Course: Career Communication

Workplace Communication--Day 1:

- Icebreaker (45 minutes)
  - o   Students write down one interesting/exciting thing they have done on an index card
  - o   Play “Lost on a Desert Island” icebreaker game (see below)
  - o   Write the interesting things the students have done on the board and have students write down who in the class did what interesting thing.
    - §  Ask students to explain how they knew people had done certain things, especially if they used non-verbal cues or inferences
    - §  Ask students why they were not able to identify the students who did certain things, focusing on responsibilities of communicator and listener/receiver of information
    - Introduction to Course (75 minutes)
      - o   Go through D2L Module
        - §  Have students list all items discussed in D2L Module that deal with communication.
        - §  Classroom discussion about those topics and whether they will be or should be covered in the course
        - §  Have students write down what they want to get out of the course and share with a neighbor
- o   Com Course Materials
  - §  Have students read through syllabus, competencies, and internet use policy
  - §  Think-pair-share with students writing down a comparison of the classroom and the workplace, share with a neighbor, share with class.
  - Communication Basics – Emotional Intelligence & Communication (1 hr, 45 min)
    - o   http://bcove.me/thlqnvfg Daniel Goleman on Emotional Intelligence
    - o   Emotional Intelligence Presentation / lecture on the four domains
    - o   Students write down one domain they are strong in and why, then write down one domain they are weak in and why
    - o   Pair with fellow student who is strong in their weak area and vice versa – have them create a workplace scenario demonstrating the strong or weak domain
    - o   Quiz on EQ: https://dc-viawest.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_eFJKMIW66Cp0PBj&Brand=ucfcos
    - o   EQ Reflection exercise: students write down answers, share with partner
      - §  Did the strengths and weaknesses you identified match the results of the EQ test?
      - §  Which of the 4 domains do you need to improve on the most?
      - §  Give two examples of things you say or do that keeps you from obtaining a better score in that domain.
      - §  What is one thing you can do to start making an improvement in that domain?
- o   Improving emotional intelligence:
  - §  Watch Seinfeld clip about George doing the opposite of what he thinks he should do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3k7lykTWTk
  - §  Students work in pairs rating George in the four EQ Domains
  - §  Identify non-verbal communication throughout the clip
  - §  Take “Body Language Quiz” on Emotional Intelligence: http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ei_quiz/

Lost on a Desert Island

Lost on a Deserted Island is a teambuilding activity that also helps people share a little about themselves. Given the scenario that everyone is lost and stranded on a deserted island, each person describes one object that they would bring and why.

This game is a teambuilding and get-to-know-you icebreaker. The recommended group size is medium, although small and large group sizes are possible too. An indoor setting is ideal. No special props or materials are required. This icebreaker works well for any age, including adults and corporate settings.

Instructions for Lost on a Deserted Island

The situation is dire — following a shipwreck, everyone has been stranded on a deserted island! Each person is allowed to bring one object to the island — ideally something that represents them or something that they enjoy. The first part of this icebreaker is simple: each person is asked to describe what object they would bring and why. This need not be realistic; if someone loves music, he or she might choose to bring a guitar, or an animal lover might choose to bring a dog, a food lover might choose to bring sirloin steaks, and so on. Encourage people to be creative.

After everyone has introduced their object and why they have chosen that object, the teambuilding portion follows. Divide into smaller groups and ask everyone to work together to improve their chances of survival by combining the various objects that they introduced. If necessary, you can add more objects, but be sure to use all the objects that everyone mentioned. If you wish, you can reward the most creative group with a prize.

Lost on a Deserted Island is an approachable way to get people to open up and share a little bit about themselves and what they enjoy or value.

Source:  icebreakers.ws. (n.d.). Fun games, icebreakers and group activities. Retrieved July 12, 08, from icebreakers.ws: http://www.icebreakers.ws/