Leading and Motivating Course Modules

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about what causes meetings to be ineffective.
• To identify what can be done to make meetings effective.
• To introduce the acronym APPLE and explain how focusing on five simple themes will help participants ensure meetings are effective.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 25 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• This exercise is designed for the start of a team session that reviews the previous year; in particular what went well, what people struggled with and what they learnt from it.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of any size.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A balloon for each participant. (It’s preferable to have lots of different colours.)
• A whistle or claxon to tell everyone to stop.
• You will need a nice (indoor) space for participants to throw their balloons in the air and keep all the balloons airborne.

Notes:
You will need to plan a little in advance for this activity and be prepared to send out reminder emails to ensure the pre-exercise task is completed.

Larger groups will necessitate a longer running time for the exercise.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be complete within 45 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 75 minutes to complete the module.

Aims:
• To identify specific actions that will enable groups to achieve a shared vision.
• To help individuals see how they will contribute to the achievement of a shared vision.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with most workshop/courses but is not recommended for use where the group has more than 25 participants (e.g., conferences).

Useful For:
Staff at all levels working in a team. It is particularly well suited to new teams formed for a fixed period to manage/implement a project.

You'll Need:
• Plenty of sheets of thin A4 card.
• A selection of coloured pens (felt tip pens are ideal).

Notes:
This module allows the group to share their ideas on how they intend to work together to achieve a shared vision. The group need to be clear about what their vision is.

If this isn’t the case, then you might wish to use the module, Creating a Shared Vision beforehand to achieve this.

If you are using the organisation, or team’s vision statement, you will need to pre-prepare a visual aid (PowerPoint or Flipchart) to display at the start of the exercise.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercises in this module will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 50 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To think about what needs to happen to ensure we don't regret the things we didn't do.
• To consider the feelings of success, and their impact upon motivation.
• To look at the importance of creating objectives that are SMART.
• To consider the importance of taking control, and what prevents us doing that.
• To provide an opportunity for participants to think about their own short, medium and long-term goals.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
You might want to follow this module with the module entitled Five Balls – Goal Setting and Motivation, which illustrates the value of breaking long-term goals down into short-term achievable chunks.

We also recommend you refer to the module Breaking Goals Down, which contains further ideas for building on this module.

Time:
This exercise will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To enable participants to be able to define coaching and its purpose.
• To explain the key differences between coaching and mentoring.
• To enable participants to describe a basic coaching model.
• To identify the core skills required by effective coaches.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 24 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Plenty of space for participants to work in pairs for this module.

Notes:
Endorsed by The National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers, NASBTT.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed within 25 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes to complete the module.

Aims:
• To consider what constitutes unacceptable behaviour in the workplace.
• To encourage participants to think about the impact of their own behaviour on others.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels, but especially supervisors and managers.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module makes the point that is the impact of behaviour that matters, not the intent. It includes a thought provoking exercise that will promote discussion of the key learning points.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 60 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore some of the challenges participants will face as a manager and how to approach them with the right balance of ethics and pragmatism.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between 4 to 18 participants.

Useful For:
Learners who are brand new managers (or very soon will be), particularly if they have been promoted from within the team.

You'll Need:
• Playing pieces, one per team.
• Small prize for the winning team.
• 60 second timer or stopwatch.
• Facilitator Traffic Lights.
• At a Crossroads Conundrum Cards.
• At a Crossroads Diversion Cards (3 per team).
• At a Crossroads Game Board.
• At a Crossroads Suggested Answers (for the facilitator).

Notes:
This exercise is suitable for use with groups of up to 18 participants. It is run as a competitive game, which is a race to the finish and played in teams of two or three players. We do not recommend having teams with more than three participants.

All the scenarios contained in the cards are based on actual experiences faced by managers in their first year of managing a team. It is a particularly useful exercise for people who have been promoted from within the team to become the manager and who are struggling to adapt to their new role with people who were once their peers.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 55 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To identify what gets in the way of internal customer service.
• To consider ways to reduce or eliminate the barriers to internal customer care.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Post its, pens and flip chart paper.
• The Activity Link and your PIN.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercises in this module will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To consider the link between attitudes and beliefs, and results.
• To identify the need to take responsibility for our own results.
• To build an understanding of what individuals might be capable of, if they adopt a positive attitude, and push themselves a little more.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This exercise includes mention of the story of Malala Yousafzai. Depending upon your audience, you may wish to substitute it for another story that resonates with your participants.

