brands or ones for which we consult and serve as producers,” Newman says. “Our vision is clear enough to keep us focused and broad enough to make us adaptive to the opportunities of a changing market and media world.” It’s also compelling enough to attract a growing contingent of Zentainment consumers and business clients. What does your business stand for? What attracts your customers and their loyalty? Your answers can serve as a magnet for growth.

Practice, practice, practice. Create a script that conveys who you are, what you offer, your market, and the distinctive benefits you provide. Edit until you can introduce yourself and your business in less than a minute, which is how long most prospects will give you to win their interest.

Shrink your introduction even further so you can tell your story in 20 words or less. That’s how much space you have in most marketing materials and online presentations, whether on your own site, on social media sites, or on sites that link to your home page. If you’re thinking, “Twenty words? You’ve got to be kidding,” scroll back to the start of this column. That’s exactly what Brad Newman used to get my interest.

Barbara Findlay Schenck is a small-business strategist, the author of “Small Business Marketing for Dummies” and the co-author of “Branding for Dummies,” “Selling Your Business for Dummies” and “Business Plans Kit for Dummies.”

Globalize your On Demand Business

/ Susan Hendrich / 2 Comments

Check out these excellent writing tips from IBM on how to “Globalize your On Demand Business” 

Style tips

The following style suggestions can help ensure your information is clear for all types of audiences:

  • Write sentences as short and simple as possible. Try to keep sentences to 25 words or less.
  • Make sure that lists are complete and can stand by themselves.
  • Use a complete sentence to introduce a list.
  • Make list items complete sentences or complete phrases.
  • Make list items parallel in structure.
  • Avoid slang, jargon, humor, sarcasm, colloquialisms, and metaphors. For example, use “estimate” instead of “in the ballpark.”
  • Be succinct. Eliminate unnecessary text and redundancies.
  • Do not use Latin abbreviations.
  • Avoid negative constructions. For example, use “It is like the previous request” rather than “It is not unlike the previous request.” Or, use “Log on again to reconnect” instead of “You cannot reconnect without logging on again.”
  • Avoid ambiguity.
  • Use an appropriate and consistent tone.
  • Choose examples that are appropriate for the intended audience.

Grammar tips

Appropriate grammar enables easier, more accurate translations and enhances audience understanding:

  • Write in active voice whenever possible and use the present tense.
  • Avoid the infinitive (to create), present participle (creating), and past participle (created) forms of verbs in the beginning of sentences. These verbs are less direct, and the subject of the clause is not always obvious. Completing steps could mean “When you complete the steps” or “Because you complete the steps.”
  • Avoid noun strings. Limit compound phrases to no more than three words. When a compound phrase is used, be sure that it has only one meaning and that the phrase is used consistently.
  • Make the subject of a verb phrase clear. Avoid complex sentences where several adverbs or other modifiers are used. If you use complex sentences, it is particularly important to include whatever words are necessary to make the subject clear. Do not omit the word “that” from clauses. The use of the conjunction “that,” while technically optional in some sentences, is never wrong and makes the sentence easier to translate and clearer for users whose primary language is not English. For example, use “Verify that your directory service is working” rather than “Verify your directory service is working.”
  • Avoid using words in multiple grammatical categories (verb, noun, adjective). In English, many words can change their grammatical category. In most other languages, the same word cannot be a verb, a noun, and an adjective. (Use “during the restore operation” instead of “during the restore.”)
  • Avoid ambiguous pronoun references where the pronoun can possibly refer to more than one antecedent. For example, in the statement “If there is prompt text for the completed field, it does not change,” it is not clear if the “prompt text” does not change or the “completed field” does not change.
  • Use simple and clear coordination so the reader can tell what the relationships are between the elements of a sentence. For example, “the file or result field definition” could mean: “The result-field definition or the file,” “The file definition or the result-field definition,” “The file-field definition or the result-field definition,” “The definition of the file or of the result field,” or “The field definition of the file or of the result.”
  • Ensure the elements of a sentence are parallel. Words, phrases, and clauses should be grammatically equal. Use “network management, databases, and application programs” rather than “network management, databases, and writing application programs.”
  • Avoid using too many prepositions in a sentence, but do not omit prepositions or articles that are necessary. The sentence “This is a list of the current status of all event monitors for this process” could be rewritten to “This lists the current status of all event monitors for this process.”
  • Do not use the dash parenthetically (as in “It is at this point – the start point – that designers and writers meet”). Translators, however, accept the dash being used to show an extension of a sentence (as in “The most important people in IBM are the customers – they pay us”).

