Hart L.B., Waisman C.S. - The leadership training activity book (2005)(en)

8	THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING ACTIVITY BOOK

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

These will vary, depending on which team building activity you select.

ROOM SET-UP

Any seating arrangement is acceptable.

Comments

If your leadership program extends over several days or is conducted in two or more sessions, create small groups of 5 to 7 people who will meet periodically throughout the program’s duration to work on a problem or case study, debrief the module, and generally lend support to one another. The small groups can remain together and form a Professional Resource Group, as suggested in Activity 14.

Trainer’s Notes for Activity 2

ADVANCE PREPARATION

Decide how you will form the IDEA teams. Either set up heterogeneous groups in advance, or let the participants decide when you start the activity who will be in which group. If the participants know one another well, and it is important for people to work with those from the same department, then it would be best to let them choose their own group. If the participants don’t know one another, it would be helpful for the trainers to make up the groupings in advance.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

Step 1: Provide an overview of the purpose and use of IDEA teams in your program.

The IDEA groups will give participants an opportunity to discuss issues, complete assignments, and share program experiences in smaller groups.

The IDEA teams will act as support groups for participants throughout the program.

LAY THE GROUNDWORK, ENERGIZE PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN CLOSE

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Step 2: Explain how the name IDEA was derived, using the large sign. Discuss what each letter means as you talk about the importance of the following four words and how they relate to your workshop:

I = Innovation

Leaders recognize the need for change and continuous improvement so they can lead others in creating innovations. In this workshop, you will experience some innovative and creative learning methods.

D = Development

Leaders encourage and provide resources for their followers’ development and their own. In this workshop, you are experiencing professional development first hand.

E = Enthusiasm

Leaders need to display enthusiasm and a positive attitude, even during challenging times. In this workshop, we will create a positive environment to enhance your interpersonal relationships and accelerate your learning.

A = Application

Learning is incomplete without the opportunity to apply what has been learned. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to apply what is presented.

Step 3: Organize participants into teams and immediately assign a team-building exercise or a task. Have participants meet in their IDEA teams once each day to complete tasks within selected modules.

Step 4: The IDEA groups you have just joined will give you an opportunity to discuss issues, complete assignments together, and share program experiences periodically. Your IDEA teams will also provide any additional support throughout the program. Additionally, use these groups to discuss workplace issues that may arise.

POST-ACTIVITY REVIEW

Take time shortly after conducting this activity to reflect on how it went, how engaged the participants were, and what questions they raised. Then, make notes that include how much time you actually spent on the activity.

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3

LEADERSHIP SHIELD

Overview of Activity

Through participation in an art project, leaders identify their basic values and share them with others, so that participants who will be working together on assignments have a greater understanding of each other’s strengths.

Objective

To have participants share some information about their backgrounds, values, philosophies of life, and leadership experiences.

Setting Up the Activity

GROUP SIZE

Up to 20 participants

ESTIMATED TIME

30 minutes

TRAINING METHODS

Art project

Reflection

Discussion

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12THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING ACTIVITY BOOK

MATERIALS

Handout 3.1: Leadership Shield

Sample family coat of arms/crest or shield, if possible

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Several sets of colored markers for participants to share

Flipchart paper

One large poster with an outline of a shield, with one of the four following words in each section: background, philosophy of life, values, and leadership.

ROOM SET-UP

Move furniture away from the walls to create space for participants to hang up and stand next to large pieces of paper during the discussion.

Post the large poster as you prepare to open the activity.

Comments

Use this activity when you have sufficient space on the walls to post the shields. An alternative is to have participants complete their shields on copy paper. This is a popular activity; participants are able to work with categories of information that are interesting to them.

Trainer’s Notes for Activity 3

STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE

Step 1: Ask which participants have a family coat of arms, crest, or shield. Ask those who respond positively to describe or draw a picture of it. Explain that the purpose is to develop a new symbol that emphasizes leadership.

Step 2: Distribute one sheet of flipchart paper and several colored markers to each participant. Ask participants to draw the outline of a crest or shield on the paper. Demonstrate by drawing the outline of a shield on your flipchart (or distribute Handout 3.1). As noted on the handout, a shield is a pictorial representation that may show one’s values, beliefs, and ideas.

Step 3: Explain that four categories of information have been selected for representation on the shield or coat of arms. Announce one category at a time, and remind participants to leave space on their shield for all four. Allow them approximately two minutes to draw each response.

LAY THE GROUNDWORK, ENERGIZE PARTICIPANTS, AND THEN CLOSE

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The categories, each of which should be represented in one quadrant of the shield are:

a.Two of your leadership skills.

b.The part of your current work that you like best.

c.Two values that influence how you lead others.

d.A recent success or accomplishment.

Step 4: Ask the participants to complete their coats of arms by writing their family names on the shield and adding a personal motto that they try to exemplify. If they wish, they can embellish their shields with other graphics or designs.

Step 5: Ask participants to explain what they have included on their shield, and why. Allow approximately one minute per person. (Participants might only have time to explain one part of it.)

Step 6: Briefly discuss how our backgrounds, values, and personal philosophies affect the ways we interact and lead. Tie what is shared by the participants into the content of your leadership program.

Step 7: Pose these questions:

1.Which quadrant was the easiest to complete, and why?

2.Which quadrant, if any, reveals something about you that others might not know?

3.Which quadrant demonstrates the values of your company?

VARIATIONS

Take a picture of each participant and affix it to each person’s shield.

If you have more than 20 people or you need to save time, form groups of 5 to 6 participants for Step 5.

POST-ACTIVITY REVIEW

Take time shortly after conducting this activity to reflect on how it went, how engaged the participants were, and what questions they raised. Then, make notes that include how much time you actually spent on the activity.

HANDOUT 3.1

Leadership Shield

Two of my leadership skills are my vision and creativity

Two of my values are my inclusiveness and integrity

What I like best about my work is the

opportunity to influence others

One of my recent successes was to reorganize my department and save one-half FTE.

HANDOUT 3.1

LEADERSHIP SHIELD (continued)

© 2005 AMACOM, A DIVISION OF AMERICAN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. This handout is available in PDF form at www.amacombooks.org/leadershipact.

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4

MAKE IT RHYME

WITH “LEADER”

Overview of Activity

By writing a poem as a way to stretch one’s creativity, leadership concepts are explored and encouraged.

Objectives

To focus participants on the topic of leadership.

To give participants an opportunity to become acquainted and begin working together.

To stimulate creative thinking.

Setting Up the Activity

GROUP SIZE

Up to 20 participants

ESTIMATED TIME

30 minutes

TRAINING METHODS

Creative writing

MATERIALS

None

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