1st Edition

75 Ways to Liven Up Your Training A Collection of Energizing Activities

By Martin Orridge Copyright 1996

    Most of the activities in Martin Orridge’s book require little in the way of either expertise or equipment. Yet they provide a powerful way of stimulating creativity, helping people to enjoy learning, or simply injecting new momentum into the training process. Each activity is presented under a standard set of headings, including a brief description, a statement of purpose, likely duration, a note of any materials required and detailed instructions for running the event. In addition there are suggestions for debriefing and possible variations. To help users to select the most appropriate activities they are arranged in the book by type or process. There are exercises for individuals, pairs and large groups and they range from icebreakers to closing events. Trainers, managers, team leaders and anyone responsible for developing people will find this volume a rich store-house of ideas.

    Contents: Introduction. Icebreakers: Birthdays; Cinderella; Cocktail party; First impression fantasy; Intro bingo; Jigsaw; Name game; Pictorial interview; Sentenced; Sell yourself; Shields; Stick ’em Up; Suited; What are we?; Wishes. Team Working: A better mousetrap; Crystal clear; Fire extinguisher; Grab it; Invent a game; Leader of the band; Plane makers; Role model; Safety audit; Sinbad’s challenges; Strong bridge; Tall storey; Time capsule; Tower power; TV anchor; Underneath the arches. Large Group Exercises: Bizarre bazaar; Coin it in; Cooperative circles; Cumulative pull up; Human knot; Just a minute; Knee sit; Mini aerobics; My precious; Paper frisbee; Spoof; Stereotypes; Sudden death; Table manners; Wallyball; Who am I? Individual Exercises: Beans in a jar; Business Kim; I like coffee; Mind power; Nine dots; 60 second opportunity; Match triangles; Yes, but ... Paired Exercises: Drawing backwards; Get knotted; Hand to hand; Negotiate to close; Trust me!; Yes, and ... Creative Problem Solving: Action replay; Ambiguity rules?; Card storm; Metamorphic links; Problem sketch. Closing: Action aides; Air mail; Cascading handshake; Commercial break; I’m OK, you’re OK; Memories; Spotlight; Talk to the animals; Words of appreciation.

    Biography

    Martin Orridge is a physics graduate who holds diplomas in administrative management and business studies. He has worked in the telecommunications, pharmaceutical and electronics industries and spent seven years as a consultant, manager and trainer with Digital Equipment Co Ltd. Since 1994 he has been an independent consultant and trainer focusing on the roles that creativity and innovation play in organizational performance.

    'very suitable for interactive relationship types of events' Training Officer 'This is a worthwhile purchase for any trainer who wants some ideas for injecting life into sleepy delegates.' Professional Manager 'a useful book for the Trainers' Tool Kit' Arena