If you do use a different story, it is important that you choose ones that will be well known to your participants and which will highlight an individual who has overcome significant hardship to achieve something of genuine importance.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 50-60 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75-90 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To help participants understand what their leadership (and followership) style is through physicalising part of the leadership process.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of any size, however the exercise works much better with larger groups.

Useful For:
Managers, directors and others in leadership roles.

You'll Need:
• Blindfolds.
• A large, empty space (see notes).

Notes:
This exercise can provide participants with a very different insight into their leadership style (and their style as a follower). It is particularly useful for exploring trust and being hands on and hands off.

You need a large, empty space for this exercise. Any chairs should be placed against the walls of the room, leaving as much space as possible. It is possible to do this exercise outside, for example on a lawn.

There is the risk of people knocking into each other, a wall or furniture in this exercise. Make clear that participants guiding another colleague are responsible for that participant’s safety at all times.

* Although you can run this exercise with less than 8 participants it works much better with larger groups.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 35 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 45 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To show the value of breaking goals down into smaller chunks.
• To provide participants the opportunity to practise breaking long-term goals down into a series of short-term objectives.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
We have provided you with a suggested Gap Analysis about learning to juggle. If your participants all work in a similar role or for the same organisation, you might wish to substitute this example with one that is more relevant to your participants.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 20 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 45 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To consider the importance of momentum when innovating.
• To look at what builds momentum behind a project or idea, and what saps energy from a project or idea.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of any size.

Useful For:
Managers.

You'll Need:
For this exercise you'll need to be able to split your participants into 2 teams, each with a different room to work in.

You'll also need to gather a set of 'building materials' for each team.

Typically, we provide each team with the following:
• 20 'pick-up' sticks.
• 3 pairs of scissors.
• 4 rulers.
• 6 sheets of A3 card (or 12 sheets of A4 card).
• A ball of string.
• A roll of sticky tape.

You can vary the materials you provide in any way you wish - the important thing is that each team must have exactly the same materials to work with (including the same number of pairs of scissors etc). You'll also need a toy car for each team (each should be the same size and weight). Choose a car that is 'Dinky' sized, rather than 'Matchbox' sized. (More mature UK readers will know what we mean!) For those of you who don't, we mean a car that is not too small - aim for something about six or seven inches long and weighing about 1lb (500 gram). We want this exercise to be challenging.

Notes:
For very large groups (20 or more participants) you’ll need more than 2 teams. Establish a number of small teams with 4 or 5 participants in them, and some very large teams with perhaps a dozen participants in them.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To demonstrate the importance of taking a step back and understanding our role in the relationships we have with others at work.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at supervisory level.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 55 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 75 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to consider planning and preparation as part of leadership.
• To facilitate discussion around playing to the team's strength.
• To consider factors that motivate staff to perform well.
• To encourage staff to self assess, review and reflect on performance.
• To encourage leaders to consider their communication skills.
• To encourage leaders to consider the question of keeping people motivated.
• To demonstrate leadership skills in a practical task.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
First line managers and supervisors.

You'll Need:
• Broadsheet newspapers (one per team).
• Sticky tape (one per team).
• A tennis ball.

Notes:
In this exercise, participants will be working in teams of 4 or 5. Each team will need one broadsheet newspaper (for example, the Financial Times) and a roll of sticky tape.
In addition, you will need a tennis ball (or similar) to test the strength of the teams’ structures.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To identify the key skills that, collectively, constitute effective counselling skills for managers.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

Useful For:
Managers and team leaders.

You'll Need:
• Post-its.

Notes:
This module is about a set of skills that can be used by managers to enable them to help individual's solve their own problems at work. These are collectively called counselling skills for managers. It is important to emphasise that there is a huge difference between using counselling skills in a work situation and being a counsellor. It takes many years training to become a counsellor.

This isn't a training module as such, but an additional resource that can be used to support practical simulation exercises where the trainer or other participants fulfil the role of observer.

The Observer's Feedback Sheet contains a list of positive indicators in the left hand column and some less positive indicators in the central column. Observers simply tick the boxes for the behaviours they observe and jot down examples, making effective feedback easy and powerful.

