Do you deliver programs in communications skills?

[Thaler]

Hello, I help people communicate more persuasively, using story elicitation to unearth messages and meaning, and helping leaders find, develop, and share their stories. I am beginning to incorporate some exercises from my Improv practice into my trainings, and I would welcome conversation with other practitioners who have a similar focus.

[Jason Lewis]

Leadership Presence and Persuasion Set List

Ola,

I just delivered a session on Presence and Persuasion for supervisors/managers at a recreation facility. A very high energy group that wanted some leadership as well as practical presentation skills. Below are the games and debrief hints I used for the session. It seemed to work well and I'd love to hear what y'all do for this topic. In general I used improv games to get them in front of their colleagues and used Toastmaster's techniques for speaking skills.


Pass the Clap
* Focus, communication, group mind

You, Yes Switching (people get permission to take over each other's spots)
* Non-verbal
* Message sent/received

Monster Pass (taking turns being a scary monster)
* Supporting each other & trust

Word at a Time Story to Conducted Story
* Standing comfortably on stage
* Listening
* Sticking with the story

Yes, But vs Yes, And...
* Yes, and...as improv and Conflict Mgmt tool

Conflict Corkscrew (A berates B, B agrees totally and tries to stand beside A)
* Defusing conflict
* Solving a common problem

Expert Interviews (Performed to group)
* Umms and ahs
* Support
* Brevity

Art Gallery
* Yes, and
* Physical communication
* Palate cleanser

Final Debrief
* People appreciated the very specific help with ums and ahs and lip smacking (ie use a pause), Yes, and... as conflict tool, importance of "presence" for leaders, support/trust

[Jason Lewis]

Hi Thaler,

I'm also using Improv/Theater skills for communication/presentation skills. So far it's a combination of Improv exercises, Toastmasters speaking skills (physical and vocal techniques) and a bit of Robert Cialdini's work on Persuasion. I use storytelling to help with listening, stage presence and structuring content. However, I'm interested in how you help leaders "find, develop and share their stories." Does this take the form of improv exercises and debriefs or personal reflective activities?

Regards,
Jason

[Thaler]

Hi, Jason. It's general story elicitation techniques: asking questions, offering prompts. Then developing narrative attributes, practice and sharing, and coaching in communications delivery and strategy. I have yet to use Improv to elicit stories, although I hope to, with a little more Improv training and experience.

[Jean-Christophe]

Hi Thaler,

I am at the stage, I am now working on different training using improvisation to improve skills such as communication, leadership and creativity.

I think one key skill to develop is to teach them to better LISTEN. One key "motto" to transfer is the "Yes... and..." practice. Some exercises like "Pros and cons" enables participants 1) to listen the full argument without interrupting and 2) reformulate what was said before giving a new opposite argument. The "Story teller" game is also a good game to make 2 people listen and interact.

Cheers,
Jean-Christophe

[Thaler]

Thank you, Jean-Christophe. Great ideas. I can imagine what "Story teller" entails, but, despite my searching, I do not know the format of the game "pros and cons" - and I am very interested. Please do describe. Thank you!

[Jean-Christophe]

Hello,
I have read several versions of the "pros and cons" game. Here is the one I have tried and worked.

1. You divide your audience into 2 groups: One half will argue "pro" your topic, the other "con".
2. You then choose a topic such as "Developing ways for bike riders in cities", "Making AIDS prevention in primary school" or lighter topics such as "Free foods and drinks at work".
3. You start with a pro arguer who will say his/her first argument.
4. Then a con arguer will have to repeat the previous arguer's argument, and follow with his own one.
5. Then a pro participant repeats the con argument and gives a new pro one, and so on.

2 benefits from this exercise:
This exercise makes you work the Reformulation technique to make sure you listend + understood well what was just said + It forces the arguer to listen the full argument without interrrupting.

Good luck,
Jean

[William Child]

Hi Jean

I like this idea a lot.
How long do you let the exercise run for ?

Thanks

William Child

[Jean-Christophe]

Hi William,

Actually it depends on the number of participants as I want each one to say at least one line. I think that you should let your participants experience at least one time a "pro" line and one time a "con" line.
The last time I did it, there were 10 people and I needed to change the topic after 7/8 responses, as they were running out of arguments. It lasted from 10 to 15 minutes.

Cheers,
Jean

[Thaler]

thank you so much!