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	90-Day Intensive Development Programs Energizer: The Amazing Rhythm and Dance Spectacular Exercise: Product Training - Customer Spotlight Activity: Brainstorming Spark Closing Exercise: Let's Celebrate!

Energizer: The Amazing Rhythm and Dance Spectacular

Here's a way to energize a group during that afternoon lull. You will need a basket of items that can be used as rhythm instruments. Get things like plastic eggs filled with dried beans, paint sticks painted in bright colors (make them in sets, so you have two of each), finger cymbals, small jingle bells strung together, and any other interesting sounds you can think of. Be sure you have one instrument for each person. You should have about 4 different instruments so that teams can be created based on the type of instrument they choose. You will also need a large space in the room, and may need to move the tables off to the side. Pass the basket of items around and instruct participants to take one item. Don't explain what they will be doing until all have chosen. Then tell them to assemble according to instrument, with all those who have the same instrument in one part of the room. Once they have organized by instrument, tell them that they will be part of the Amazing Rhythm and Dance Spectacular. Each team must create a rhythm and choreography to match that rhythm. They will have 2 minutes to prepare. And they must prepare without words - this is a non-verbal activity! Set a timer for 2 minutes and let them go. After 2 minutes, tell them that the show is about to begin. Each team will be directed when to join the music. They will all end up playing (and dancing) at the same time. Begin with the stick team. Allow them to play and dance for a minute or so, and then add another team. Allow each team a minute or so before you bring in the next one. Keep it going for a little while and let them know when it's time for the grand finale. Then make it happen. You can debrief this with questions about who became the team leader and how, how they got synchronized with each other, how this experience relates to their job or department, or just about how much fun they had. It can lead to discussions about leadership or team dynamics. It can just as easily lead into a break. Whatever you do, the place will be rockin'! You will definitely create some energy with this activity.

Exercise: Product Training - Customer Spotlight

This exercise will help participants better understand the products and services offered by your company, and will give them exposure to people from other parts of the organization. It's ideal for new hire orientation. Part of the exercise is done in the classroom and the other is done in pairs on the job. Begin by providing participants with a brief description of your company's products and services. Try to keep it under 10 minutes. Then give them a list of 10 customers. If you offer a variety of products and services, include at least one customer from each area. Divide the class into pairs. Create the pairs by mixing people from different areas so that they begin to form a relationship with someone outside of their own departments. Assign each pair one customer to investigate. Instruct them to find out everything they can about that customer and prepare a short (5 minute) presentation for the rest of the group. Give each pair a card with key information about their assigned customer. Include the name and contact information for the sales representative, technical support rep, customer service rep, and other internal contact names. Also include the company's web address. Tell them that they must contact at least one person from your organization to learn about the account, and that their presentations should include information about how the customer uses your product or service, and anything unique about your relationship with them. You should probably warn the account representatives that they might get a call and ask them to spend 10-15 minutes with the pair when they call. Give pairs 1 hour or 1 day to complete their assignment together. The time they spend is less important than the process they follow. They will be meeting people from other parts of the organization, learning about your company and what you do, getting a perspective on the customers you serve, and taking initiative to get information in the organization. There are so many benefits to this activity, and they do most of the work!

Activity: Brainstorming Spark

This exercise is a way to spark people's creativity. You will need a variety of magazines, one for each person. Choose magazines that are unrelated to the topic you are discussing. Include things like women's magazines, fashion, science, food, literature, health, home improvement, even store catalogs. Before you begin the brainstorming, tell the group that you want them to open their minds to different ideas. Remind them about the topic you will be brainstorming. Then give each person a magazine. Tell them that they have 5 minutes to thumb through the magazine and write down as many ideas as possible related to the brainstorming topic. Tell them to write down everything they can think of because they will have to eliminate half of the ideas before they share them. Give them 5 minutes to complete the activity. After five minutes, divide the group into pairs. Have each pair share their ideas and eliminate at least half, but no more than 70%. Then have the whole group share their ideas. Debrief by comparing the ideas that came from different types of magazines, asking about how freely they recorded ideas (knowing that half would be eliminated), and how they might use this approach when they face creative challenges. »

Closing Exercise: Let's Celebrate!

This activity requires some quick work by the trainer during the last break of the class. Tell participants that they must take this break outside of the room, and that they may not leave the immediate area. Ask them to avoid checking email or voice mail and use the 10 minutes to think about what they have learned and how they might use it on the job. Then have them leave the room. Tell them you will let them know when they can return. While they are out, decorate the room for a celebration. Put up streamers, set out party favors (hats, noisemakers, etc.), put out bottles of bubbles, turn on music, blow up balloons, plug in a scented candle. Create a really fun environment for a party. Then invite the group back into the room. As they return to the room, "welcome" them to the party. Shake their hands. Congratulate them. Give them a party hat to wear. When they are all back in the room, lower the music. Remind the group of the famous football player who won the Super Bowl and was asked, "Now that you've won the Super Bowl, what are you going to do?" You want to know, now that they've done all this great work and learned all this great stuff, what are THEY going to do. Have each person share what they will do when they get back on the job. As each shares, have the group cheer, throw confetti, or blow bubbles in celebration. The room might be a little messy at the end, but people will leave feeling great. Encourage them to remember that feeling as they return to work. Let it motivate them to do the really hard work to make a change in the way they do their jobs every day.