Time:
The exercises in this module will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To show the benefit of a mission statement when problem solving.
• To demonstrate the importance of taking a step back and understanding our role in the relationships we have with others at work.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Supervisors and above.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
A useful module that looks at the importance of truly understanding the nature of the problem and the outcome desired. Useful for inclusion in any problem solving course, at the investigation stage of the problem solving process.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be complete within 90 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 120 minutes to complete the module.

Aims:
• To agree what success looks like for everyone.
• To establish effective working relationships within groups or teams.
• To create a vision statement for the team.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with most workshop/courses but is not recommended for use where the group has more than 25 participants (e.g., conferences).

Useful For:
Staff at all levels working in a team. It is particularly well suited to new teams formed for a fixed period to manage/implement a project.

You'll Need:
• Plenty of post-it notes and flipchart paper.
• A selection of craft materials such as paints, brushes, glue, magazines, pieces of material. (You may prefer to restrict the materials available to coloured pens and paper, depending on the make up of the group you are working with.)

Notes:
This module allows the group to share ideas about what is important to them and to agree some communal aim, values and aspirations. As a result of this exercise the whole team will participate in the creation of a shared vision.

This activity can be used as a stand-alone activity or combined with others to form a longer event. The module Achieving a Shared Vision naturally leads on from this module.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To help participants understand how, and the extent to which, they involve others in the decision making process.
• To help participants identify whether the decision making approaches currently used are the most effective.
• To consider the pros and cons of using different approaches in different situations.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Managers.

You'll Need:
• Prepared post-its.
• Blank post-its of a different colour.
• Prepared flipcharts.

Notes:
You will need to familiarise yourself with the handout for this module before running it.

You will also need to prepare a sheet of flipchart paper and a set of 10 post-its for each participant (see trainer notes).

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 40 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To define counselling skills.
• To build an understanding of the difference between counselling skills, the counsellor and a disciplinary interview.
• To identify situations where the use of counselling skills might be appropriate.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Managers and team leaders.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To define success.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Flipchart paper and lots of coloured pens.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercises in this module can be completed within 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete the module.

Aims:
• To introduce participants to the subject of delegation.
• To explore what constitutes effective and ineffective delegation.
• To consider best practice when delegating.
• To identify some pitfalls to avoid when delegating.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 15 participants.

Useful For:
Team Leaders and managers.

You'll Need:
• Plenty of blank sheets of A4 paper.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 30-45 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To understand why we delegate.
• To understand how to delegate effectively.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A supply of Lego, with at least 15 large pieces for each team of 3-5 participants.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library - Building an Understanding of Delegation.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60-90 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To understand what culture is and why it is important.
• To encourage participants to actively consider and discuss the culture of their own organisation.
• To elicit and compare the different perspectives that will exist about the organisation’s existing culture.
• To consider the appropriateness of the organisation’s current culture to drive future business success (optional – for culture change workshops).

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 15 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This activity is designed to provoke discussion around existing organisational culture, or to be used as an icebreaker for leadership programmes that contain a session on organisation or team culture.

This activity is also suitable to be run as an internal facilitated session for organisations that are considering or are in the process of a culture change. This activity will encourage contribution and engagement from staff at all levels about current and future culture, and is equally suitable for senior managers and board directors.

You will need to allow the longer time of 90 minutes if using the exercise as part of a culture change session.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 15 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 45 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To show participants a five-step model that will help them establish the need for a difficult conversation and plan for a successful outcome.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Anyone.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercises in this module can be completed within 60 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 120 minutes to complete the module.

Aims:
• To agree the important principles of effective delegation.
• To review and learn from the experience of being delegated to.
• To recognise potential barriers to delegation.
• To prepare a checklist for effective delegation.
• To identify tasks that can’t be delegated.
• To plan for delegation.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Supervisors and junior managers.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
A useful discussion based exercise that encourages participants to really think about when to delegate, why to delegate and when not to delegate.

Time:
The exercises in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To raise awareness of self-awareness, the first strand of emotional intelligence.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to about 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A flipchart, pens and the handouts provided.

Notes:
This module forms part one of a two-part introduction to emotional intelligence. (Part 2 can also be used alone to explore awareness of others and empathy as a skill.)

This module (Part 1) looks at intra-personal intelligence - self-awareness - and the ability to notice and regulate or manage our own emotional state or mood.

Part 2 examines interpersonal intelligence – being able to distinguish other people’s emotions, moods and temperaments.

