Ive used an exercise called first impressions for a number of years in courses such as customer care. Its an exercise where you give the group a handout with a number of photos on it and you ask them to write down what their first impressions are. This is then used to discuss diversity issues and stereotype awareness. I cant find my handout. Does anyone use this exercise and have a handout they would be willing to share with me?
Craig Mitchell
4 Responses
No but I’ve got another one that might be useful
We used a variation on this theme in that we asked the trainees to list their first impressions of the trainers themselves.
We asked them to decide what our favourite shop, drink, film, etc. and where we lived, what kind of car we drove etc.
Invariably these impressions aren’t anything like the truth and they make a good place to start the discussion from. It also means that the trainer(s) get a giggle out of what people think about them.
Have you thought of…
Have you thought obtaining some photos of key people from your organisation, asking the delegates to go through the steps of guessing how old they are, what they do for a living etc. Then once completed asking one of the people from the photo’s to join the training? Always worth a giggle and really brings home the objectives of the exercise while meeting key people. Obviously this would only work if people are knew to the organisation
Have you tried this one
Give a list of five things to each person such as what newspaper do they read, do they own a pet, do they particiapte in sport, what type of music do they like, what did thier parents do for a living, what type of television programme do they watch.
The attendees are paired off and without asking any questions they have to answer the questions on the paper about the person sitting opposite them.
Great fun and a good ice breaker.
Picture This….
Ask all delegates to bring a picture of themselves – full length shot. Next pin these up onto a piece of flip-chart.
Delegates will have been asked (before workshop)to write on small pieces of card their hobbies, pets, favourtie food, music, car they drive and so on (1 per card), list can be as long or short as you wish.
The cards are then placed face up on a table and each delegate takes a card and places it on the flip-chart under the picture of the person they feel it fits with.
After everyone has finished the group discusses the flip-charts and the correct cards are pinned with the correct person.
Good luck, happy training !!!