Here is an activity that I use for a Communication Skills workshop for the listening section. This is how this activity is conducted:
Time taken for the activity: 10 minutes.
Time taken for debriefing: 20 minutes
Materials needed: A sheet of paper with a geometrical pattern. I have attached a geometrical pattern that I have created. You can use the same pattern or create a new pattern.
Activity: Break the participants into groups of 5. Ask them to select a leader from amongst themselves. Give a sheet of paper with the geometrical pattern to the leader. Give a blank sheet of paper to each of the other group members.
Take the leaders of all the groups aside and instruct them that they have to sit facing away from their group members (with their backs to their group) in such a way that they can neither see the paper in their hands nor their expressions. They have to explain the pattern on their paper to their group in such a way that they should be able to draw it on their papers. The leader is also not allowed to use their hands to gesticulate. Do not give instructions about whether the group members can ask him questions or not, but during the activity, the trainer must observe whether any of the groups ask questions.
Instruct the group members that they have to reproduce whatever their leader tells them to draw.
Start the activity. Tell them that they have 10 minutes for the activity. Observe the leader and the group members and the interaction.
Stop the activity at the end of 10 minutes.
Tip: More often than not, the group members are unable to reproduce the pattern. They blame the leader for not being able to communicate well or for not knowing the correct terms for the geometrical patterns or for the noise in the room or insufficient instructions by the trainer about whether questions can be asked to the leader, etc.
Debrief: Initiate a discussion on what went wrong and what worked for the groups, what could have worked well, and have helped them achieve their target. Draw parallels to what stops us in life during communication.
This is a fantastic activity to focus learning on barriers to communication and assumptions we make about communication.
Rupa Mehta
www.corporatedge.co.in
email: rupa2904@gmail.com
Time taken for the activity: 10 minutes.
Time taken for debriefing: 20 minutes
Materials needed: A sheet of paper with a geometrical pattern. I have attached a geometrical pattern that I have created. You can use the same pattern or create a new pattern.
Activity: Break the participants into groups of 5. Ask them to select a leader from amongst themselves. Give a sheet of paper with the geometrical pattern to the leader. Give a blank sheet of paper to each of the other group members.
Take the leaders of all the groups aside and instruct them that they have to sit facing away from their group members (with their backs to their group) in such a way that they can neither see the paper in their hands nor their expressions. They have to explain the pattern on their paper to their group in such a way that they should be able to draw it on their papers. The leader is also not allowed to use their hands to gesticulate. Do not give instructions about whether the group members can ask him questions or not, but during the activity, the trainer must observe whether any of the groups ask questions.
Instruct the group members that they have to reproduce whatever their leader tells them to draw.
Start the activity. Tell them that they have 10 minutes for the activity. Observe the leader and the group members and the interaction.
Stop the activity at the end of 10 minutes.
Tip: More often than not, the group members are unable to reproduce the pattern. They blame the leader for not being able to communicate well or for not knowing the correct terms for the geometrical patterns or for the noise in the room or insufficient instructions by the trainer about whether questions can be asked to the leader, etc.
Debrief: Initiate a discussion on what went wrong and what worked for the groups, what could have worked well, and have helped them achieve their target. Draw parallels to what stops us in life during communication.
This is a fantastic activity to focus learning on barriers to communication and assumptions we make about communication.
Rupa Mehta
www.corporatedge.co.in
email: rupa2904@gmail.com
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