It is important to have an understanding of emotional intelligence and the effects of discussing it with a group of participants. You will find Mike Bagshaw’s Article in Trainers’ Library useful for this.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercises in this module can be completed in about 80 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 100 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To develop an understanding of the importance of awareness of others, the second strand of emotional intelligence.
• To allow participants to practice empathy as a skill.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to about 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module forms Part 2 of a two-part introduction to emotional intelligence. This part examines interpersonal intelligence – being able to distinguish other people’s emotions, moods and temperaments.

Part 1 looks at intra-personal intelligence - self-awareness and the ability to notice and regulate or manage our own emotional state or mood.

This module can also be used alone, for example as part of a customer service skills course, to explore the importance and value of empathy as a skill.

Before using this module it is important to have an understanding of emotional intelligence and the effects of discussing it with a group of participants. You will find Mike Bagshaw’s Article in Trainer’s Library useful for this.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 70 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 105 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To introduce managers to the subject of employee engagement.
• To help managers begin to understand why employee engagement is central to being a successful manager.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between 3 and 20 participants. Ideally, you'll have at least 6 participants though so that you can create 3 teams of 2 or more.

Useful For:
Participants with managerial responsibility (or those who will have imminently.)

You'll Need:
• Prepared flipcharts with simple 'cartoon' faces drawn on them - one face for each participant.
• Post-it notes.

Notes:
This exercise is designed for the start of an Employee Engagement workshop.

Before the participants arrive – create a flip chart or charts with colourful cartoon faces on. Please have enough faces so that there is one for each participant. Have these on display at the start of the exercise.

There are two parts to this exercise. It is essential that both are completed to ensure that learning is maximised.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 70 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 105 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage managers to identify the factors that will make their teams feel that they value the organisation they work for and are valued in return.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between 3 and 20 participants.

Useful For:
Participants with managerial responsibility (or those who will have imminently.)

You'll Need:
No additional materials are required but the final part of the exercise requires space for participants to move around the room.

Notes:
The exercises allow space for participants to reflect on the engagement of a team of up to 15 employees. If their team is bigger than this, encourage them to think about their best and worst performing team members.

Whilst this module can be run as a stand-alone exercise, it is most powerful when used with the other exercises in the Employee Engagement series. This complete course can be run in one day or in 4 bite-sized sessions.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 50 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 80 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore the role that managers’ behaviours play in employee engagement.
• To identify the behaviours that lead to more engaged teams.
• To consider the impact this has on success.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between 3 and 20 participants.

Useful For:
Participants with managerial responsibility (or those who will have imminently).

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 45 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To explore how engaged participants are currently feeling at work.
• To create an action plan for the workplace that will improve employee engagement.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Work-based teams.

You'll Need:
• The 10 Engaging Behaviours posters (Handout provided). 20 red counters (or similar) and 20 green counters for each participant. (We’ve provided a template should you wish to use paper counters.)
• An envelope for each poster. (We recommend numbering these to make it easier to keep the poster and correct envelope together.)

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 45 minutes to complete (but can be shortened if necessary). In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To enable participants to consider how customers and staff view their organisation.
• To identify cultural/image strengths and weaknesses within the organisation.
• To generate discussion about how cultural/image strengths can be maintained, and how weaknesses might be overcome.

Group Size:
Fairly adaptable but we would recommend use with groups of less than 15 participants, working in two teams.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• One set of Feelings Cards per team.
• Flipchart paper and marker pens for each team.
• Blu-tack.

Notes:
Use this as a catalyst for discussing how the organisation is currently viewed by its stakeholders, and how participants would like it to be viewed in the future.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library - Brand Reflection - How are we seen?.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be complete within 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 90 minutes to complete the module.

Aims:
• To explore the differences between a team and work group.
• To help participants identify when a team or group is required.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with most workshop/courses but is not recommended for use where the group has more than 25 participants (e.g., conferences).

Useful For:
Teams, work groups and/or their leaders who wish to explore the current organisation and management of the group.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module can be usefully followed by the following modules:
• Creating a Shared Vision.
• Achieving a Shared Vision.

It can also be a useful inclusion in any training intervention around remote teams.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 45 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To explore the differences between bullying behaviour and that of firm management.
• To understand the impact of organisational culture and norms on managers' behaviour.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 15 participants.

