Intended for:
This free icebreaker is really useful during presentation skills training as the basis of it seems very basic to the participants. However, before they realise it they have practiced their presentation skills informally and also reviewed certain elements of what makes a presentation successful. Of course it is also a useful introduction exercise.
Training course contents:
A set of instructions for the icebreaker, ‘Presentation Skills’ can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page, or you can follow the notes below.
Objective – this icebreaker is really useful during presentation skills training as the basis of it seems very basic to the participants. However, before they realise it they have practiced their presentation skills informally and also reviewed certain elements of what makes a presentation successful. Of course it is also a useful introduction exercise.
Resources Needed – flipchart and pens.
Instructions – advise participants that you would like them to come to the front of the room in turn and introduce themselves to the group (you may get some negative comments about this, but remind them that it is a presentation skills course). They should say their name, job role and the usual information and then consider if they were to have a dinner party, which three people would they invite? The person can be past or present, alive or dead. They should announce who these three people would be and why they would invite each of them.
Of course this approach to introductions is quite well known and might be considered bland. However, the important factor follows once everyone has had a chance to speak.
When the last person has introduced themselves, ask all the participants to write down the names of every ‘dinner party guest’ that they can remember. Once they have done this, write down all of the names remembered on a flipchart sheet.
Lead a discussion about why some names were remembered and link this to what makes something memorable and how does this relate to presenting. The idea is to get as many facts about what makes a good presentation as possible. Write the ideas on a flipchart and use the comments as a reference point throughout the rest of your training.
Of course, what you have also done is provide participants with their first presentation of the session in a relaxed way.
Objectives:
This presentation skills icebreaker provides the perfect introduction to any presentation skills or train the trainer type training course. In fact you might want to consider using it with the following Trainer Bubble training course materials…
Presentation Skills – Training Course Materials
Train the Trainer – Training Course Materials
