How observant are we? - PMSL Training

TRAINING EXERCISES

How observant are we?

Preparation: 30 minutes
Running time: 5 minutes
Equipment: Non digital watch belonging to one of the audience
Teams: One individual

Ask someone in the group if you may borrow his or her watch for a moment.
(Caution: make certain it is a non digital type.) Tell that person (after the watch’s
receipt) that you would like to test his or her powers of observation and ask the
entire group to silently play along with the game without looking at their own watch.

Tell the individual to assume that the watch was lost and you found it. Before you
return it, you want to make certain the watch can be identified by its owner. Some
sample questions include: “what’s the brand name?” “What colour is the face?”
“Anything else printed on the face?” “Roman or Arabic numerals?” “all 12?” “Does
the watch have the date and or day on it?” “Second hand?”

Most people cannot totally and accurately describe their own timepieces even if they
look at them dozens of times a day.

Debrief questions
Besides me, who else had difficulty with this test? Why?
Why aren’t we more observant? (Time pressure, lack of concern, taking things for
granted, etc)
What can you do to make your audience focus on what you’re saying? (WIIFM)

Purpose of the exercise
To draw attention to the fact that people need to be told when to pay attention.
They learn more when they know what’s in it for them (WIIFM).

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TRAINING EXERCISES

ESP Icebreaker

Preparation: 30 minutes
Running time: 5 minutes
Equipment: Flip chart
Teams: One individual

Ask for a volunteer to assist you. Explain that you are going to foretell the results of an
arithmetic exercise by the virtue of ESP, extra-sensory perception. Position yourself any
place where you cannot see what the person is going to write. But make sure the group
can see it.

Ask the volunteer to write on the flip chart or chalkboard any three-digit number. (Note:
the number must not be a mirror image, e.g., 323) Then tell the person to reverse the
number and subtract the lower number from the higher one. Then reverse this number
and add it to the preceding product to obtain 1089. For example:

821
- 128

693
+396
1089
As the volunteer completes the calculation, hold up a prepared display card on which
you had previously written the number 1089.

Note this exercise will always result in the number 1089. On occasion, the initial
subtraction will yield a two-digit number. For example, 786 – 687 = 99. In such cases,
simply direct the volunteer to add a zero in front of the two digit number (so 99 changes
to 099).
Debrief questions
Are you impressed with my ESP abilities!!!!!!!!
Purpose of the exercise
To attract and focus the group’s attention on you and the presentation to follow.

© PMSL
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TRAINING EXERCISES

Buy Me

Preparation: 30 minutes
Running time: 10 minutes
Equipment: Anything from the training room or around the venue
Prize - Anything suitable
Teams: All individuals take part

Send out the group as individuals to find an object and to bring it back within two
minutes. It should be something interesting, which they aren’t going to get into too
much trouble for moving. When everyone has returned, each person has 30 seconds
to sell his or her object - to describe why you should spend your money on it. Let
them think for 2 minutes before their sales pitches.

React to enthusiasm and humour in the sales techniques. The person who sells their
item best wins a prize. Allow a minute at the end for returning objects.

Debrief questions
What did you find easy about this exercise?
What did you find difficult about this exercise?
What can you do to become a better ‘sales person’?
Do you feel energized?

Purpose of the exercise
To energize the group – the process of going out and getting the objects is a good
energy generator.
To get people to start to think creatively, e.g. before a brainstorming session on a
more serious topic.

Learning message
Energy can ‘sell’ a product or idea, it doesn’t have to be the best product or idea.
Creativity can be fun.

© PMSL
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