Useful For:
Supervisors and team leaders.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
Different countries have different definitions of workplace bullying. You will find it helpful to check for yourself the current definition and any legislation or best practice guidelines applicable to your country and to have these available to share with your participants.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 35 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 50 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To introduce (or remind participants of) SMART objectives.
• To give participants the opportunity to practice writing SMART objectives.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module can be used to introduce SMART for participants who have not encountered the acronym before, or as a refresher for those who have.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This exercise will take about 15 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To test participants' planning and communication skills.
• To demonstrate the importance of listening and using summary and clarification to check understanding.
• To consider what makes communication effective and the dangers of getting it wrong.
• To energise a group of participants.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Whistles (one for each team).
• A stopwatch.
• Skittles and hoops (or similar-see note).
• Prizes.

This exercise does require some preparation as you'll need to devise a 'course' for your participants to follow. Preparation will take about 5 minutes once you have the items you'll need. The course maps show three different routes through the same course, which means you won't have to change the course itself if playing more than one round.

We suggest using hula-hoops for your 'pens'. If not, you can mark the 'pens' out using other things like rope or giant pick-up sticks. Skittles, cones or balls can be used to mark out the rest of the course.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 20 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to consider their attitude.
• To encourage discussion around optimistic versus pessimistic outlooks.
• To recognise the impact that attitude has on performance.
• To enable participants to identify personal traits that might be holding them back.
• To encourage leaders to consider how they might deal with negative attitudes in their team.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module provides an excellent opportunity, when working with a wide range of participants, to consider how attitude can impact on performance. Topics where the inclusion of a module looking at optimism/pessimism might be beneficial include:
• Managing change.
• Problem solving and decision making.
• Customer service.
• Selling skills.
• Leading a team.
• Strategic leadership.
• Communication skills.
• Planning and scheduling.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 75 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 120 minutes for this module if working with 10-12 participants.

It is strongly recommended that, for maximum impact and best overall use of time, this module is run in conjunction with the other modules from the Hotel Doldrums series.

Aims:
• To build an understanding of the key steps in strategic planning.
• To encourage participants to analyse financial and other data using a SWOT analysis.
• To encourage participants to think about where they are now, before moving on in the next module to consider where they want to be.

Group Size:
An ideal group size for this module is 12, with participants working in 3 teams of 4. If you have more than 15 participants in your group, you may want to consider ‘doubling up’ on some of the briefs with more than one team using the same scenario. This doesn’t detract from the learning; in fact it can be interesting to see how different teams approach the same problem and task.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
Each team will need a hotel data pack (provided) and a syndicate room or area.

Notes:
Hotel Doldrums is a series of modules that are designed to be run in sequence.

Together they form a complete 1.5 day workshop, which can be run as a single workshop, or as three independent sessions, each lasting between 2 and 4 hours. We’ve also suggested other modules you could add to the programme, if you have more time available.

Hotel Doldrums can also be run as a teambuilding game, where teams are left to compete with less facilitator involvement during the exercise, but a thorough review at the end. This takes about 3.5 hours to run.

If you prefer to use the teambuilding version of Hotel Doldrums, please download the trainer’s notes from the teambuilding games section of Trainers’ Library.

This series of modules is set in the context of the hotel industry but requires no specialist knowledge of it.

The modules, when used together, also draw out skills relating to business planning, problem solving, influencing, team working and making presentations.

This module follows on from Hotel Doldrums, part 1, and is not designed to be used as a stand-alone module.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 135 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 180 minutes for this module if working with 10-12 participants.

Aims:
• To give participants the opportunity to identify and explore options and appraise these.
• For participants to create a 3-5 year outline strategic plan based on the fictional case study they’ve been given.

Group Size:
An ideal group size for this module is 12, with participants working in 3 teams of 4. If you have more than 15 participants in your group, you may want to consider ‘doubling up’ on some of the briefs with more than one team using the same scenario. This doesn’t detract from the learning; in fact it can be interesting to see how different teams approach the same problem and task.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
Each team will a hotel data pack (provided) and a syndicate room or area.

Notes:
Hotel Doldrums is a series of modules that are designed to be run in sequence.

Together they form a complete 1.5 day workshop, which can be run as a single workshop, or as three independent sessions, each lasting between 2 and 4 hours. We’ve also suggested other modules you could add to the programme, if you have more time available.