Training goes organic

/ Susan Hendrich / 1 Comment

Virtual Whiteboarding

Lately you’ve probably seen an increase in the use of hand-drawn “white boarding” in media and learning spots. Think about the long-haired UPS white board guy…   

…or the ever-endearing “Simon’s Cat” series on YouTube…

Now it’s your turn!

LectureScribe is a program for easily producing animated “whiteboard lectures” from a tablet PC or electronic whiteboard. LectureScribe is written by Brian C. Dean, an assistant professor of computer science at Clemson Univeristy.

On Brian’s website, you can find:

  • The LectureScribe program. To install, download this file and place it on any Windows machine. There is no complicated setup required — just double-click the file to start LectureScribe.
  • An example of output of LectureScribe
  • An animated set of instructions on using LectureScribe. This is slightly out of date (for example, image import is now possible, and magnification mode is now turned off by default). A new version will be posted soon.
  • Brian’s article in the Faculty Directions newsletter describing LectureScribe.

LectureScribe

Handling newspaper interviews

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Handling newspaper interviews

One of the great things about doing newspaper interviews is that they are not “live” like much of radio and television is. This takes the pressure off you a bit. And it gives you a chance to think a bit more before you answer, and to also explain your answers in more depth, if requested.

Before the interview

Before you do the interview, find out:

  • Which newspaper the journalist is from.
  • What kind of story she or he is writing – is it hard news or an in-depth feature, or a profile, for example?
  • Ask what angle the journalist is taking on the story.
  • Ask which section of the newspaper the story will go into.
  • Ask what the deadline is.
  • Find out whether the interview will be over the telephone or in person. In person interviews are much better all round – you get a chance to chat with the journalist a bit and get to know them.
  • Try and set up an interview time that will give you enough chance to prepare.
  • If you need to, say you will call back soon and confirm whether you will do the interview. This will depend on your organization’s policy.
  • If you have the go ahead, prepare your main messages for the topic.
  • Be prepared for and able to answer the journalist’s basic what, when, where, who, why and how questions.
  • You may be able to help the journalist with some background information before the interview – often journalists are very appreciative of this.
  • Think of and suggest some interesting photo opportunities for your organization – a story with a photo is much more interesting for readers.

During the interview

  • Be friendly, professional and relaxed.
  • Most newspaper stories are fairly short – unless they are features. So it is important to respond to the questions clearly and concisely. The more you say the more will be edited out. And unlike with live radio or television, you have little or no say as to how your story is printed.
  • Do not elaborate on a question unless the journalist asks you to or unless you can make a new powerful point by doing so.
  • If you can’t answer the question, say so. Offer to find out the information and get back to the journalist. And once the interview is over, track down the information and get it across to him or her straightaway. If you can’t get the information, let them know.
  • If you trust the journalist you may want to share background information to help him or her understand the context of the story. “Background” means that she or he should not use it in the story at all. You may want to share some information that the journalist can use but you want him or her to disguise the source. This is called talking “off the record”. “On the record” means that the journalist can use what you have told them and quote you. A note of caution – some media liaison people would warn you that nothing is background or off the record for journalists who are pressured by their editors to deliver a hot story. It is best to develop a trusting relationship with a journalist of integrity before you give background or talk off the record. Of course, you will be the best judge in your particular situation.
  • Suggest photograph possibilities if the journalist is carrying a camera or a photographer has come along.
  • You may even have some good file photographs that could complement the story.
  • Offer the journalist publicity material from your organization.

After the interview

  • Look out for the article when it is published, make copies.
  • Stick one copy on your notice board.
  • Ask members of your organization for feedback on the article so that you can all learn how to strengthen handling the media.
  • Keep the article to use in an organizational publication, like your annual report, if it can be used as good publicity.
  • Thank the journalist for taking an interest in your organization and its issues.