First Job Opening Activity

November 5th, 2008

My classes are full of “technical” men of all ages from all over the country and world. When they arrive at our facility, they often have preconcieved notions of what training will be like, they are resistant to change, and they don’t want to be told how to do their job. This “first job” opener has been a successful, light-hearted way for me to relieve tension and get people talking.

First Job Name Tent
Class Size: any
Time: 20 minutes

Method: Give everyone in the class a piece of paper and a marker. Tri-fold the paper like a letter and ask the class to do the same.

Front
Write your name nice & big on the center section so that if you set the folded paper on the table, you create a triangular name tent. Show the class and ask them to write the name they’d like to be called on the center section of their name tent.

Back
Refold the name tent like a letter again. With the marker, divide one of the two remaining blank sections into 4 quarters and show the class. In one corner (it doesn’t matter which one), ask everyone to write their company name as you write yours.  In the next corner, write your job title and ask the class to do the same. In the third corner, write the years (or months, weeks, or days) you’ve been with the company. And in the remaining corner, write your first job ever.

Now, tell the class that when you say “go”, you want them to stand up, move around the room, and introduce themselves to 7 other people (or more, depending on class size) by carrying the name tent they created in front of them and sharing the information they wrote on the back. Give an example: “Hello Eddie. My name is Rencsi. I work for XYZ Training Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota where I am a Training Specialist. I’ve been with the company for 4 years. My first job was grocery store cashier. Nice to meet you!” Start the activity with, “Ready, set, go!” and participate in the activity with the class.

Important: Make the goal number of people unattainable, but not obviously impossible. Cut the activity short before they have time to complete the given number of introductions. This is the Zeigarnik Effect – people better remember activities that are interrupted or not completed.

Debrief: Stop the exercise before anyone can talk to the required number of people. Ask everyone to take their seats and bring the class together for a large group discussion. Some questions to ask might be:

  • Did anything surprise you? What? Why?
  • Did you find anyone with the same first job as you? What was it? Why was it common?
  • Did anyone have the first job you wanted when you were younger? Why did you want that job? Does it still sound appealing?

Depending on time and group size, you may also want to go around the room and hear everyone’s names, companies, locations, and roles as part of the opener.

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Why Use an Opener?

November 3rd, 2008

Think you don’t need an activity to open your training session? Think again.

Chances are, not everyone in your class likes participating in training as much as you. Incorporating an opener activity at the beginning of training will: a) break preoccupation, b) build self-esteem, c) peak curiosity & interest, d) allow networking, and e) help you get to know your audience.

Even a 1-hour training session should include a 5-minute opening activity to relieve tension. Half-day sessions should incorporate up to a 10-minute opener, and 1- or 2-day trainings allow for up to a 20-minute activity.

Make it fun for the participants (and for you), but be sure to make it relevant to the course content. Otherwise, the activity is an icebreaker and your class is just a party.

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3 Truths and 1 Lie Opening Activity

November 3rd, 2008

“3 Truths and a Lie” is the most successful opener I have used in my technical & industrial product and service training sessions.

Participants in my classes are mostly men – service technicians, technical salesmen, etc. They are resistant at first, but this opener quickly takes the pressure off and allows me to get to know them and allows them to get to know each other.

3 Truths and a Lie
Class Size: any
Group Size: 4-6 participants
Time: 20 minutes

Method: Break the class into small groups of 4-6 people. Give each participant a piece of blank paper. Instruct them to fold the paper in half as you fold your own piece of paper in half and show the class.

Next, tell the class they’re going to write 4 facts about themselves on the top half of the paper – 3 should be true and 1 should be false. Repeat the instructions - each person write 3 truths and 1 lie about him/herself in any order on the top half of the paper.

Give the class 5 minutes to write 3 truths and a lie. While everyone is writing, write 3 truths and a lie about yourself. (For example: 1) I’ve never had a broken bone. 2) I’m an avid fisherwoman. 3) I speak Hungarian. 4) I have a pet rabbit. The lie is #2.)

At the end of 5 minutes, you go first. Share your 3 truths and 1 lie with the class. Instruct them to write your name, the statement they think is a lie, and why it’s a lie on the bottom half of their papers. Ask everyone for the lie and ask for a couple different explanations why. Then reveal the lie.

Now it’s time for everyone to share their 4 facts with their teams, one person at a time. The others in the group should write down their teammate’s name, the statement they think is a lie, and why they think it’s a lie on the bottom half of their papers. When everyone has written a guess, that person can expose the lie.

Debrief: At the end of 10 minutes, bring the class together for a large group discussion. Some questions to ask might be:

  • Did anything surprise you? What? Why?
  • Did you ever change your answer after you heard a teammate’s guess?
  • Were some of the statements given by different people similar? Why do you think that is?

Depending on time and group size, you may also want to go around the room and hear everyone’s names, companies, locations, and roles as part of the opener.

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