This module follows on from Hotel Doldrums, parts 1 and 2, and is not designed to be used as a stand-alone module.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 140 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 240 minutes for this module if working with 10-12 participants.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to develop a strategy from the options generated in previous sessions.
• To encourage participants to prepare and give a persuasive presentation outlining their strategy and the work they have done.
• To reflect on the learning from the Hotel Doldrums series of modules.

Group Size:
An ideal group size for this module is 12, with participants working in 3 teams of 4. If you have more than 15 participants in your group, you may want to consider ‘doubling up’ on some of the briefs with more than one team using the same scenario. This doesn’t detract from the learning; in fact it can be interesting to see how different teams approach the same problem and task.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels including individuals, groups and teams that need to use strategic planning and analysis skills in the workplace.

You'll Need:
Each team will a hotel data pack (provided) and a syndicate room or area.

Notes:
Hotel Doldrums is a series of modules that are designed to be run in sequence.

Together they form a complete 1.5 day workshop, which can be run as a single workshop, or as three independent sessions, each lasting between 2 and 4 hours. We’ve also suggested other modules you could add to the programme, if you have more time available.

The modules, when used together, also draw out skills relating to business planning, problem solving, influencing, team working and making presentations.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 20 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 30 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To demonstrate a link between self-belief and results.
• To encourage participants to consider the impact positivity has on their own performance and the performance of others.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 15 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A syndicate room, or separate area in which Team 1 can work.
• A pack of 54 ‘Filing Frenzy’ cards for each team.
• A stopwatch/timer.
• You might like to use a bell or whistle to announce the start/end of the exercise.

Notes:
This exercise may not be suitable for participants who are colour blind or visually impaired. However, in most cases anyone who falls into this category can still be involved. Ask them to observe/listen to the teams during the exercise, identifying effective and less effective behaviours in order to provide constructive feedback afterwards.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To introduce a 'model' to help participants remember what counselling skills are, and how to use them.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 15 participants.

Useful For:
Managers and team leaders.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 25 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 35 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To enable participants to consider the value and difficulty caused by organisational politics and political games.
• To create an understanding that managers cannot avoid politics, so need to know the games in which they may – deliberately or inadvertently – be playing.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with larger groups of up to almost any size. It tends not to work well with very small groups.

Useful For:
All managers, but particularly those who are new to management and may not understand the political nature of organisations, including their own.

You'll Need:
• Post-it notes, flipchart paper, scribble paper, pens and marker pens for each team.

Notes:
This module works best if you set up the room ‘cabaret style’ – that is with table teams of between 4 and 8 people per table.

This is the first in a series of three modules examining power and politics. It can be used on its own as a short session or with the other two to form a complete half day programme.

Politics is often seen as a ‘dirty word’ by many people, or as one in which they have no interest. The purpose of this module is for the participants to recognise that divorcing themselves from politics is a decision that could affect them adversely – and is, in itself, a political act. To influence the direction an organisation is taking means people taking part in politics.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 25 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 50 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To enable participants to understand that the words power and influence are, essentially, interchangeable.
• To help participants understand that power is an asset that can be used to help deliver positive change.
• To help participants understand that there are many sources of power and where their own power to influence comes from.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with larger groups of almost any size. It tends not to work well with very small groups.

Useful For:
All managers, but particularly those who are new to management and may not understand that power comes from many different sources, not just authority.

You'll Need:
• The Activity Link and your PIN from the My Account section of the member homepage.

Notes:
This is part two of three modules looking at influence, politics and power. It can be run on its own or combined with the other two modules to make a complete half day programme.

If you do not have an internet connection in your training room, we’ve included the transcript of the story (Handout 2).

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 50 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 80 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To allow participants the opportunity to identify their own sources of power, to know which they need to develop and to have an action plan for doing this.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to about 20 participants.

Useful For:
All managers but especially those who are new to the management role and may feel that they have little power of their own to allow them to accomplish results.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module is the third in a series looking at influence, power and politics. Whilst this module can be run on its on, it will have more effect if used as a follow on to the work done in Influence 2 - Sources of Power.

If you are running this module on its own and not as a follow-on, you will find it helpful to have looked at the five power sources identified in the Influence 2 - Sources of Power module before you begin.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 45 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• Understand the difference between leadership and management and the importance of both.
• To identify ways that participants can lead and manage their most important team members.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to about 25 participants.

