Employee Engagement Course Modules

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 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 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:
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:
This exercise will take about 45 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 70 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To create a situation where participants have to manage change driven by one department, affecting the work of another.
• To identify some key learning points about managing change.
• To test information gathering and sharing skills.
• To demonstrate the importance of effective questioning, summary and clarification and active listening.
• To consider the pros and cons of different leadership styles.

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

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• Each team will need a space to work where they cannot be overheard by the other team (s).
• Each HR team will need an egg timer that takes 3-4 minutes for the sand to pass from one side to the other.

Notes:
As well as useful in programs concerned with change, this exercise can also be used as a general communication exercise, or in training concerned with internal customer care.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library - Dinner Party Mayhem - Managing Other Teams.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 30 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 50 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To consider where people have a true sense of belonging and what that feels like.
• To explore the positive benefits of ‘belonging’.
• To explore how to create a sense of belonging at work.

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

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

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

Notes:
A discussion that encourages people to explore how it feels to belong.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 55 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 75 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To help sales professionals recognise and understand the barriers they must overcome.
• To help participants plan a sales approach that is empathetic and engaging.
• To help participants plan a strategy that addresses customers concerns and quickly lets the customer know what’s in it for them.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of up to 14 participants.

Useful For:
Anyone involved in sales, particularly telephone-based sales.

You'll Need:
• A flipchart and pens for each team.

Notes:
We’d like to thank Giles Smith of PGL Travel for his help developing this exercise, which was born on a Trainers’ Library Masterclass.

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 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 60 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To help participants understand what it feels like to be engaged in their job and the difference it makes to how they feel and the quality of their work.

Group Size:
This module can be used with groups of between 3 and 16 participants.

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

You'll Need:
• A Bridge Constructor Kit for each team.
• A separate area for each team to work in, where they will be out of sight of the other team(s).

Notes:
It is advisable to start this exercise without too much introduction – just hand out the briefings and let them get on with it.

Whilst this works very well as a stand alone exercise, we thoroughly recommend it as a great way to end our full day workshop on Employee Engagement.

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 exercises in this module will take about 35 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 50 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To identify improvements that can be made.
• To identify things that need to be taken into consideration when planning continuous improvement activities.
• To plan one improvement that can be implemented in the workplace.

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.

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

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 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.

Time:
This game can be played in about 30 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion and evaluation, we recommend allowing 60 minutes.

Aims:
• To examine common problems/conundrums associated with giving presentations and discuss ways of overcoming these.
• To highlight and share best practices and tips for making presentations successful.

Skills and Behaviours Tested:
Presentation skills, communication skills, influence and persuasion, planning and preparation, creative thinking and audience engagement.

Group Size:
In this exercise participants can play individually, although we recommend they play in pairs/small teams.

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

You'll Need:
• A counter for every team.
• Dice.
• A 'Pitfalls and Trampolines' game board and a set of Pitfalls cards and Trampoline cards for each game in play.

Notes:
Pitfalls and Trampolines is a fun board game. It can be used at any point within a training event, but is perhaps most useful as a tool for reviewing key learning points and for sharing knowledge and ideas.

Some of the cards may not be applicable to your participants so, before starting the exercise, review all of the Pitfalls and Trampolines cards and remove any that aren’t relevant.

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

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

Aims:
• To consider the role goals can play in helping a positive mental attitude and resilience.
• To consider why goals can help or hinder our resilience and how to ensure our goals help us move forward positively.

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

Useful For:
Staff at all levels.

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

Notes:
This activity encourages participants to reflect on a personal goal. It’s important therefore that their right to privacy is respected and that participants are invited rather than asked to share their thoughts, insights and ideas.

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 70 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To consider issues around communicating your project plan effectively and to create a communication plan.

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

Useful For:
Anyone who needs to set up and/or commission and/or manage projects.

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

Notes:
This is the third module in the Project Planning series. The first two modules must be run before this one.

If you are running this on a different date from the first two modules it would be sensible to remind participants to bring their completed project plan, risk analysis and contingency planning documents to this session.

As with the previous sessions, you will probably need several copies of the handout per participant so make sure you have enough printed.

Time:
This exercise will take about 45 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 80 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To consider what needs to be communicated when change is initiated.
• To explore the need to convince those affected by change of the need for change and its urgency.
• To consider methods that can be used to achieve buy-in to change programmes.

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

Useful For:
Managers.

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

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a two-part Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library called Selling Change - Introduction and Selling Change (R).

Time:
This exercise will take about 60 minutes to complete. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing 90 minutes to complete this module.

Aims:
• To encourage participants to think about the extent to which staff feel engaged with the organisation they work for.
• To consider who staff feel is responsible for business performance.
• To think about how vision and values are used within the organisation.
• To demonstrate how values can be ingrained in the organisation.
• To consider the benefits of an organisation where staff feel engaged and responsible for the business outcomes.

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

Useful For:
Managers.

You'll Need:
For this exercise you will need a good quantity of greeting card making materials. For example: Glue, Double sided tape or pads, Scissors, Card of various colours and textures, ribbon of various colours and gold/silver markers.

You'll need enough materials for each team of 4-6 participants to make one 'template' card and one 'team' card of their own design.

Notes:
This exercise was first used at the 2008 Trainers' Library Conference and has been designed around the five 'passions' that underpin our business. It's an unusually personal module that we've used to share some of the key principles and approaches that we believe have been key to the success of Glasstap. It's been added to Trainers' Library in response to requests from participants who attended the conference.

You can use the five values we’ve suggested for the exercise to great effect, but the exercise can be easily adapted to your own organisation’s vision and values. However, we strongly recommend limiting the number of values used in this exercise to 6 or fewer. If your organisation doesn’t have a clear set of values or principles, you could use an exercise like ‘Feelings Cards’ to generate discussion around people’s values and to identify some possible organisational values for the future.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library called The E-Card Factory - Balancing Business with Values.

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

Aims:
• To explore what participants can do to improve their own levels of engagement.

Group Size:
This module can be used 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 40 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 50 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To discover how to apply SMART when agreeing objectives for team members.

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

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

You'll Need:
• You may wish to have some spare copies of the Action Plan sheets included in the handout, in case participants have lots of ideas they wish to document.

Notes:
This exercise follows on from Objectives – The SMART Way and is designed for managers who need to set objectives for team members.

If you’re confident that participants already know SMART it can be run as a standalone exercise. However, we’d always recommend recapping on the five elements of SMART before beginning this module.

Remote/Virtual Delivery:
There is a Remote Delivery version of this module available in Trainers’ Library called SMART Objectives - Practice.

Time:
The exercise in this module can be completed in about 55 minutes. In total, allowing for discussion, we recommend allowing about 90 minutes for this module.

Aims:
• To understand the importance of delegating authority appropriately to other colleagues.
• To introduce the Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum as a method of deciding what levels of authority to delegate.

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

Useful For:
Those who have responsibility for other staff, or who will do very soon.

You'll Need:
• One set of cards for every team of 2-3 participants.
• Blu-tack.

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