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4-in-1 Activities: Assessing Key Competencies
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All four activities are designed for a 60-minute session but there is enough additional material to extend sessions to two hours. Use with any number of participants, working together in small groups or teams. Each team is given a task and an observer to records on an easy-to-use Observer’s Form, individual competencies displayed by team members. Observers are not essential because at the end of each task teams review their own performance using Team Assessment Forms (or Individual Assessment Forms) but they add another dimension to the assessments and provide good debate material for the debrief. Observers views and team views can be wildly different. All forms are easy and quick to complete. The result is a fantastic amount of useful material on which to build discussion and establish key competencies. Finally Handouts to take away summarise the key lessons.
Activity 1 Teamwork
Explores team roles interpersonal skills / giving and receiving information / handling conflict / harmonizing / valuing all members.
Each team member has his/her own brief. The team must reach agreement on two major issues facing a publishing company. The Briefs ensure there are conflicting ideas at the table. An excellent demonstration of teamwork issues - including harmony and conflict resolution, negotiation, interpersonal skills and influencing others.
Activity 2 Decision Making
Explores defining the decision making issue / seeking information / evaluating options / listening to views / influencing others / compromise.
Participants rank a list of 15 ‘crimes’ in order of seriousness. They then, as teams, repeat the process. An expert ranking is revealed and individuals and teams score their work. Consistently shows that teams outdo individuals. But the main thrust of this activity is the team interaction to arrive at consensus. How are decisions reached?
Activity 3 Managing Time
Managing Time explores setting deadlines / maximizing resources / prioritising / getting started early / delegating / coordinating to process / finishing on time.
In just 30 minutes teams complete a creative, organizational task, preparing a one-minute radio advert, but there’s a major constraint. Few teams complete the task perfectly (although there is time for two attempts – and some steep learning).
Activity 4 Leadership
Explores leadership styles / role of the leader / introducing change / monitoring staff / listening / providing motivation and vision.
Teams are briefed on their role as either leader (‘manager’) or team member (‘employee’). The manager has instituted a change in an open plan office - the employees are not happy. How does the manager cope with the employees’ objections and feelings? Can good leadership prevail? A 15-20 minute meeting is followed by a general Debrief and comparison of each team’s experiences. How the manager/leader presents the case is crucial.
- a range of key competencies in four separate skills areas
- to look objectively at their own competence levels
- to identify their strengths and weaknesses
- to continually assess their own contribution back at work
- Choose one of the four activities. Before the session print the required number of Briefs, Forms and Handouts (all stored and clearly explained on the CD).
- Briefly introduce the session and issue a copy of the Brief to each team and an Observer’s Form to each observer. Allow the activity to proceed to completion. All timings supplied.
- Issue Review Forms and allow time for individuals, teams, observers to complete the forms.
- Lead a Debrief by first listening to what teams and individuals have to say about their performance and listen to observer views. Use the guidance notes in the Trainer’s booklet to go through each point on the Review Forms and structure (and control!) the discussion.
- Establish the overall lessons of the session.
- Issue Handouts to each individual to take back to the workplace.
L. Hindley, The Learning CurveUseful and relevant resource materials for busy L&D professionals. Instructions clear and easy to understand.
Trials feedback June 09Typically Northgate - well structured, easy to use and capable of delivering excellent messages.
- Unipart Logistics
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- British Heart Foundation
- John Lewis Partnership
- Fischer Clinical Services
- Sea Cadet Training Centre
- Nottinghamshire C/Council
- Manchester C/Council
- West London M/Health Trust
- Sandwell MBC
- Royal Devon & Exeter NHS
- Opsis Consulting
- Blaby District Council
- Harvey Nichols
- Southern Water
Schneider Electric
- Trainer’s Guide covering all four activities
- Team Briefs (supplied on CD-ROM for easy, repeat use)
- Additional team materials (scissors, tape, A4 card)
- Observer Forms, Team Assessment Forms and Handouts (supplied on CD-ROM for easy, repeat use). 18 different forms in total!