Useful For:
Participants with current (or imminent) managerial responsibility.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This exercise is a great way to open up a workshop about leadership. It removes the need for the more traditional participant introductions and enables you to observe the participants in action and explore their priorities and attitudes to managing people.

You can run this exercise with a range of team sizes, with between 4 and 8 players in each team. Please select the correct Clue Card pack based on the number in the team. Choose the team sizes that work for you. For example, with a group of 15, the exercise can be run with 3 teams of 5 or 2 teams, one of 7 and the other 8.

Time:
The exercise in this module will take about 10 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 30 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To identify the key 'don't' when using counselling skills at work.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of almost any size.

Useful For:
Managers.

You'll Need:
• Glue or double sided sticky tape.

Time:
The exercises in this module will take about 45 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 65 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To provide participants with a way of understanding behaviour and improving communication.
• To provide a very basic introduction to transactional analysis.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff up to junior managers.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module is intended to provide a very simple introduction to transactional analysis, a theory developed by Eric Berne in the 1950s. If you are not familiar with transactional analysis you will need to read through all the notes carefully plus the additional material in the handout.

Go through the exercises on your own first so that you can see the rationale. If you have time, try to observe the different types "in play" in your own interactions with people.

Endorsed by The National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers, NASBTT.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
This game can be played in about 90 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion and evaluation, we recommend allowing 120 minutes.

Aims:
• To help participants develop their negotiation skills and in particular their ability to establish their needs and wants, and those of the other party, prior to commencing negotiating.

Skills and Behaviours Tested:
Communication skills, leadership, negotiation, teamwork and collaboration, and problem solving.

Group Size:
This exercise involves participants working in four teams. You’ll need a minimum of 2 participants in each team and a maximum of 6.

Useful For:
Managers, and particularly those at a more senior level.

You'll Need:
• Access to the Internet, to use our online scoring tool, necessary to assess teams’ performances and a printer to provide participants a copy of the results. (Only you will need this, not your participants.)
• Plenty of space. Ideally each of your four teams will have a separate breakout room to work in.
• A calculator for each team.
• Highlighters, pens and pencils for each team.
• A small prize for the winning team.
• A bell (optional).

Notes:
The exercise can also be used at the end of a training event focused on negotiation, allowing participants to apply new knowledge and skills.

Time:
The exercises in this module will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 45 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To explore the benefits of different approaches to developing others.
• To help participants choose the most appropriate approach for developing others in a given situation.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 15 participants.

Useful For:
Team Leaders, supervisors and managers.

You'll Need:
Nothing other than the materials provided.

Notes:
This module is suitable for anyone who has responsibility for developing others in the workplace: Team leaders, supervisors or managers.

It is a useful addition to coaching skills courses and can help participants understand when a coaching approach might be appropriate and when it might not be.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 50 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage new managers to think about which of their team members they are most worried about managing and begin to identify actions they can take to manage them effectively.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Brand new managers (or those who soon will be), and particularly those that have been promoted from within the team.

You'll Need:
• Post-it notes, glue, sellotape and Blu Tack.
• Playdough or other modelling clay.
• Large flat (plain) wooden lolly sticks.
• Colourful pipe cleaners.
• Art equipment.

Notes:
This is an introductory module or icebreaker for new managers. It is designed to build awareness of participants’ fears and concerns, gather initial ideas and explore the personal learning each participant needs to get from the training that follows.

If using this module with larger groups, more time will be needed for debriefing the exercise; alternatively, you can ask them to work in pairs during the exercise.

Time:
The exercises in this module will take about 30 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 60 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To explore what motivates us.
• To identify ways of maintaining motivation.

Group Size:
This module is suitable for use with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A pre-prepared flipchart and coloured flipchart pens.

Notes:
For this module, you will need to pre-prepare a flipchart with a grid (an example is shown on the summary sheet of the trainer's notes).

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to identify an appropriate management style based on the individual they are dealing with, the role they are doing and what the team needs them to do.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 25 participants.

Useful For:
Participants who have managerial responsibility (or those who will have imminently).

You'll Need:
• Post it notes and Blu-Tack.
• Lengths of string about 1 metre/3 feet long. (You’ll need two lengths for each team of 3 or 4 participants.)
• Plenty of space.

Notes:
This exercise can work as a stand-alone training exercise for new managers. It is designed to look at the role of the manager and explore suitable approaches for managing individual team members.

You will need to clear a large space (on the floor or on tables) for the main part of the exercise.