The Big Book of People Skills Games: Quick, Effective Activities for Making Great Impressions, Boosting Problem-Solving Skills and Improving Customer Service : Quick, Effective Activities for Making Great Impressions, Problem-Solving and Improved Customer

More than 700,000 books sold in the Big Book series! Always say and do the right thing at the right time! Developing the necessary skills critical to teamwork and company success—taught in a fun group format Meeting new people, developing listening skills, learning proper business etiquette, or dealing with difficult customers or coworkers are all challenges every company faces. The Big Book of People Skills Games offers a host of interactive yet engaging games you can use to tackle all of these communication-challenged areas within your group. RESULTS: effective communication, greater team confidence, and improved customer service. These short but fun games can be adapted to any setting, cost virtually nothing, and show you how to boost both employee and customer interaction, reduce absenteeism, and foster a more positive and productive environment—all necessary ingredients for company growth and success. The Big Book of People Skills Games helps you: Improve internal and external communication Promote group thinking on potential problems facing the company Build stronger relationships with coworkers and clients Teach your team about proper work procedures This is the complete reference for enhancing interpersonal skills—both personally and professionally—from the trusted Big Book series. Excerpt CHAPTER 1Using Games and Activities in Your MeetingsTeamwork divides the task and doubles the success.—UnknownFor those of you who have read some of the other books in the series (TheBig Book of Presentation Games, The Big Book of Team Building Games, andmore), you will find a decidedly different and marked addition to this work.* * *Although you will still find a number of the exercises and activities that areso much a part of this series, you will also find a volume of content-rich andinformative chapters filled with topics and ideas so critical for success intoday's work world. The Big Book of People Skills Games is a unique workthat will serve as a ready reference to enhance one's interpersonal skills bothpersonally and professionally.In a study conducted by Development Dimensions International (DDI) in 2009, athousand employees were asked what classes they would like to take to furtherdevelop their own personal development. In addition to the expected desire fortechnical skills, their top listings were "presenting/selling ideas,""communication," "managing change," "team building," and other relevantinterpersonal skills—all of which are included in this book.The World of MeetingsAs a professional in the world of meeting planning, speaking, or training, youare well aware of the importance of face-to-face meetings. While this is not todisparage the use of the virtual meeting, most experienced trainers are of onevoice in proclaiming the value of people getting together to share ideas. Withthat in mind, let's review some of the basics in planning for your next workshopor presentation.• Goals. Most meeting planners acknowledge they don't take time toactually identify the purpose of their respective meetings. Happily, with thecurrent focus on accountability and return on investment (ROI), this lack ofplanning is changing. In your role as a trainer or speaker, how do you rate? Doyou have identified objectives? Do your participants know what they are?• Attendees. For internal or corporate sessions, you likely already knowthe profile of your participants. For the outside speaker, not so. Here, thereis a definite need to find out as much as possible about those attending yourprogram. This can be done through a preprogram questionnaire or sometimes evenon the spot.• Topic. What is the theme of the meeting? For workshops and seminars,are the people coming aware of the agenda? Is there a chance for them to suggestadditional items or topics to be considered or covered during your training?• Outcomes. Certainly there will be some kind of evaluation orappraisal, but what will happen after the session is concluded? Were therespecified goals and what were the desired end results of this meeting?Traits of Games and ActivitiesWhile we recognize that the very nature of the word games connotes fun,that analogy is not the whole story. Indeed, if participants (and theirsupervisors) see your workshops as all fun and games, there may be a rudeawakening ahead. The activity can be used most effectively when it enhances orsupports and enriches the content of the program. Whether your attendees areprimarily auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learners, you can be sure that theproper game or activity will reinforce the style of any learner.As is true in most of the books in this series, you will see the followingtraits much in evidence in all the games and activities offered.1. Brief in nature. The exercises presented herein are quick and easy.Time is all too precious to take any more than is absolutely necessary to getyour point across. With that in mind, you will find games that range from only aminute or two to some that may take 15 to 20 minutes. While some outdoor team-building events may well take a few hours or more, we strongly believe that "theshorter, the better."2. Nonthreatening. All of these games herein have been field-tested bythe authors and their colleagues. Further, they have been used with differentcultures and with participants from entry level to the C-suites.3. Flexible. The best way to use these activities is to initially trythem out with friends or family. Check each activity out and then adapt it tobefit your particular style and comfort zone.4. Low cost. As you review these activities, you will appreciate thatmost of these games require very few, if any, outside resources. While someorganizations and associations may suggest that copies of handouts be provided,many have joined the sustainability movement; in that spirit, most of these canused with PowerPoint slides.5. Generic. While most of the exercises will show a specific objectiveor learning point, they are usable for most any group. Your experience andexpertise will allow you to target the exercises to the wants and needs of youraudience.The Use—and Misuse—of GamesRecent brain research has confirmed that unless you involve or somehow engageyour attendees every five to seven minutes, you will lose them.• Preparation. Do your homework! Check out each exercise's objectives,procedure, and suggested discussion questions. Add to them to make it moretailored to your own presentation style.• Brevity. Make your point and move on. Think about letting the games bethe dessert and not the main course. Start with a quick get-acquainted activity,but don't get carried way. For a keynote, consider using two or three activitiesat most. In a longer workshop, you will want to sprinkle several throughout theday.• Purpose. Be certain that your participants understand why you areusing a particular activity and stress that learning takes place during theprocessing, not the game itself.• Fun. It's certainly okay to be playful, but don't be gimmicky. If theattendees see you as the class clown, they'll think you belong in the circus,not the classroom!As you use this book, you will find the activities fun and enjoyable, butremember that the bottom line is always "So what?" If you're hearing commentslike these via text message or Twitter—"What did I learn?" "What was hispoint?" "Why did she spend so much time playing that game?"—make sure youalways restate the purpose and the debriefing.• Don't overdo it. As mentioned above, the game is always the appetizeror dessert but not the main part of the meal. Use the game at the righttime—and only at those times. Don't forget that you don't always need touse a prepared game to get and keep them engaged. Be spontaneous, and even givetime for your attendees to show their own creativity.• Don't kill time. There may be a time or two when an activity is usedas filler, but even in these rare cases, there must be a point or purpose.SummaryToday's participants want and need content—ideas and information that willbuild and develop their own interpersonal relationships. Experiential learningapplies to all styles of audiences and can materially assist them in their ownpersonal and professional development.As you read and review the activities contained in this book, always be lookingfor ways to make them even better for you and your groups. Don't have what'scalled "hardening of the categories." Be imaginative, be innovative, and becre(Continues...) Developing the necessary skills critical to teamwork and company success - taught in a fun group format. Meeting new people, developing listening skills, learning proper business etiquette, or dealing with difficult customers or coworkers are all challenges every company faces. This offers a host of interactive yet engaging games you can use to tackle all of these communication-challenged areas within your group. Results: effective communication, greater team confidence, and improved customer service. These short but fun games can be adapted to any setting, cost virtually nothing, and show you how to boost both employee and customer interaction, reduce absenteeism, and foster a more positive and productive environment - all necessary ingredients for company growth and success