I regularly run all day sessions for Chief Executives and other senior Directors, but notice that there are times when the energy in the room dips and people's eyelids start to droop. Usually after lunch, even a light lunch with no alcohol!
I am running out of ideas for quick energisers and, as I see the same groups on a regular basis, I need some new ideas to freshen up. I traced a couple of recommended books, but both were out of print. Does anyone have any suitable ideas. I don't want ideas that take a lot of time, as we have full programmes already, just something to put some life back into drowsy delegates.
Philip Woolford
6 Responses
Energisers
Hi Philip
I have a short (15 minute) energiser called The Numbers Game. It’s all about demonstrating the Learning Curve/Plateau. Simple but effective.
Let me have your e-mail address if you are interested. [email protected] will get to me.
Cheers
Phil Wheeliker
Quizzes
Philip
I’m not sure how this would fit with your audience, but I tend to use quizzes throughout my training programmes, so after each break i’d run another round. Subject matter is usually music, song / film lyrics, beat the intro, topical and subject matter related. dependant on the length of your courses and bearing in mind you have the same audience for each programme you could run the quiz over a period of say three months and reward the winners at the end.
I do have some physical energisers that involve singing, dancing and Olympic sport simulation, but again I’m not too sure if they would suit the environment. Please let me know if you want any further information.
Ideas for specific energisers and a bit of theory
Here are some ideas that have worked for me.
Walk around the block together after eating and get some fresh air. Have people take a minute each talking about something good or going well while everyone else listens. Do something together that is a bit “silly” so people laugh. One is to have people close their eyes, shuffle into a tight circle, put their hands into the middle find and hold two hands and then, with eyes open try and get back into a circle again! You could try asking people to talk to their neighbour for a few minutes about their best experiences ever of working with the organisation.
The theory behind this is to do something that is a contradiction to the usual, perhaps rather rigid, ways people often are. The contradiction will cause people to express their feelings more and then they will be freer to participate.
If you want to know more please contact me on [email protected]
Hope this one is new to you.
This works well with any group of staff.
GROUP HUMAN LEVITATION
EFFECT
A person becomes seemingly weightless and may be lifted from a chair on the index fingers of four smaller people.
Although various explanations have been proposed , this classic stunt continues to mystify and amuse.
STAGE 1
The person to be lifted ( choose a fairly heavy person ) should be relaxed but upright on a firm chair. Feet should be the floor and hands on the lap.
The four assistants should stand two on each side , one by each shoulder and one by each knee.
Each assistant should make fists with both hands , then extend the two forefingers and touch them together , gently but firmly the two assistants standing by the shoulders , place their extended forefingers under the seated persons right or left armpit .The other two assistants place their forefinger under the seated persons left or right knee .
The person to be lifted thinks “down” and imagines him or herself to be sinking into the chair.
In this position , the four assistants should try to lift the person .
STAGE 2
The assistants should now place their right hand above the seated person’s head, but not touching the head or other hands. Appoint one person to be the caller. Walk around the seated person concentrating looking at the hands chanting “ She/He is getting lighter”. When the caller feels the time is right
They must call out NOW! The assistants quickly take their former positions with extended forefingers under the armpit or knee. Then try again to lift the person . The seated person should think”up” and imagine himself or herself rising into the air.
If these instructions are followed carefully , the person will soar straight up into the air on the forefingers of the assistants.
Energiser
When working on a reflective practice w/shop with physiotherapists, I arrange the day so that, about 45 minutes after they have returned from lunch, they complete an exercise that involves writing stuff up on flipchart sheets stuck around the room. There is a training purpose to the exercise, but it also gets them moving, gets the blood circulating, and wakes them up.
the pulse of life in 2 minutes
After lunch I ask the group to stand in pairs facing each other. They first fold forward into a contracted position then open out into a full expanded position arms outstretched. At the far point they jump and shout. This is guarrunteed to energise and enliven a group.